Valandovo

(Macedonian: Валандово)

Valandovo is a town in southeastern Republic of Macedonia. The town of Valandovo is a seat of the Valandovo municipality.

• Number of inhabitants: 11.890
• Area:
• Geographic position: 41°19′1″N, 22°33′40″E.
• Climate: Mediterranean
• Average temperature: Yearly 14°C
• Time zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
• Postal Code:
• Local area code:

Having an ideal Mediterranean climate, the town and its surroundings give the impression of a large garden abundant with the well-known and tasty Valandovo figs and pomegranates, as well as other early-spring vegetables and fruits.

The city is often visited by Greeks for its grave of Greek soldiers who fell there during World War I fighting with the Allies against the central powers.

Like in all other tiny places in Macedonia, you won’t have big opportunities to meet great masters of world cooking here. Being in Strumica which is only 25 km north-east from here, over the hill, or on your way there, you will pass through Valandovo because you’ll hardly find something interesting. Some traditional small restaurants may satisfy your desire. Coming from Gevgelija or even Dojran, you’ll just pay attention to the Greek Cemetery from the WW-1, and the Irish Cross on the top of a small hill, reminding those passing here on the brave Irishmen falling to death on Gallipoli, in defence of the holy freedom and Serbia. Some people will offer you wonderful figs and pomegranates by the road, and hit you with the prices, you’ll ask yourself if it is possible to meet such low prices, simply…you pay some peanuts, otherwise it will be free of charge.

Evidence of life can be found beginning in the 10th-7th centuries B.C. There is a settlement known as Mal Konstantinopol (Small Constantinople) dating from Roman times, and the life in the Middle Ages is marked by Marco’s Tower. In the vicinity of the town there are also two very important archaeological sites – The Isar Marvinci and the knowledge experts have on the existence of the ancient city Idomeni. Also, very interesting and important discoveries are the ancient mosaics of Valandovo, the necropolis discovered near Dedeli dating from the Iron Age, the monastery and the church dedicated to St. George, etc. On the hill Isar, at the village of Marvinci near the town of Valandovo, there is a community from the early antique period that belonged to the southern Macedonian area called Amphacsitida. The many layers of this community speak of permanence with no significant interruptions, where time managed to save the earliest traces of its existence. The hill is 40 to 45 meters high and is located over the mouth of Anska River, flowing into the Vardar river. The Acropolis of the town was strengthened by defence bulwarks. Most of the architectural findings show the existence of profane living objects, while the last phase shows the possible existence of a ceramic workshop. The construction method in the earlier primitive stages, is very different from the latest stages. According to the archaeological findings, the town was first ruined in the 3rd century BC, in time of the Celtic invasion in 279 BC. The excavated construction material shows the cultural and economic development of the town throughout centuries of its survival. In the 5th and 4th century BC, stock was imported from Corinth and Ionia, in Asia Minor. Ceramic from the Iron Age was found in the tombs and Greek amphorae from the classical and late Hellenic period. Apart from the imported ceramics from the big manufacturing centres, there are also local ceramic products with native tradition and often simulating Greek forms. During the Hellenic era, the connections with the neighbouring leading cultural centres in Macedonia: Pela, Beroia, Amphipolis and Thessalonica were strengthened. Ceramic plastic, jewels and coins were made in the pattern of these developed centres. The antique town on the Isar secured its economic development through agriculture, cattle raising and mining. The numerous mines in the region, as well as the pottery craft continued as a tradition in the Roman period.

This has never been some big sporty region, although its habitants look very sporty. They work hard in the fields and that’s their main sport. But anyway, you may ride your bike in the direction of Dojran lake, if you are ready to weather the storm of high summer temperatures, often reaching the point of 45 Celsius.

You’ll have to take a look nearby, Dojran is only 18 km far from here, or Strumica – 25 km.

Hunting site Cestovo Valandovo

At about 150 km from Skopje, on an area of 7.000 ha of combined relief, the hunting site “Cestovo” is located. Altitude of the hunting site ranges from 58 m- 322 m. The micro climate on the hunting site, under the influence of the Mediterranean and continental climates, is ideal for many varieties of trees, bushes, grasses, as well as crops like maize, corn, barley, rye etc, all of which represents healthy food for the game.

The ample resources of food as well as the clean water of Anska River create ideal conditions for development of wild rabbit, stone partridge, field partridge and pheasant.On an area of 2 Ha in the hunting site, a three-part adapting voliera for populating and adaptation of pheasant chickens has been established, and thorough this, the offer for hunting of hens is enhanced.