In 2005 we arrived in Krushevo (Krusevo) by foot, coming from the Monastery of St Spas in Trstenik. This was part of a 4 day trip we did from Ohrid-Prilep-Krusevo-Ohrid, with a stay in Prilep and in the Monastery of St Spas. In 2024 we revisited and stayed in Krushevo for over a week to really explore this pretty mountain town and surroundings.
Museums in Krushevo
Krushevo is the highest town of the Balkan, at 1250 m. On August 2nd 1903 (the holy day of St Ilija), the Macedonians fought for independence from the Ottoman empire. This day is known as Ilin-den or Ilija´s day. In Krushevo there was heavy fighting, and on August 3rd the independence of the Republic of Krushevo was announced. It lasted only for 10 days until it was brought down again by the Ottomans.
The Ilinden Uprising monument, also known as The Makedonium, is on the opposite side of Krusevo from the Meckin Kamen monument. The monument contains the tomb of Nikola Karev, who was made president of the Republic of Krusevo in 1903 after the Ilinden uprising against the Ottomans. Location: N41° 22′ 38.5″ E21° 14′ 54.1″.
At the large parking below The Makedonium there is an Museum Info Booth where you can buy tickets for the Makedonium as well as a combination ticket for other museums such as the Museum of the Ilinden Uprising and Museum of WW2 (both closed in 2024), the Foundry Museum and the Gallery of Nikola Martinoski. Location of the info booth: N41° 22′ 31.0″ E21° 14′ 48.6″.
The Foundry Museum was closed but the friendly employee at the info booth opened it up for us and gave a private tour. A foundry is a factory that creates parts out of molten metal. This is the place were -in secret- bullets and explosives were produced for the uprising. They have a large collection of guns as well. Location: N41° 22′ 19.8″ E21° 14′ 47.6″.
Both the Museum of WW2/Museum of National Liberation (N41° 22′ 32.0″ E21° 14′ 44.6″) and the Museum of the Ilinden Uprising (N41° 22′ 08.6″ E21° 14′ 43.1″) were closed in 2024.
The Gallery of the Macedonian painter from Krushevo Nikola Martinovski (1903-1973) was a bit difficult to find but certainly worth a visit, if not for the paintings than for the nice building which is Martinovski’s former home.
There is also a room with ethnological items. One of his most famous paintings is “Mother with Child” which is considered the Macedonian Mona Lisa, because she keeps following you with her eyes. Location: N41° 22′ 08.3″ E21° 15′ 08.4″.
Tose Proeski
Tose Proeski (1981-2007) was a famous Macedonian singer who grew up in Krushevo, the highest mountain town in Macedonia. He died in a tragic car accident. You cannot day Krushevo without saying Tose Proeski, many places are dedicated to him.
The Tose Memorial House is build in the shape of a cross. There are many items from the life of Tose on display. The Memorial house is close to the Makedonium ij the north of Krushevo. Location: N41° 22′ 28.5″ E21° 14′ 46.9″.
The tomb of Tose is located at the highest point of the cemetary of Krushevo, near the Memorial House and the Makedonium. Location: N41° 22′ 29.6″ E21° 14′ 53.4″.
Opposite to the tomb of Tose you can see the grave of the famous revolutionary Pitu Guli (1865–1903) who died during the fight at the site Mechkin Kamen during the Ilinden Uprising. Another Monument for Tose you can find near the Church of St Nikola. Location: N41° 22′ 07.1″ E21° 14′ 54.6″.
The Monastery St Preobrazhenie (Holy Transfiguration) was one of Tose’s favorite places and he helped building the monastery. The Monastery may be open more often in the afternoon than in the morning. The church is beautifully fresco painted and there are memorials as well as a fresco of Tose Proeski. In 2024 construction works were still ongoing for the lodging houses and it was not possible to stay in the monastery. Location: north of Krushevo, N41° 24′ 28.9″ E21° 13′ 15.0″.
Another place that he loved was a nearby hill, where he once told his father that one day he would build a cross there. After his unfortunate death, a steel cross was made in his honor. The Cross of Christ (Hristov Krst) is 33 meters high, symbolic for the years of Jesus Christ. Location: north of Krusevo, N41° 24′ 08.8″ E21° 13′ 24.4″.
Both the Monastery St Preobrazhenie and the Cross of Christ are included in the hike to the Stara Musica Peak (13 km).
Sliva Monument
The Sliva monument is a symbol of the heroism and self-sacrifice of the Macedonians during the defense of the Krushevo Republic on August 12, 1903. On this date and location (Sliva or Plum Hill) 40 fighters of the rebellion fought a ‘last stand’ battle against 3,000 Ottoman soldiers, in an effort to act as a final defense of the fleeing women and children in the town of Krushevo below. Each of the rebel fighters was ultimately killed by the Ottoman forces. In 1963 a 5 m tall stone monument was built on the site of the battle. On the monument an inscription reads: “For the freedom and endurance of the 40 fallen heroes of Ilinden”. You’ll pass the Sliva monument on the way from Krushevo to the St Preobrazhenie (Holy Transfiguration) Monastery and Cross of Christ. Location: N41° 23′ 17.5″ E21° 13′ 38.6″.
Mechkin Kamen
Meckin Kamen (Bears Rock) is another site of one of the battles during the Ilinden Uprising. The story tells that the Macedonians were heavily outnumbered by the Ottomans and short of ammunition, so they started to throw rocks. The powerful statue shows a fighter throwing a huge rock. The Macedonians come here every August 2nd to celebrate the independence of Macedonia. Mechkin Kamen is located about 4 km south of Krushevo. Location: N41° 20′ 15.8″ E21° 15′ 28.4″.
War heroes
This statue of the revolutionary Nikola Karev (1877-1905) is found in a small park just south of the Tose Proeski Memorial House and the Makedonium. Nikola Karev was born in Krushevoand killed in 1905 in a fight with Ottoman soldiers. Location: N41° 22′ 25.0″ E21° 14′ 46.8″.
Also the revolutionary Pitu Guli (1865–1903) was born in Krushevo and he died during the fight against the Ottomans at Mechkin Kamen. His statue can be found in a park in the south of Krushevo. I did not want to disturb the disrespectful pigeon just for my picture. Location: N41° 21′ 53.9″ E21° 14′ 59.0″.
Churches in Krushevo
The original Church of St Nikola in Krushevo was built in 1832 but was destroyed in 1903 during the Ilinden Uprising. The current church is from 1905. Location: N41° 22′ 06.0″ E21° 14′ 56.2″.
The Church of St Jovan Krstitel (St John the Baptist) is from 1879-1904. Location: N41° 22′ 10.3″ E21° 14′ 56.7″
The Church of St Bogorodica is from 1867 and was closed when we visited. It has some impressive woodcarved doors. Location: N41° 22′ 10.6″ E21° 14′ 47.3″
The Church of St Trojica (St Trinity) is located in the south of Krushevo. It originally is from 1881 but burned down during the Ilinden Uprising in 1903, The current church was restored in 2007.
Interestingly, the Church of St Trinity has the remains of an older church inside. According to a paper sign these are the remains of the Church of St Atanasij from the nearby village Lokveni. It seems that these old frescoes are from 1627 when the original church was fresco painted, although the paper sign in St Trinity says that these remains are from the 13th century. See here for some details on that older church. Opening times are daily from 10.00-15.00 except on Mondays. Location: N41° 21′ 54.2″ E21° 15′ 09.7″
We paid the Church of St Nedela (St Sunday) a short visit on our way back from the Monastery St Preobrazhenie north of Krushevo. It is from 1998 and there is a spring below the church where locals fill up bottles with water. Location: N41° 22′ 31.2″ E21° 14′ 27.5″
Other sights in Krushevo
Besides its crucial role in Macedonian history, Krushevo is famous for two other things: Paragliding and candy. We did not do the paragliding so I will focus here on the candy. The Tagas Balkan Candy Shop mainly sells two kinds of candy: Lokum (Turkish Delight) and Celuvki (“Kisses” or meringue, made of whipped egg white and sugar). If you’re not already diabetic you’ll become it after visiting the Tagas Balkan Candy Shop. Location.
Krushevo Lake is close to the Makedonium in the north of Krushevo. We took a break from the sightseeing here. Location: N41° 22′ 42.0″ E21° 14′ 38.5″
Restaurants in Krusevo
In 2024 we visited restaurants Skar, Krusevska Odaja and Shape in Krusevo. They were all alright but we liked Skar the best, with very good pizza and pastrmajlija, the famous Macedonia oval meat pizza. If you don’t like stray dogs begging for food Skar may not be for you, but for us the sweet dogs added to the experience.
accommodation in Krushevo
In 2024 we stayed over a week in Krusevo. We stayed in Apartment Nane, a small but nice and affordable apartment in the south of Krusevo below hotel Montana. The apartment is small but perfectly fine for two people, although 4 people can theoretically sleep there. Its terrace has a good view of Krushevo and there is free parking in front of the apartment. Note that in the center of Krushevo it is challenging to park, so this is an excellent choice if you have a car.
Daytrips outside of Krushevo
Most sights in Krushevo can be seen in two days. We stayed for more than a week because we used Krushevo as a base to see some of the surroundings during daytrips. See here for all the daytrips that we did from Krushevo.
Picture galley of Krushevo
Below are a few pictures to give you a better idea of this mountain town.
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