Isar

Located on the west side of Shtip, between the Bregalnica and Otinja rivers, you can see a rocky hill on which the Isar Fortress is situated.

It is not known exactly when the fortress was built but it is known that it dates back to the Middle Ages because of all its medieval artistic features. On all four sides of the Isar, churches were constructed to protect the fortress. In 1332 a church dedicated to St. Archangel Michael was built, then in 1337 was erected another church dedicated to St. Vasilie, and the third church dedicated to St. Nikola was built in 1341. Several years later, the fourth church was built, which today is still preserved in its original form.

During its existence, the fortress went through several occupations but the Turkish authorities left huge marks on it as the Isar was destroyed during that period. Although the fortress was 19m high, today it remains mostly in ruins with very few preserved parts from the entire construction process. Despite being ruined, the fortress is still visited by locals and tourists who learn a lot about the history of this place and at the same time enjoy spectacular views of the city.

Location: Shtip