Kratovo – Towers, Bridges and Cultural Heritage

Kratovo lies in the crater of an extinct volcano; its old town is protected as a cultural heritage site of particular significance. The surviving towers date from before Ottoman rule. Stone bridges, deep river valleys and steep slopes shape the town and its surrounding landscape. Kuklica and Cocev Kamen add geological and archaeological perspectives to the historic buildings.

Medieval towers rise above the houses with their red-tiled roofs. The Simićeva Tower is the tallest tower in Kratovo. The Church of St. John the Baptist, known as Sveti Jovan Preteča, is also one of the town’s notable historic buildings: it is the town’s main church and cathedral, and part of the building tradition of the master builders’ group led by Andreja Damjanov.

The Radin Bridge spans the Manceva River. Its design sets it apart in Kratovo: it is the only bridge in the town built on towers. Together with the protected town center and surviving towers, it underscores the area’s architectural heritage.

The town museum’s exhibitions are housed in the Clock Tower and the Simićeva Tower. The Simićeva Tower also features a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Karposh uprising of 1689. If you are planning a museum visit, check the current opening hours in advance.

Kratovo has numerous small rivers and streams, whose courses contribute to the area’s scenic beauty. Fossilized trees have been found in the Kuklica geological reserve. Kuklica Kratovo is also included on North Macedonia’s national list of protected areas.

Cocev Kamen is located in the area of the village of Shopsko Rudare. Two larger rock hollows resemble vaulted rock shelters. The site also has an anthropogenic significance: it is associated with settlement and archaeological importance dating from the Neolithic and Late Antiquity. The Golemo Gradiste archaeological site lies near Konjuh; it is a rare example of a city built at the end of the 5th or beginning of the 6th century AD. The periods represented are therefore quite distinct: Cocev Kamen brings together traces from two widely separated eras, while Golemo Gradiste represents a city from Late Antiquity.

The municipal strategy for 2020–2024 lists the international folklore festival “Razigrano Kratovo” as taking place annually on June 10. Check the date before planning a trip around it. For the Kratovska Kompirijada, the same strategy lists an exhibition of potato specialties in the town square, with an opportunity to sample them. If you would like to experience this event, check in advance whether and when it is taking place.

If a festival is the deciding factor, confirm the date before planning your trip. For a museum visit, checking current opening hours is another item to plan for.

To the subregion Kratovo. Discover more destinations: Krushevo, Prilep, Municipality of Zhelino, Municipality of Novo Selo, Staro Nagorichane, Debarca, Mavrovo and Rostuša.

How tall is the Simićeva Tower?

At 21.80 meters, the Simićeva Tower is the tallest tower in Kratovo.

What exhibition is housed in the Simićeva Tower?

It houses a permanent exhibition about the Karposh uprising of 1689. The town museum’s exhibitions also include the Clock Tower; check opening hours before your visit.

What are the dimensions of the rock hollows at Cocev Kamen?

The two larger hollows, which resemble vaulted rock shelters, are about 8–10 m long, 3–4 m wide and 4–6 m high.

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