Valandovo

• The city lies at the foot of Mount Plavush, partly arranged like an amphitheatre on a slope, at an elevation of 110 to 150 metres.
• The Archaeological Complex of Valandovo contains extensive Roman remains in all three zones.
• The Valandovo Folk Festival takes place every year in May and has been held continuously since 1985.
• The municipality lies in the Valandovo Valley, characterised by a strong Mediterranean climate influence, warm days and fertile land.

The Archaeological Complex of Valandovo contains Roman remains in all three zones. In Zone 1, a mosaic floor covering an area of about 200 m² was discovered in the northwestern part of the city.

Other archaeological sites include Stakina Cesma, a Roman-era site. A palace and several rooms with elaborate mosaics in the Opus sectile and Opus tessellatum techniques were discovered there. The different mosaic techniques give the site a distinct profile among Valandovo’s archaeological attractions.

Melezik, an Iron Age necropolis dating from the 7th to the 6th century BC, is located near Dedeli. The burials include both inhumations in stone cists and burials in large ceramic vessels. Visitors interested in early burial practices will find a historical theme here that differs from those of the Roman sites.

Isar Kula lies northwest of Valandovo on a long, rocky ridge with steep slopes. A visible, well-preserved defensive tower still stands there. Isar Marvinci is located 7 km southwest of the city, near the village of Marvinci. The site was continuously inhabited from the 7th century BC to the 6th century AD; an ancient settlement and a necropolis can be seen there. A prehistoric settlement developed in the Hellenistic period into an important economic, transport and cultural settlement in the region, known in antiquity as Amfaxitida.

Valandovo’s position on the slope and at the foot of Plavush shapes how visitors find their way around. Near the city, locals use the existing route of the tourist trail on Mount Plavush for hiking and cycling. This describes how the trail is used; it does not specify route lengths or connections to the other sites.

The Sveti Gjorgji Monastery, a religious sanctuary in a picturesque landscape, is also located northwest of Valandovo on Mount Plavush. The monastery grounds are equipped for picnics, relaxation and leisure activities. Both the site’s religious character and its use as a recreational area are central to its appeal.

The municipality’s natural features include the Kochula Waterfalls and the Ring Waterfalls on the western side of Mount Belasica. The Valandovo Valley, in turn, is characterised by a strong Mediterranean climate influence, warm days and fertile land.

The Valandovo Folk Festival takes place every year in May and has been held continuously since 1985. The HID-Bah Shen Festival is also held in early May in the village of Chalakli near Valandovo. It has been held every year since 1992 and lasts four days.

The HID-Bah Shen Festival programme includes folk performances, exhibitions of handicrafts and photographs, concerts, theatre performances, traditional wrestling and a football tournament. Its variety ranges from art and performances to sporting competitions. The Valandovo Rakija Festival has a different focus: this traditional event celebrates the centuries-old tradition of rakija production in the municipality. The festival includes a competition for the best rakija, with awards for first, second and third place.

The Vardar main road, also known as Via Axia, runs through the municipality of Valandovo. It is a named road within the municipality. The different locations of the attractions also help visitors find their way: Chalakli is associated with the HID-Bah Shen Festival, Dedeli with the Melezik necropolis, and Marvinci with the archaeological site of Isar Marvinci.

If you would like to compare other destinations in the catalogue, you can also visit the pages for Municipality of Zhelino, Staro Nagorichane, Negotino, Strumica, Municipality of Kriva Palanka, Struga and Radovish. More information about Valandovo will help you find your way around the destination.

When does the HID-Bah Shen Festival take place?

The festival takes place every year in early May in the village of Chalakli near Valandovo, lasts four days and has been held continuously since 1992.

What archaeological sites are there around Valandovo?

The region includes, among other sites, Roman remains in the Archaeological Complex of Valandovo, the Iron Age necropolis of Melezik, and the sites of Stakina Cesma, Isar Kula and Isar Marvinci.

Which natural and recreational sites are described?

The municipality’s natural features include the Kochula Waterfalls and the Ring Waterfalls. An existing route on Plavush is used for hiking and cycling; the grounds of the Sveti Gjorgji Monastery are equipped for picnics, relaxation and leisure activities.

For the broader travel overview: Macedonia.