Discover Veles

• The Veles Ossuary Memorial was built in 1979. It is the final resting place of around a hundred fighters from Veles who died in the Second World War.
• Since 1964, Veles has hosted the poetic gatherings “Racinovi sredbi,” where poets from the Balkans celebrate the poetic word.
• The Church of St. Panteleimon was built in 1840 by Andreja Damjanov and his brothers.
• The Church of St. Dimitrija is designated as a protected cultural asset.

Veles’s historic landmarks tell different stories. The Ossuary Memorial commemorates around a hundred fighters from Veles who died in the Second World War. The Church of St. Panteleimon, dating from 1840, bears witness to the work of Macedonian builder Andreja Damjanov and his brothers. By contrast, St. Dimitrija is notable for its status as a protected cultural asset. This makes it possible to distinguish remembrance, architectural history, and cultural heritage as different interests when planning your trip.

The Vasil Glavinov Memorial House is another cultural landmark: today, it is a museum dedicated to his life and work. If you plan to visit, check the current opening hours in advance. The house of Jordan Hadži-Konstantinov-Džinot stands in a traditional street in Veles on the left bank of the Vardar.

Since 1964, the “Racinovi sredbi” have connected Veles with poets from the Balkans and the shared celebration of the poetic word. The gatherings are a distinct cultural highlight alongside the churches and memorial sites. If you compare destinations by their cultural life, this offers a different perspective from a building’s date or a site’s protected status.

The wider destination of Veles offers another perspective on the city and its landscape. Historic urban architecture is arranged amphitheatrically on both sides of the Vardar. There, the Vardar river promenade forms a 200-metre-long recreational area between the Gemidzhii Bridge and Malo Movche. These regional features are distinct from the immediate cultural overview, but can broaden your view of Veles as a destination.

The wider destination of Veles also includes natural attractions: the Babuna River was designated a characteristic landscape by the municipal council. The Pesti Gorge has around 50 caves, some of which are up to 10,000 years old. The more than 1,000-year-old Markova Peštera cave church is also located there.

When planning a trip to the wider destination of Veles, transport links are another consideration: Veles is a hub for international road and rail connections. The railway station serves trains to Skopje, Bitola, Gevgelija, and Kocani. Check timetables and current connections before you travel.

Lake Mladost lies north of Veles. A paved local road runs along the lakeshore, crosses the dam, and reaches the Skopje–Veles motorway. On September 16, 2021, 20 electric bicycles were provided at the lake to develop cycling tourism. If you plan to use bicycles, check their current availability in advance. You can compare the cultural and natural highlights when planning your trip.

Since when have the “Racinovi sredbi” been held in Veles?

Veles has hosted the poetic gatherings since 1964, where poets from the Balkans celebrate the poetic word.

Which historic sites are associated with Veles?

The cultural sites mentioned include the Ossuary Memorial, the churches of St. Panteleimon and St. Dimitrija, the museum in the Vasil Glavinov Memorial House, and the house of Jordan Hadži-Konstantinov-Džinot.

Which train destinations are listed for the wider destination of Veles?

Veles railway station serves trains to Skopje, Bitola, Gevgelija, and Kocani. Check current timetables before you travel.

To the wider travel overview: Veles.