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Prilep Прилеп
Panorama of Prilep from Marko's Towers
Flag
Nickname(s): "the city under Marko's Towers"
Prilep Location in the Republic of Macedonia
Coordinates: 41°20′N 21°35′E / 41.333°N 21.583°E / 41.333; 21.583
Country	Republic of Macedonia
Municipality	Prilep Municipality
Government
- Mayor	Marjan Risteski
Area
- City	1,194.44 km2 (461.2 sq mi)
Elevation	+620 m (2,034 ft)
Population (2002)
- City	66,246
- Density	64.27/km2 (166.5/sq mi)
- Metro	79,834
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
Postal codes	7500
Area code(s)	389 048
Patron saints	Saint Nicholas
Website	http://www.Prilep.gov.mk

Prilep (Macedonian: Прилеп, [ˈprilɛp] (help·info)) is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 citizens. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of King Marko.

Contents 1 Name 2 Geography 3 Economy 4 People 5 History 6 Culture 7 Language 8 Art and Architecture 9 Notable people 10 International relations 10.1 Twin towns — Sister cities 11 References 12 External links

Name

The name of the city in different languages is:

• Aromanian: Parleap
• Greek: Πρίλαπος
• Serbian: Прилеп
• Turkish: Pirlepe or Perlepe
• Bulgarian: Прилеп

Geography

Prilep covers 1,675 km² (647 sq mi) and is located in the northern Pelagonia plain, in southern Macedonia. Prilep is the seat of a municipality with the same name (Prilep municipality) and is accessed by the M5/E65. It is only 128 km (80 mi) (airline) from the capital Skopje, 44 km (27 mi) from Bitola, and 32 km (20 mi) from Kruševo.

Economy

Prilep is a center for high-quality tobacco and cigarettes and the metal processing, electronic, timber, textiles, and food industries. The city also produces a large quantity of Macedonian Bianco Sivec(pure white marble).

Tobacco is one of Prilep's traditional cash crops and prospers in the Macedonian climate. Many of the world's largest cigarette makers use Prilep's tobacco in their cigarettes after it is processed in local factories. A Tobacco Institute is established in the city in order to produce new types of tobacco and it was the first example of applying genetics to agriculture in the Balkans..

People

The overwhelming majority of the city population is Macedonian; the Macedonian population at the last census counted 64,527. There is also Roma minority, counting some 4,421 inhabitants, also Serbs (315)and Turks (254 ). There were risen ethnic tensions between Macedonian majority and small Albanian community in the city and the region, especially after the unfortunate event that took place during the 2001 Macedonia conflict when ten young soldiers from Prilep were killed in the civil war by Albanian insurgents.

History

Prilep was founded on the ruins of the ancient city of Styberra, first a town in Macedon and later incorporated into the Roman Empire. Styberra, though razed by the Goths in 268, remained partly inhabited. The town was first mentioned as Prilep in 1014, as the place where Tsar Samuil allegedly had a heart attack upon seeing thousands of his soldiers had been blinded by the Byzantines after the Battle of Kleidion. It was then retaken by the Second Bulgarian Empire until it was conquered by the Ottomans. The Kingdom of Prilep was one of the short lived states that emerged from the collapse of the Serbian Empire in the 14th century.^[1] Prilep was under Istanbul's control for six centuries; later, it became part of Yugoslavia and then broke away with the Republic of Macedonia in 1991.

Culture

• One of the most important institutions in the city is The Institute of Old Slavic Culture.
• Center of Contemporary Visual Arts - An art colony, hosted in the center of Prilep in the Center of Contemporary Visual Arts. The Colony has been founded in 1957 by the archaeologist Prof. PhD. Boško Babić, but organized by the initiative of Prof. PhD. Boško Babić and the academic painter - Prof. Risto Lozanovski, making it perhaps one of the oldest colonies in Southeastern Europe and the oldest one on the Balkans, for sure. It hosts painters and sculptors (working in marble, metal and wood) every year and, periodically it also hosts workshops and Symposia for vitrage (glass design), mosaics, photography, graphics and clay, from various countries around the world. The collection of sculptures carved in woods, was acknowledged as a cultural heritage by the most relevant criticizers and opinion makers. This is year (2007) it's the 50-th Anniversary of the Colony.
• Every year in October the International Children's Music Festival "Asterisks" brings together children from all over the world.
• Every year the Professional Theater Festival of Macedonia, honoring Vojdan Chernodrinski, who was born in village Selci near Struga and Debar.
• The Monastery of Zrze and the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael which has 12th and 14th century frescoes are notable sites of the culture of Prilep.

Language

The dialect of Prilep, in the heart of the Pelagonian plain, forms the basis for the standard Macedonian language spoken today. When the Socialist Republic of Macedonia was created in Yugoslavia in 1943 and the language nationally recognized the following year, Prilep, together with Veles, was chosen as the centre for the language because of their central position on the Macedonian map. This includes the unredeemed areas of Macedonia which were of no major interest to Yugoslavia, but remained an issue for Macedonian nationalists.

Art and Architecture

There are several ancient sites in Prilep including one at Markovi Kuli, St. Nicola’s church from XIII century, St. Uspenie church in Bogorodica, St. Preobrazenie church and the Tomb of the Unconquered, a memorial in honor of the victims of fascism located in Prilep's central park. A large Roman necropolis is known there and parts of numerous walls have been found; the settlement was probably the ancient Ceramiae mentioned in the Peutinger Table. Roman remains can also be found near the Varosh monastery, built on the steep slopes of the hill, which was later inhabited by a medieval community. A large number of early Roman funeral monuments, some with sculpted reliefs of the deceased or of the Thracian Rider and other inscribed monuments of an official nature, are in the courtyard of the church below the southern slope of Varosh. Some of the larger of those monuments were built into the walls of the church.

The most important ancient monument is the old city of Styberra situated on Bedem hill near Cepigovo, in the central region of Pelagonia. As early as the time of the Roman - Macedonian wars, this city was known as a base from which the Macedonian king Perseus of Macedon set out to conquer the Penestian cities. An important site in the area is Bela Crkva, 6 km west of Styberra, where the town of Alkomenai was probably located. It was a stronghold of the Macedonian kings after it was rebuilt in the early Roman period and was at the Pelagonian entrance to a pass leading to Illyria. Part of the city wall, a gate, and a few buildings of the Roman period were uncovered here in excavations. All recent finds from these sites are in the Museum of the City of Prilep.

The Treskavec monastery, built in the 12th century in the mountains about 10 km north of Prilep under Zlatovrv peak, at the edge of a small upland plain 1100 meters above sea level. Prilep has frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries and is probably the site of the early Roman town of Kolobaise. The name of the early town is recorded on a long inscription on stone which deals with a local cult of Ephesian Artemis. The inscription was reused as a base for a cross on top of one of the church domes. Other inscriptions at Treskavec include several 1st century Roman dedications to Apollo. The old fortress was used by the Romans, and later the Byzantines. During the Middle Ages, King Marko rebuilt the citadel extensively, making it an important military stronghold. After all, even Tsar Samuil came here after the defeat at Belasica in 1014.

Notable people

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Prilep is twinned with:

• Radom in Poland
• Garfield, New Jersey in United States

References

External links

• Prilep travel guide from Wikitravel
• Official Prilep Government Website
• Prilep Tobacco Website
• Institute for Tobacco Prilep
• Prilep on Cyber Macedonia
• Asterisks website
• PivoFest-Beer festival in Prilep

Cities and towns in the Republic of Macedonia Berovo · Bitola · Bogdanci · Debar · Delčevo · Demir Hisar · Demir Kapija · Dojran · Gevgelija · Gostivar · Kavadarci · Kičevo · Kočani · Kratovo · Kriva Palanka · Kruševo · Kumanovo · Makedonska Kamenica · Makedonski Brod · Negotino · Ohrid · Pehčevo · Prilep · Probištip · Radoviš · Resen · Skopje · Struga · Strumica · Sveti Nikole · Štip · Tetovo · Valandovo · Veles · Vinica

From Wikitravel

Prilep is a city in the Western Macedonia, nicknamed "The city under Marko’s towers" (referring to the fortress). The city is the Macedonian tobacco capital. The population is 76,768 (Prilep municipality). The city was the capital of the medieval kingdom of Kings Volkasin and Marko which explains the large number of churches and monasteries in and around the city.

What is most striking about Prilep is the strange bare scenery with huge rocks scattered around. The city is nestled below a bare hill. On the top of the hill, ruins of a medieval fortress stand. All around the city are tobacco fields, and if one visits the city in late summer or fall, one will see tobacco drying everywhere he turns. What is unique about Prilep is the strange sense of humor its inhabitants have and the way they preserved their traditional way of life. Near Prilep is Mariovo Region, one of the most untouched regions of Macedonia, with small half deserted villages scattered in untouched nature.

History

Even though the city has been in existence since ancient times, its peak was in the middle ages. In 1018 it was here that emperor Samuil died of a heart attack when he saw his army of 14,000 blinded by the Byzantine Emperor Vasilij. Prilep was the capital of the medieval kingdom of King Volkasin (r 1350-1375) and his son King Marko (r 1375-1395). They both tried to stop the progress of the Turkish expansion, they are remembered as mythical heroes in the folk tales and songs. After the death of King Marko, Prilep was conquered by the Turks. On 11th of October 1941 in Prilep, the rebellion of the Macedonian people against the fascist occupation began.

• In Prilep the whitest marble in the world is found. The marble is called "Sivec". The pedestal of the Statue of Liberty is made of Sivec, and the marble has also been used in building the White House and other buildings in Washington, D.C.
• Prilep and the village of Varosh are attached to each other. In the middle ages Varosh was actually the city and Prilep was a suburb attached to the city.

Get in

Prilep is connected to Bitola and Skopje with around dozen of buses and couple of trains daily. A couple of buses go to Ohrid daily.

Get around

The center is small and it is easiest to get around on foot. The bus station is in the center. To get to Varosh village, you can get a taxi (around 50 denars, ask to be dropped at the monastery and then walk down to visit the churches), or walk for about 20 to 30 minutes.

• Old Bazaar
  

  

  Lonely tower
  – Prilep has small, pleasant and well maintained bazaar with orthogonal streets. Of interest are the Clock tower (the most beautiful one in Macedonia) built in 1858 and Carshi Mosque built in 1475, the only one in Europe with two balconies on its minaret (awaiting restoration).
• Sv.Blagoveshtenie Church – excellent example of revival period architecture. Built in 1838, it is three nave basilica with galleries, and lavish woodcarving (furniture and 17m long iconscreen)
• Markovi Kuli Fortress – a 30min hike from Varosh village will take you to the ruins of the medieval fortress known as Markovi kuli. The hike is through a strange bare landscape with huge rocks in different shapes. On the beginning is the Stone elephant work of nature. The remains of the fortress look as if they are growing from the huge rocks and there are striking views over Prilep and the surrounding plain. The remains that can be seen are from the 10th to the 14th c. The fortress can also be reached by much more scenic, but much more rough path from Holy Archangels Monastery. If you are visiting the fortress in summer do it before noon and bring water along since the path has no shades.
• Holy Archangels Monastery – with its church built in the 12th and dormitories on both sides it looks as if the monastery has grown out of the rocks. There are few compositions of frescoes left inside. Ask the nuns to point you to entrance of the crypt below the church (entered from outside). On the columns of the porch of the church look for the second oldest inscription in Cyrillic letters dated 996. Walk around the monastery to admire the scenic landscape and scattered ancient and early byzantine ruins.

• St.Nikola Church – one of the loveliest churches in Macedonia is this small and slim church built in 1299 in Varosh village. The facades are elaborately and carefully decorated. The frescoes inside are excellent, with very vivid colours and well preserved. Look for the outstanding Mocking of Christ and Juda’s kiss frescoes. In the altar look for the frescoes of an earlier church painted in the 12th c. The church is open on weekends in the morning but if you ask around someone will come and open the church for you. In the past the key was in the house next door but I think it is not there any more (ask anyway and you’ll be pointed in the right direction, or ask in one of the stores so you won’t have to walk back and forth). Leave a small donation.
• St.Dimitrie Church – built in late 13th c. Biggest church in Varosh village. The builders had a problem with managing the uneven terrain and they did a mistake visible in the uneven roof on the different sides of the dome. The inside is in a decay and has a special middle age atmosphere. Ask for the key in the house next door.
• St.Atanasie Church – built in the 14th c, stands in ruins before Holy Archangels Monastery.
• St.Peter and St.Bogorodica Precista Churches – two small churches in Varosh village, the first one from the 14th the second from the 15th c. Ask for the key next door.

• International festival of folk instruments and songs "Pece Atanasovski" held in the village of Dolneni 15km away from Prilep on 22nd and 23th May
• Center of Contemporary Visual Arts an Art Colony, held from 10 July until 10 August every summer in the center of Prilep
• Beer festival for three days in the beginning of July
• Theatre festival Vojdan Cernodrinski – first week of June

Eat

There are many burek and pastry places and restaurants in the centre but for best grill and local food head for:

• Makedonska Kuka restaurant, Tel: +389-48-433-419. 5min. walking from the old bazaar.

Drink

There is a selection of cafes, bars and clubs in Prilep, most of the them in and around the old bazaar and in the shopping mall that stands on the main square. Here are some of the popular destinations:

• Cafe Cavalli: the best downtown cafe bar and nightclub, with free Wi-Fi. Located in the heart of downtwon, on the main boulvard Goce Delcev, close to the Alexander the Great statue. Call +389-71-208-210 for reservations.

• Kristal Palas Tel: +389-48-418-000. This four star hotel is the finest in all of Prilep.
• Pension Breza [1] Tel: +389-71-214-071. This family-owned pension is walking distance away from the center of the city, with a friendly and comfortable atmosphere.

• Astra Rent-a-Car [2] Tel: +389-71-214-071. Affordable and fully insured car rental in the center of the city, with signing contract available in English. You can travel everywhere in the country and also outside of Macedonia. Specially organized trips to Treskavec Monastery with off-road jeep and a tour guide are available. Company is part of Pension Breza hotel.

• Treskavec Monastery – built in the 14th c, set in the beautiful bare scenery, the monastery is renowned as the place with the most beautiful sunset in Macedonia. The frescoes inside are good and from different periods 14th, 15th, 16th and 19th c. Check out the interesting woodcarving of the door and other furniture in the church. The monks that live here are quiet and keep to themselves. It is possible to spend the night in the monastery for free. The hike to the monastery takes at least 2 hours, but it is through fascinating scenery. Take a taxi (50 denars) to the graveyard and start the hike from there (just tell the taxi driver to take you to the beginning of the path, and he’ll know). If you go in summer start early, if you want to take the hike in winter, early spring or late fall, ask around before to make sure the path is passable.
• Zrze Monastery – personal favourite, the monastery has three churches joined under one roof, built in the 14th c. Excellent frescoes are the ones painted on the main facade of the church under a charming porch. The monastery stands on a plateau with breathtaking view over Pelagonija plain and the surrounding mountains. The monks are very friendly and they’ll prepare tee and some food and chat with you. Look for the water spring behind the monastery for the most tasty water I have ever tried. The monastery is 25km west of Prilep on the road towards Brod, and it includes some effort to be reached. To the village of Zrze there is 5km dirt road, and from there 30min. pleasant hike. Possibilities: arrange a taxi from Prilep (he’ll probably refuse to drive the dirt road); take a bus going to Brod, ask to be dropped at the village Ropotovo and from there take a taxi or hitchhike to the beginning of the dirt road, walk the rest; ask in Holy Archangels Monastery when the monks from Zrze monastery are coming for service (usually Friday afternoon, probably other days too) and arrange with them to take you in their van when they leave in the evening or next morning. It is possible to spend the night in the monastery for a small fee (around 5 Euros)
• Mariovo region - one of the least developed regions of Macedonia with small half deserted villages scattered in untouched nature. Milco Mancevski films his movies here.

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Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Proper noun 1.1.1 Translations 1.2 Anagrams

English

Proper noun

Wikipedia

Singular Prilep

Plural -

Prilep

1. A historic city in the southern Republic of Macedonia.

Translations

Anagrams

• Anagrams of eilppr
• ripple