Kratovo, Republic of Macedonia
Encyclopedia
Kratovo is a small picturesque town in Macedonia
, one of the regions' living museums. It is the seat of Kratovo Municipality
. It lies on the western slopes of Mount Osogovo
at an altitude of 600 metres (1,968.5 ft) above sea level. Having a mild and pleasant climate, it is located in the crater of an extinct volcano. It is famous for its bridges.
, but stayed in Kratovo in order to visit the already famous town of gold and silver.
The mining exploitation continued, until the Karposh's Rebellion
in 1689, when the town was devastated and the mine closed. In 1805 the mine was rented by Ali-Beg Majdemdzija and the work continued. According to the writings of Amu Bue, the town had 56,000 inhabitants 1836. Until the end of the 19th century the town rapidly stagnated and the once most beautiful "Čarsija", with goldsmith and silversmith shops, decayed.
Currently many organizations are working on rebuilding the city. One of the most valiant of these efforts comes from a the University of Florida Engineering Without Borders program who are currently working on the development of a sustainable solid waste system to aid the efforts of Macedonia in attaining recognition in the European Union.
speech forms as it shares more in common with the features of southern Serbia
and northwestern Bulgaria
, than with the standard Macedonian language based in Prilep
.
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, one of the regions' living museums. It is the seat of Kratovo Municipality
Kratovo municipality
Kratovo is a municipality in eastern Republic of Macedonia. Kratovo is also the name of the town where the municipal seat is found. Kratovo Municipality is part of the Northeastern Statistical Region.-Geography:...
. It lies on the western slopes of Mount Osogovo
Osogovo
Osogovo or Osogovska Planina is a mountain and ski resort between southwestern Bulgaria and northeastern Republic of Macedonia,...
at an altitude of 600 metres (1,968.5 ft) above sea level. Having a mild and pleasant climate, it is located in the crater of an extinct volcano. It is famous for its bridges.
History
During the reign of the Serbian noblemen in 1282, Kratovo had become a mining centre, thanks to the experienced Saxon, i.e. from Saxony or, presumably, from Flanders, miners who came to activate the mine. The importance of Kratovo can be judged through the visit of Sultan Murad who together with his army headed towards KosovoKosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, but stayed in Kratovo in order to visit the already famous town of gold and silver.
The mining exploitation continued, until the Karposh's Rebellion
Karposh's Rebellion
Karposh’s Rebellion or Karposh’s Uprising is a name used for a Christian anti-Ottoman uprising in the Central Balkans that took place in 1689.-Prelude:...
in 1689, when the town was devastated and the mine closed. In 1805 the mine was rented by Ali-Beg Majdemdzija and the work continued. According to the writings of Amu Bue, the town had 56,000 inhabitants 1836. Until the end of the 19th century the town rapidly stagnated and the once most beautiful "Čarsija", with goldsmith and silversmith shops, decayed.
Culture
Today's Kratovo has many characteristics of the past times. Once there were 12 towers, but now one can notice six towers which primarily served miners, chiefs and guards. The Kratovo bridges are another characteristic of this town made by old masters. The town has unique and interesting architecture from the 19th century and a unique Art gallery of children's drawings, with pictures by Kratovo children which have won numerous prizes at different international exhibitions.Currently many organizations are working on rebuilding the city. One of the most valiant of these efforts comes from a the University of Florida Engineering Without Borders program who are currently working on the development of a sustainable solid waste system to aid the efforts of Macedonia in attaining recognition in the European Union.
Language
Situated in the north, the locals traditionally speak in the Kumanovo-Kratovo dialect of the language, regarded as one of the TorlakianTorlakian
Torlakian or Torlak is a name given to the group of South Slavic dialects of southeastern Serbia , northeastern Macedonia , western Bulgaria , which is intermediate between Serbian, Bulgarian and Macedonian.Some linguists classify it as an Old-Shtokavian dialect of Serbian or a fourth dialect of...
speech forms as it shares more in common with the features of southern Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and northwestern Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, than with the standard Macedonian language based in Prilep
Prilep
Prilep is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 citizens. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.-Name:...
.
See also
- Stone town of KuklicaStone town of KuklicaThe stone town is an area consisting of over 120 naturally formed stone pillars, located in the village of Kuklica, near Kratovo in Macedonia.-Location:...
- Kratovo municipalityKratovo municipalityKratovo is a municipality in eastern Republic of Macedonia. Kratovo is also the name of the town where the municipal seat is found. Kratovo Municipality is part of the Northeastern Statistical Region.-Geography:...
- Republic of MacedoniaRepublic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...