List of World Heritage Sites in North Macedonia

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.[1] Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Socialist Republic of Macedonia declared independence as Republic of Macedonia in 1991 and succeeded the UNESCO convention on 30 April 1997 under the name the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (due to the naming dispute with Greece).[2] Following the Prespa agreement, the name of the country was officially changed to North Macedonia in 2019.

Location of the World Heritage Site within North Macedonia

As of 2019, there is one site in North Macedonia inscribed on the list and further four on the tentative list. Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region was inscribed at the 3rd UNESCO session in 1979. In 2019, the site was expanded to include the Albanian portion of the lake, thus becoming a transnational site.[3] The tentative sites are the Cave Slatinski Izvor, the geological formation Markovi Kuli, the megalithic archaeo-astronomical complex Kokino, and Mavrovo National Park, as a part of transnational site Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe.[4]

World Heritage Sites

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, whereas vii through x are natural.[5]

  * Transnational site
Site Image Location (municipality) Year listed UNESCO data Description
Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region* Ohrid 1979 99; i, iii, iv, vii (mixed) The town of Ohrid is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe with archaeological remains from the Bronze Age to the Medieval Era. It is a prominent testimony of Byzantine arts and architecture, such as the churches of St. John at Kaneo and St. Sophia. Ohrid has the most ancient Slavonic monastery and the first Slavonic University in the Balkans. Lake Ohrid dates to the pre-glacial era and provides a unique refuge for numerous endemic and relict freshwater species of flora and fauna. The site was extended in 1980 and a minor modification of the boundaries took place in 2009. In 2019, the site was extended to include the Albanian portion of the lake.[3]

Tentative list

In addition to the sites inscribed on the World Heritage list, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage list are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list.[6] As of 2019, North Macedonia recorded four sites on its tentative list, all added in the years 2004, 2009, and 2019.[4]

Site Image Location (municipality) Year listed UNESCO criteria Description
Cave Slatinski Izvor Makedonski Brod 2004 vii, viii, ix (natural) The longest explored cave system in North Macedonia. The caves are located above the Slatina river near the village of Slatina, North Macedonia and were probably created during the last ice age. Several cave formations are found in the system.[7]
Markovi Kuli Prilep 2004 vii, viii, ix (natural) A geological formation consisting of magmatic and metamorphic rocks. The configuration of the terrain itself and the favorable geographical position caused this area to be constantly populated at least since the Bronze Age.[8]
Archaeo-astronomical Site Kokino Staro Nagoričane 2009 i, ii, iii (cultural) A megalithic astronomical complex on the top of the mountain Tatićev Kamen, dating to the Bronze Age. Stone marker cuttings indicate the spots of the rising of the Sun in the days of the summer solstice, the winter solstice, the spring and autumn equinox, as well as the rising of the full Moon on the eastern horizon, when it has a maximum and minimum declination in winter and summer. The site was uncovered in 2001.[9]
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe – extension (North Macedonia)* Mavrovo and Rostuša 2019 ix (natural) This tentative extension is to include the beech forest of Dlaboka Reka above the village of Žužnje within Mavrovo National Park.[10]

See also
  • Lists of World Heritage Sites in Europe

References
  1. "UNESCO World Heritage Centre The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. 25 December 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. 25 December 2017. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  3. "Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  4. "UNESCO World Heritage Centre Tentative Lists: Macedonia". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  5. "UNESCO World Heritage Centre The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  6. "UNESCO World Heritage Centre Tentative Lists". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  7. "Cave Slatinski Izvor". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  8. "Markovi Kuli". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  9. "Archaeo-astronomical Site Kokino". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  10. "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe – extension (North Macedonia)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
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