If you search for images of North Macedonia online, you’ll inevitably find photos of Ohrid. These are often photos of churches against the backdrop of a bright blue lake.

The lake, located near the city, is one of the main reasons tourists come to this small town. Another reason is the numerous Orthodox churches built between the 9th and 14th centuries. It’s important to note that Ohrid was founded around the 6th century BC, adding further historical interest to the place.

Ohrid Attractions
Ohrid is home to about a hundred monasteries and churches, some of which have existed for over a thousand years. For example, the Monastery of St. Panteleimon was founded in the 9th century. It housed the first Slavic university and the oldest medical school in Europe. The monastery is also famous for its collection of 800 Byzantine icons. The Church of St. Clement of Ohrid is dedicated to Clement, a disciple of Cyril and Methodius, who added new letters to the Greek alphabet to represent Slavic sounds. His relics are housed in this church.

The Monastery of St. Naum houses a sarcophagus containing the relics of the saint himself, who dedicated his life to healing the sick. Locals believe that if you place your left ear to the sarcophagus, you can hear Naum’s heartbeat.

Lake Ohrid is considered one of the most beautiful and pristine in Europe, and its ecosystem resembles Lake Baikal. It is so large and deep that it can easily be mistaken for a sea.

The lake offers swimming, diving, boating, and sailing. Numerous churches line its shores, and the wooded mountains surrounding Ohrid are part of the Galicica National Park, a nature reserve with virtually untouched nature. This park occupies the area between Macedonia’s two largest lakes, Ohrid and Prespa. It is dominated by Magaro Peak, over 2 kilometers high. But the park’s most impressive feature is its rich flora, which includes over a thousand plant species, many of which are found only here.

The park is home to 18 villages, where local residents engage in agriculture, livestock breeding, and tourism services.