Here, the civilization is existing for more than 3000 years. According
to the legends, the city was founded by Kadmos 2400 years ago. Ohrid
presents a true archeological treasury. There are many archeological
sites from the Neolithic period in this region. The oldest recorded
mention of the city Lichnydos - the ancient name of Ohrid, occurs in
connection with Philip II of Macedonia (353 BC). And here on this region
the Slavs came and settled in the 6th century and give the city the new
name Ohrid. The medieval city of Ohrid has always been a significant
cultural and economic centre, which encompasses and extraordinary
combination of natural beauty and human art. Squeezed in the rocks on
the north side of the lake, between the walls of preserves the secrets
of many civilizations - the ancient (antique) theatre, the early Orthodox
basilicas, numerous churches built between the 9th and the 14th century,
more than 100 square meters fresco memoirs, a rich gallery of icons,
manuscripts and other rarities. It is said that there used to be 365
churches in Ohrid - one for each day in the year. The fact that Ohrid had
been an object of desire for many kings, archbishops, speaks for it self,
challenging the curious ones to visit it to nowadays. The beautiful
architecture of the 14th century in the old part of the city, with its
narrow city streets creates a sense of unique harmony and beauty. Its
beauty and virtuosity attracts the attention not only of tourists but of
many experts as well. One special cultural monument of Ohrid is the old
Bazaar - old shops rich with crafts products - filigrees, pearl, copper,
pipes...
At the end of the 9th century and the beginning of the 10th century,
due to the activity of Clement and Naum of Ohrid, Ohrid was the oldest
cultural temple in the world of the Slavs. There, they created the first
Slavic University much earlier than the Bologna University, which was
the first source of the Slavic literacy and culture. Towards the end of
the 10th century, Ohrid became the centre of the first medieval state of
Macedonian Slavs - under the reign of Samoil's. For a few centuries, it
was the seat of the autocephalous Ohrid Archbishop. But that role stopped
in 1767, when Ottoman Turks forbid it's work (the Ohrid Archbishop was
restored 200 years later, in 1967 under the name Macedonian Orthodox
Church). After the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), Ohrid became a city in the
new Serbian kingdom. Later during the First world war (1914-1918), the
line of Macedonian front was passing by the city and during the Second
world war (1939-1945), Ohrid was occupied by the Bulgarian fascists. The
artistic activity in Ohrid is included in the highest achievements of
European art in this period. The city and Ohrid lake, have both, since
1980, been under protectorate of UNESCO, as having universal, cultural,
historical and natural value and significance.
