The Skopje Fortress or Skopje Kale is the main attraction of the Republic of North Macedonia. The symbol of Skopje majestically rises above the city, standing on a 45-meter high ridge. It is impossible to visit Skopje and not notice it.
On the current location of the Skopje Fortress, archaeologists found traces of settlements, dating back to the 6th millennium BC. This structure is known to exist here in the 11th century and be the city center. During its long history, the fortress was ruled by different states. It appeared during the reign of Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria. Until the end of the 13th century, it was under the rule of the Normans, and then – of the Serbs. A century later, the fortress got into the hands of the Ottoman Empire. There were the Austro-Hungarian headquarters during the First World War, and later – barracks of the Yugoslav army. In 1951, the area came under the control of the Archaeology and History Museum.
The fortress constantly changed hands, so it experienced regular reconstructions and destructions. However, people did not affect the building condition the way that natural disasters did. Large earthquakes happened in the capital of Macedonia. One of them, in 1967, severely damaged the Skopje Fortress. People carried out large-scale restoration work. In particular areas, it is still going on.
The present-day appearance of the historical monument dates back to the 13-14th centuries, but some of the preserved walls were built in the 11th century. The fortress walls are 9 meters high, although they initially reached 10-11 meters in height and 2,85 meters in width. The principal material of the building is limestone.
In warm weather, the walls of the magnificent fortress host theatre performances, concerts and cultural events. But the favorite entertainment of tourists is still climbing the towers to see a fascinating view of the Macedonian capital.