Krusevo proudly preserves the memory of the renowned Ilinden Uprising
of the Macedonian people, when on August 2, St. Elijah's Day, 1903, the
Macedonians liberated the city from the 500-year Turkish rule.
The first republic on the Balkans known as "Krusevo Republic" was
established, but it lasted only ten days. The Turkish army returned,
suppressed the rebellion in blood, and burned Krusevo to the ground.
A few kilometers away from the town is the historical site of "Meckin
Kamen" (Bear's Stone) where the whole band and their leader Pitu Guli
perished in trying to defend the town from the Turkish troops coming
from Bitola.
