Demir Kapija

(Macedonian: Демир Капија)

Demir Kapija is a town in the Republic of Macedonia, located near the ominous limestone gates of the same name. It has 4,815 inhabitants. The town is a seat of the Demir Kapija municipality.

The Vardar river makes a wonderful gorge close to Demir-Kapija, while the "Bela Voda" cave is very interesting to see at 955 m long. When passing "The Iron Gates", the road leads to the Valandovo and Gevgelija valley. It is the most picturesque region in Macedonia, as well as the most varied with its agricultural products. This valley is under the influence of the Mediterranean climate. It is also a national monument of nature and an ornithological reserve, home to many rare species of birds and endemic plants.

This is the longest gorge of Vardar River (19 km). It cuts through the belt of lime and eruptive rocks that separate the Tikves Gorge on northwest from Gevgelia-Valandovo one on southeast. The entry of the gorge is particularly imposing, a kanyon of about 0,9 km. length, with various karstic forms on its sides - caves and crevices, slopes of steep cliffs, etc. Among the caves (9), Bela Voda is the longest with its canal's length of 955 m. Demir Kapija Gorge is one of the richest ornithological reserves in Europe by the presence of rare vulture birds: Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus),Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Harrier Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), foxy buzzard (Buteo rufinus), various falcons (Falco peregrinus, Falco naumanni), as well as other rare bird species. Different species of mammals, reptiles and insects are also found in Demir Kapija Gorge, as are rare and endemic plants (Colladonia macedonica, Lilium heldreichii, Lilium martagon, Kitaibelia vitifolia etc.)

• Number of inhabitants: 4.815
• Area:
• Geographic position:
• Climate:
• Average temperature:
• Time zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
• Postal Code: 1442
• Local area code: 043

Whatever you have on the table will be tasteful, because of the escorting wine by it. It’s a sin if you are in Demir Kapija and not taste some of the original, amazing wines in the vineries around.

Demir-Kapija is a place already mentioned in Classical times under the name of Stenae (Greek for gorge). In the Middle Ages it was known as a Slav settlement, under the name of Prosek, while today's name originates from the Turkish reign, meaning "The Iron Gate".

The town of Prosek was used as a fortress due to its good strategic position. In the thirteenth century Prosek had become the seat of Dobromir Hriz, and Strez was its well-known commander. The former settlement was fortified by walls, and it is considered that it was used to exist in the Neolithic Age. Burial grounds of the Paeonian Empire have been discovered, one of only 3 known places in Macedonia with such ancient artifacts. Demir Kapija is hiding numerous localities and invincible remains. The research up to the present has proved that all the pass periods have left their traces: the Paeonian, Hellenic/Greek, Roman, Byzantine, the period of the Bulgarian Tsar samuil the Turkish as well as the early Christian period.

The former Yugoslavic King Aleksandar Karadjordjevic had his summer home and winery built here. The winery is the oldest on the Balkans and still produces quality wines under the privately owned Agropin name. Newer wineries, like Popova Kula, have opened up additionally and paves the way for exports and economic stimulus of the region. Demir Kapija is also home to the flour mill Dekamel and has a modern farm for production of eggs known as Salmak.

Demir Kapija is an outdoors heaven for sports and recreational activities. Mountaineers often enjoy hiking the area for their favorite tea plants. Formerly, the national and regional Kayak competitions were held here because of the natural rapids formed by the river into the canyon. Alpinists climb the rock towers to see the most impressive view of the canyon beyond. Trails are also made to hike to these points, as well as to the remains of the aforementioned ruins of the fortress Prosek. Possibly the most interesting hike, noted in The Brandt Guide to Macedonia, is the stopping point between the 2 tunnels on the highway. Parking exists, and it is very interesting walking along the small river between 2 rock faces, like an open-ended cave to some unique Turkish Villages.

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• By car: 120 km south of Skopje on the highway to Greece
• By plane: www.airports.com.mk (Skopje)
• By bus: www.sas.com.mk (Skopje)
• By train: Skopje – Athens railway

The Popova Kula Winery was built to produce the highest quality Macedonian wine and launch quality wine tourism in the region ...