Kumanovo

Kumanovo is one of Macedonia’s larger cities located in the middle of a 35 km long valley to the northeast of Skopje.  It is well known for its unique blend of Serbian and Macedonian culture evidenced by the feisty fun-loving Kumanovci (as the residents are called). The city and its outlying villages represent Macedonia’s exceptional multi-ethnic blend containing as they do Albanian, Roman, Serbian and Turkish minorities.Kumanovo is located at the junction of E-75 and E-871 routes. The 40 kilometer highway exists between Skopje and Kumanovo, going near Kumanovo in the north and crossing the border with Serbia. A railway also connects Skopje with Kumanovo and Serbia. E-871 is the other important road that goes from Kumanovo to Kriva Palanka and then to the border with Bulgaria.

History and culture 

Prehistory

The area boasts several prehistoric settlements, among which are the Kostoperska karpa, the Bronze Age Gradiste near the village of Pelince, the Neolithic site of Mlado Nagoričane, the Iron Age tumulus Groblje at Vojnik, the Roman Necropolis Drezga of Lopate, and the Roman Settlement Vicianus at village of Klečovce.

Early history 

The city was first mentioned in 1519 in a document housed in a Turkish archive in Istanbul.[citation needed] The most comprehensive and relevant information on Kumanovo is provided by Evliya Çelebi in 1660/1661:"The colony of Kumanovo is situated on the territory of the Skopje sanjak and represents one county. The city is embellished with many rivers and 600 tile-roofs houses. The mosque in the downtown is beautiful, there are teke, madrassa, hammam, a number of shops and water mills; and the climate is pleasant and agreeable. There are many vineyards and gardens"

Kumanovo became an urban settlement and administrative center of the region at the end of the 16th century or the beginning of the 17th century. Following the turbulent events (notably, the Karposh Uprising in 1689) the city experienced a period of stagnation, and by the end of 18th century Kumanovo epitomized an Ottoman provincial town.

Slavic Migrations

Slavic tribes in the BalkansSlavic migration in the Balkans started in the 6th century. Main lines of penetration were Morava-Vardar valleys and from there all the areas of central Balkans. Kumanovo was inhabited with Slavic tribes in that same period. In the 11th century Asian nomadic tribes Pechenezi, Uzi, Kumani and others inhabited the Balkans, Kumanovo including.

Karposh Rebellion

According to the Turkish historian Silahdar Findikli Mehmed Aga, its leader Karposh initially was a vojvod of haiduks near Dospat, in present-day Bulgaria, but later the Turks named him chief of Christian auxiliary forces in the area between Sofia, Veles, Dojran, Kjustendil and Nevrokop. Initially, he was a vassal of Turks, but when the Ottoman Empire began to weaken in 1689 and discontent rose concerning new higher taxation policies, Karposh became a turning point in the battle versus the Turks. In that period Austria staged an attack on the Ottoman Empire. Then the Karposh seized upon the situation and the uprising quickly spread to the rebels freeing Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Kumanovo, Kachanik and in other towns. Then, together with the Austrian army, led by Emperor Leopold I, they fought to liberate Skopje and Shtip.

Later there was a change in the military and political situation in the Balkans, which had a crucial effect on the rebellion. The Austrian army was forced to withdraw and powerful Turkish forces, reinforced by Tatar detachments belonging to the Crimean Khan Selim I Giray, attacked the rebels. After fierce battles the Turks took Kriva Palanka, the rebel stronghold, and then attacked Kumanovo and its newly-constructed fortress. Karposh was captured, removed to Skopje, and put to death on the Stone Bridge across the Vardar.

Modern history

It developed economically in the late 19th century (agriculture, handcrafts and trade). Still, industrial development occurred only at the end of the Second World War. The rapid economic, administrative and cultural expansion of Kumanovo began in 1945. Today, it is a modern city with approximately 100,000 inhabitants.

Travel by bus

If you are considering to go by bus u have a dozen of bus lines between Skopje and Kumanovo. Time travel is 1 hour. Price for one way ticket is 100 denars / 1.6 EUR

Time of departure from Skopje: 06:00, 07:00, 07:25, 07:30, 07:45, 08:30, 08:45, 09:00, 09:30, 09:45, 10:20, 10:30, 10:45, 11:30, 11:45, 12:10, 12:30, 12:45, 13:00, 13:45, 14:00, 14:25, 14:30, 14:45, 15:30, 15:45, 16:00, 16:30, 16:40, 16:45, 17:00, 17:45, 18:30, 18:45, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 21:15, 21:30.

Note: If you are considering traveling on weekend and holidays please contact the bus station for any changes of the lines.

Travel by train

If you like to travel to Kumanovo by train the time travel is 1 hour. Price for one way ticket is 100 denars / 1.6 EUR and price for two ways ticket is 170 denars / 2.8 EUR.

Time of departure from Skopje: 06:20, 08:20, 11:00, 16:25, 19:00, 20:10, 23:00.

Travel with taxi

If you are not comfortable to travel by train or bus, you can always get a taxi. The price in one way is more or less 1530 denars / 25EUR.

We recommended:

ABC Logistica
Mob: +389 78 504 500
Tel: +398 2 6143 900

Go with a car or rent a car

If you'd like to explore the land during your travel to Kumanovo you can go by car. Distance between Skopje and Kumanovo is 40 km.

For rent a car we recommenden:

ABC Logistica
Mob: +389 78 504 500
Tel: +398 2 6143 900

MIDA Rent-a-car
Office 2 (Airport Alexander the Great)
Tel/Fax + 389 22 56 10 10
24 hour service phones
Mob.1: 070 256 433
Mob.2: 071 223 042
Mob.3: 070 366 958