Makedonski Brod

 

Makedonski Brod (Македонски Брод) (originally and historically known simply as Brod, from the term boat - run over part of a river) - a town in the western part of Macedonia. It is located in the upper course of the river Treska and is the center of the Poreч region. It is 27 km east of Kicevo, and 37 km northwest of Prilep. The main problem is the road connection with Skopje, because with the construction of the dam Kozjak part of the direct road was destroyed, so now to get to Skopje you have to go about 150 km through Kicevo, Gostivar and Tetovo.

Makedonski Brod is one of the smaller cities in Macedonia. It is located in the Poreчката district and is its administrative and municipal center. The city lies on the banks of the upper catchment area of ​​the river Treska. Hence his name Brod.

On the site of today's city, above the waters of Treska, there was a bridge that connected the cities of Prilep and Kicevo. The bridge was popularly known as the Ship.

 

Geography

The town is located in the central part of Western Macedonia, in the area of ​​Poreче, in the upper course of the river Treska. Located in altitude 545 meters.

 

History

According to a tombstone found in the village of Krapa, it was determined that the area was inhabited by Romans.

Later, with the arrival of the Slavs, the Slavic tribe Berziti, ie Brsjaci, moved to this area.

Makedonski Brod is an old settlement. It is first mentioned in a charter of King Stephen Uros II Milutin from 1300. The old part of the settlement was located on the left bank of the river Treska.

In the vicinity of Brod, near the village of Devic, the remains of buildings are visible, which confirms the assumption that in that area, in the Middle Ages, there was a settlement that functioned as the center of the whole area. There rise the Devin Kuli which are built near the cave Peshna, where there are remains of the city walls, which, according to legend, was built by the young girl Peshna, sister of the hero King Marko.

 

Climate

The territory of the municipality is under the influence of temperate-continental climate, which is characterized by cold and rainy winters, dry and hot summers. The high mountains have a mountainous climate with short and cold summers and long and snowy winters. The warmest month with an average monthly temperature is July with 25˚C. The coldest month with an average monthly temperature is December with -15 to 3˚C. Extreme temperatures range from 41˚C in August to -27˚C in January.

 

Cultural and natural sights

Churches

Church "St. Mother of God "
Saint Bogordica is a central cathedral and parish church in Makedonski Brod. The church was built in 1872. The iconostasis and the icons are the work of the painter Nikolaj from Krushevo, made in the period from 1883 - 1885. It was partially frescoed in 1988 by the painters Jovan and Goce Mileski.

Church "St. Archangel Michael "- built in 1998;

Church "St. Nikola "
St. Nicholas is an Orthodox church in Makedonski Brod. The church is unique in that it is also known as the Turbe and is a temple for Alevi Muslims. There are frescoes of St. Elijah, the Virgin Mary and Jesus on the walls, as well as paintings of the Bektashi saint Ali. In the middle of the room is the tomb of the Bektashi saint Hader Baba, and around it are sent Muslim prayer mats. This building was built in the 14th century as a church built by King Uros III, which was devastated when the Ottoman Turks came to the region. But a certain Asan-bey rebuilt it in the 18th century to remove the curse from the palace he had built during the day and collapsed at night. It was later renovated in 1933.

Church "St. Petka ”- the newest city church. It is located opposite the old hospital. Construction began in 2015;

 

Archaeological sites

Heap
Gramada - an archeological site in Makedonski Brod. It is a settlement and necropolis from late antiquity. It is located on the northern edge of the city, where the settlement expands, when during the construction of new houses, foundations of old buildings were discovered. There are many fragments of pottery, pithos and roof tiles. Graves made of stone slabs were found at the northern end of the terrain.

Kale
Kale - archeological site in Makedonski Brod. It is a site from late antiquity. It is located south of the Municipal Assembly building, where a low hill rises with a small flat area that was fenced with a rampart. Fragments of ceramic vessels, pithos and roof tiles are sporadically found on the surface of the hill and at the foot.

The tower
Kula or Barbaros - an archeological site in Makedonski Brod, ie in the area of ​​the historic village Barbaros. It is a fortified settlement and castle from the Middle Ages. It is located on a hill on the left side of the road Makedonski Brod-Prilep, at the crossing from Poreчи to Prilep Field.

Rajјica
Rajјica- an archeological site in Makedonski Brod. It is an basilica from early Christian times and a necropolis from the early Middle Ages. It is located in the northern part of the city, on the left bank of the river Treska, which is an alluvial terrace (KP 544), where two graves were discovered while digging the foundations for the construction of a building. In the eighties of the 20th century, with the protective archeological interventions, 9 more cyst-type tombs were discovered and most of the apse of the basilica. A basket-shaped earring was found in one of the coats of arms. The findings are kept in the Museum of Macedonia in Skopje.

 

Economy

From economic activities, the population is mainly engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. There are several industrial plants in the city, the most important of which is the tobacco company. With the closure of the "Souvenir" factory for the production of iron coins and firearms in the village of Samokov (former municipal center), the employment of a large part of the citizens of Makedonski Brod who were employed there was terminated.

 

Municipality

Makedonski Brod is the center of the municipality of the same name, Makedonski Brod, a municipality in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia. The municipality covers an area of 888.97 km2 and according to the territory is the third largest municipality in Macedonia, right after Prilep (1,194.94 km2) and Kavadarci (992.44 km2).

 

Administration and politics

Polling station
In the city there are polling stations no. 247, 247/1, 248, 248/1 and 249 according to the State Election Commission, located in the premises of the primary school and retirement home.

In the presidential elections in 2019, a total of 3,122 voters were registered at this polling station.

 

Population

According to the 2002 census, 3,740 inhabitants lived in the town of Makedonski Brod. Makedonski Brod records a slight but constant increase in its population, which, in addition to births, is mostly due to the immigration of people from villages in Porecchiete.