Debar

(Macedonian: Дебар)

Debar is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, near the border with Albania, on the road from the city of Struga to the city of Gostivar. It is a seat of the Debar municipality.

Debar is surrounded by the mountains Deshat, Stogovo, Jablanica and Bistra. It is located 625 meters above sea level, next to Lake Debar, the Black Drim river and its smaller break-off river Radika.

According to the last census data from 2002, Debar municipality has 19,542 inhabitants, including 11,348 (58.07%) Albanians, 3,911 (20.01%) Macedonians, 2,684 (13.74%) Turks, 1,080 (5.53%) Roma, and 519 (2.66%) others.

The particular seal of Debar are spa’s (mineral water resorts), Kosovrasti on the coast of Debar lake and Banjiste – 4 km far from Debar with their famous healing water. Accommodation is decent in both of them.

• Number of inhabitants: 19,542 in 2002
• Area: 145,67 sq.km
• Geographic position: 41.523166, 20.523663
• Climate: continental mountain
• Average temperature:
• Time zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
• Postal Code: 1250
• Local area code: 046

As you see the monument of Skender Beu in front of you in the centre of Debar, just look around and you’ll see dozens of restaurants, pizzerias and bars. Debar has always been a Market place for many surrounding villages and a crossroad, so it has to offer a good dish to all the people who were trading here. If you just accept that you’ll hardly find a good pork meat, you may enjoy in a typical oriental kitchen, enriched with many western tastes. They will strive to attract your attention and show you their unlimited hospitality. The cream on the cake will come as you hear the prices. You better stay sitting on your chair, because they will surprise you submitting you the complete lunch bill, for which you may eat a small bag of grilled potatoes in your country.

The first recorded document mentioning Debar is the map of Ptolemy, dating around the middle of the 2nd century, in which it is called Deborus. The Byzantine emperor Basil II knew of its existence, and Felix Petancic referred to it as Dibri in 1502.

The city was subsequently conquered by the First Bulgarian Empire, but lost to the Byzantines under Tsar Samuil by the early 11th century, as Bulgaria was subjugated.

Bohemond and his Norman army took the city in 1107. In the 13th and 14th century, the city changed hands between Despotate of Epirus, the Second Bulgarian Empire, Byzantine Empire and Serbia.

At the end of the 14th century it is conquered by the Ottomans.

During the time of the Albanian prince Gjergj Kastriot Skenderbeu, it played a major role in the rebellions of Albanian population against the Ottomans. Debar region was the borderline between the Ottomans and the rebels between 1443 and 1465 and became an area of continuous conflict. There were two major battles near Debar April 29, 1444 and September 27, 1446, both ending as Ottoman defeats.

In the early 19th century, when Debar rebelled against the Turkish Sultan, the French traveller, publicist, and scientist Ami Bue observed that Debar had 64 shops and 4,200 residents.

Debar was significantly involved in the national Albanian movement and on November 1, 1878 the Albanian leaders of the city participated in founding the League of Prizren.

During the First Balkan War of 1912-1913, the city was annexed by the Kingdom of Serbia. In September of 1913 during an Albanian invasion of Serbia, Albanian armed forces occupied the city, but the Serbian Army regained it later that month.

By the end of the century, the town had 15,500 residents, but after World War I, this number started to decline.

The history of Debar and of Gostivar, Kicevo, Struga and Tetovo as well, during the WW-2 is a kind of a black blot on the face of Albanians, and it’s sad that some of their recent politicians have similar dreams and sentiments.

An ideal area for cycling, walking and fishing on the river Radika, that’s the main characteristic of Debar.

Mother Nature was generous to this part of Macedonia.

There are some night bars in Debar and its surrounding villages, and you should always have on your mind that Struga and Ohrid are not so far from here – on only 1 hour drive, so make your choice.

• By car: 145 km south-west from Skopje, 2,5 hours drive
• By plane: www.airports.com.mk (Skopje)
• By bus: www.sas.com.mk (Skopje)
• By train: No railway to Debar.

If you’re ready to see some unique parts of the Orthodox Christianity, then you’re on the right place, in the cradle of famous iconostases and woodcarving, you will be simply stunned.