Macedonia

Balkan culture and history tailor-made for the adventurous traveler

This beautiful province of the former Yugoslavia is one of Europe's newest republics. Located west of Bulgaria, Macedonia is home to a diverse population of Slavs, Turks, Serbs, Bulgars and Albanians and is home to a long and rich history.

For train passengers, Macedonia lies on the main line between European countries in the West and Greece, so many passengers stop here briefly before continuing east. Even though it’s been fought over by other nations for centuries—it was once part of the Ottoman Turkish Empire—most of the country's monuments, including ancient monasteries, mosques, old churches, historic buildings, and archaeological gardens, remain relatively intact.

Although it has only recently started developing its tourism infrastructure, visitors will find modern hotels, low prices and a diverse range of activities from canyon river rafting to architectural walking tours. Macedonia has a strong culinary tradition, is a prolific producer of dairy products and is famous for its high-quality wines and liqueurs.

© 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.