Kumanovo

(Macedonian: Куманово)

Kumanovo is the third largest city in the Republic of Macedonia (after Skopje and Bitola) and a seat of the Kumanovo municipality, which is the second largest municipality in the country (after the capital Skopje). Municipal institutions include a city council, mayor and other administrative bodies.

Kumanovo is situated in the northeastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, near the capital city of Skopje. The coordinates of the city are approximately 42°05'N and 21°40'E. Although Kumanovo lies 340 m above sea level, it is surrounded by the Karadag part of Skopska Crna Gora mountain on its western side, Gradistanska Planina mountain on its southern side and Mangovica and German mountain on the eastern side. Kumanovo has a temperate climate. Skopje airport greatly helps Kumanovo's tourism.

Kumanovo is believed to derive from the Cumans, a Turkic tribe who settled the area in the 12th-13th century.

• Number of inhabitants: 105.484
• Area: 509,48 sq. km
• Geographic position: 42.7° N 21.42° E
• Climate: Continental
• Average temperature:
• Time zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
• Postal Code: 1300
• Local area code: 031

If you’re not in a hurry to Skopje or further to the south, or you are intentionally in Kumanovo then you will certainly find something for your taste. Kumanovo is multi-national city, so you may find Serbian, Albanian, Bulgarian and normally Macedonian specialities, beside “pizza” system and Fast food stops on almost every corner.

The area boasts many pre-modern settlements; the oldest are: the Kostoperska karpa, the Bronze Age Gradiste (near the village of Pelince), the Neolithic site of Mlado Nagorichane, the Iron Age tumulus Groblje (village of Vojnik), the Roman Necropolis Drezga (village of Lopate), the Roman Settlement Vicianus (village of Klechovce), and many others.

The city was first mentioned in 1519 in a document housed in a Turkish archive in Istanbul. The most comprehensive and relevant information on Kumanovo is provided by Evlija celebija in 1660: "The colony of Kumanovo is situated on the territory of the Skopje sanjak and represents one county. The city is embellished with many rivers and 600 tile-roofs houses. The mosque in the downtown is beautiful, there are teke, madrassa (Islamic religious secondary school), caravanserai (Turkish bath), a number of shops and water mills; and the climate is pleasant and agreeable. There are many vineyards and gardens".

Kumanovo became an urban settlement and administrative centre of the region at the end of the 16th century or the beginning of the 17th century. Following the turbulent events (notably, the Karposh rebellion in 1689) the city experienced a period of stagnation, and by the end of 18th century Kumanovo epitomized an Ottoman provincial town.

The letter of protection sent by the Austrian Emperor Leopold I taking under his protection the people of Macedonia ("gente Macedonian" )(Vienna, April 26, 1690).

A great rebel leader named Karpos was born in a village near Kumanovo called Vojnik. Initially, he was a vassal of Turks, but when the Ottoman empire began to weaken in 1689 and discontent rose concerning new higher taxation policies, Karpoš became a turning point in the battle versus the Turks. In that period Austria staged an attack on the Ottoman Empire. Then the Karpoš seized upon the situation and the uprising quickly spread to the rebels freeing Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Kumanovo, Kacanik and in other towns. Then, together with the Austrian army, lead by Emperor Leopold I, they fought to liberate Skopje and Stip.

Later there was a change in the military and political situation in the Balkans, which had a crucial effect on the rebellion. The Austrian army was forced to withdraw and powerful Turkish forces, reinforced by Tatar detachments belonging to the Crimean Khan Selim Girhal, attacked the rebels. After fierce battles the Turks took Kriva Palanka, the rebel stronghold, and then attacked Kumanovo and its newly-constructed fortress. Karpos was captured, removed to Skopje, and put to death on the Stone Bridge across the Vardar river.

It developed economically in the late 19th century (agriculture, handcrafts and trade). Still, industrial development occurred only at the end of the WW-2. The rapid economic, administrative and cultural expansion of Kumanovo began in 1945. Today, it is a modern city with approximately 100,000 inhabitants.

The anti-fascist insurrection of Macedonians and the struggle for national and social liberation began in Kumanovo and Prilep on October 11th, 1941.

• By car: 35 km North - East of Skopje on the highway to Serbia
• By plane: www.airports.com.mk (Skopje)
• By bus: www.sas.com.mk (Skopje)
• By train: On the Skopje - Belgrade railway

An archeological team claimed that the megalithic archeological site of Tatikev Kamen in north Macedonia actually was a 4,000-years-old observatory, which indicated that there was a Stonehenge in Macedonia, MIA news agency reported recently.

According to the team, the site discovered a year ago by archeologist Jovica Stankovski and had served both as a ceremonial place and as an observatory.

The research carried out this year showed that the observatory had a specific place for monitoring the stars and the sun, as well as specific holes through which the movement of the sun and the moon could be recorded.

Stankovski said that in the second millennium BC the location was set on fire, which corresponded with the period of the great migrations in this part of the Balkans.

The head of the Macedonian Planetarium Gjore Cenev pointed out that this discovery proved that there was a civilization on the Balkans unknown to today's science. He said, "This civilization had its own culture and religious ceremonies. We did not find any written documents, but if we do, that will be a true sensation."