Discover Veles

• The historic urban architecture is arranged amphitheatrically on both sides of the Vardar.
• The Vardar riverside promenade is 200 metres long and lies between the Gemidzhii Bridge and Malo Movche.
• Lake Mladost lies north of Veles; the Pesti Gorge is on the Babuna River.
• Veles railway station serves trains to Skopje, Bitola, Gevgelija and Kocani.

Veles’s historic architecture is not confined to a single riverbank: it is arranged amphitheatrically on both sides of the Vardar. Those interested in the city’s history and buildings will find a concrete starting point for exploring Veles here. One of its oldest buildings is the Veles Clock Tower, which dates back to the 14th century.

Veles is also a hub for international road and rail connections. For rail travellers, the destinations served by the station are particularly convenient: trains run to Skopje, Bitola, Gevgelija and Kocani. If you’re looking for accommodation in Veles, you can match your choice of base to the rail connections that suit your trip.

The Cathedral of Saint Panteleimon the Great Martyr was built in 1840 by Andreja Damjanov and his brothers. It is known for its unique acoustics, is considered one of the most representative cultural and historical monuments in Veles, and attracts many local and international visitors. The Church of Saint Demetrius is a protected cultural asset.

The Ossuary Monument is also part of the city’s history: it was built in 1979 through voluntary contributions from the residents of Veles. Another distinctive building is the 14th-century Clock Tower. These sites offer different points of interest—from religious architecture and a monument made possible by the community to one of the city’s oldest buildings.

The development of the Vardar riverside promenade also included a project to install two kiosks. The plan was to sell souvenirs and other products made using traditional Veles crafts.

The Babuna River was designated a characteristic landscape by the Veles Municipal Council. The Pesti site on the Babuna is home to the Egyptian vulture. The Egyptian vulture is considered an endemic species found nowhere else in the world and is threatened with extinction. Alongside the city’s architecture, this natural area connects a trip to Veles with its landscape and the protection of threatened species.

The Pesti Gorge contains around 50 caves. Some are up to 10,000 years old; the gorge is also home to Markova Peštera, a cave church more than 1,000 years old. These approximate figures and age estimates give the area a long historical dimension. Lake Mladost lies north of the city. A paved local road runs along the lakeshore, passes through the dam and continues to the Skopje–Veles motorway.

For a shorter stay by the river, the 200-metre-long Vardar riverside promenade between the Gemidzhii Bridge and Malo Movche offers a recreational area. Twenty electric bicycles were made available at Lake Mladost to develop cycling tourism. A cycling tour held during European Mobility Week 2023 took members of the Veles Biking association and other cycling enthusiasts to the memorial houses of Kocho Racin, Vasil Glavinov and the Kasapovi family, as well as to the Floating House and the Ossuary Monument. This tour describes an event from 2023.

Folklore and the local regatta tradition also have a place in the city’s history. The Veles International Folklore Festival grew out of a long-standing local tradition of preserving Macedonian folklore. Its first edition took place in 2004, with folklore ensembles from Macedonia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro. The Vardar Gemidzhii Regatta originated as an idea by enthusiasts from Veles and was established in 1984.

If you’d like to compare more destinations for your trip, you can also explore Mavrovo and Rostuša, Ilinden, Bogovinje, Mogila, Strumica, Resen and Kratovo. For a more local perspective, there is also the page for Veles.

Which destinations does Veles railway station serve?

The station serves trains to Skopje, Bitola, Gevgelija and Kocani.

How long is the Vardar riverside promenade?

The recreational area is 200 metres long and lies between the Gemidzhii Bridge and Malo Movche.

What is there in the Pesti Gorge?

It contains around 50 caves, some of which are up to 10,000 years old, as well as Markova Peštera, a cave church more than 1,000 years old.

When was the first edition of the Veles International Folklore Festival held?

The first edition took place in 2004, with ensembles from Macedonia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro.

For the wider travel overview: Macedonia.