Skopje (Скопје in Macedonian) is the capital of the republic of Macedonia. It counts today a little less than 600.000 inhabitants, that is to say approximately the quarter of the total Population of the country. Under the Roman Empire, it bore the name of Scupi and was known in Europe its Turkish name of Uskub or Uskup during the Ottoman Empire.
Geography
Skopje is located on banks of the Vardar.
An important earthquake devastated the city in 1963. To re-examine images of this catastrophe, a file of the French-speaking Switzerland Television. Skopje is the center of activities iron and steel, chemical, textile, of services…
History
After prehistoric installations, Scupi becomes a city during Greek and Roman antiquity. It known its apogee in the neighborhoods of Ier century after Jesus-Christ, whereas it is the capital of the Roman province of Dardanie. It is then included in the Empire Romain d' Orient , which becomes the Byzantine Empire. After being shaken into 518 by a seism, Scupi is invaded by the Slaves which give him its current name.
The city is included with the Bulgarian Empire , then with the Empire Macedonian in Xème century.
At the end of XIIIème century, Skopje becomes the capital of the kingdom Serbe and is the theater of the crowning of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in 1346.
The city is conquered by the Othomans in 1383 and becomes Uskub . The city thrives then until 1555, date on which it is devastated by a seism.
At the end of the XVIIème century, Skopje is invaded by the Austrians then recovered by the Othomans and an epidemic of Peste ten-per-cent tax the population, rebelled them anti-Othomans are crushed with violence. But Skopje knows a revival with the arrival of the railroad at the XIXème century.
After having known a beginning of XXème century already animated by wars and annexations by various Neighboring states, Skopje is devastated in 1963 by a flood then a terrible earthquake.
After Independence, the city had several problems, like the opposition between the Macedonians and the Albanian, but a certain revival is manifest today.
Climate
The city knows a continental Climat, near to that of Sofia or Belgrade. The summers are hot, the soft winters and relatively abundant precipitations.
Population
According to the census of 2003, the population of Skopje rose with 506,926 inhabitants. The Macedonians form the independent group - 338.358 people is 66.75% of the population, followed by the Albanian - 103.891 (20.49%), the Roms - 23.475 (4.63%) established in particular in the district of Shutka (shutorizari). , Serb - 14.298 (2.82%), Turks - 8.595 (1.70%), Bosnian - 7.585 (1.50%) and the Aroumains (Wallachian) - 2.557 (0.50%) others - 8.167 (1.61%).
Demography
(Source: an unknown country, Macedonia , Georges Castellan, ED. Ermine)
Places and monuments
The city preserves remarkable religious buildings, parmis which the mosque Hyunkar , of 1435, the mosque Mustafa Pasha built at the beginning of XVIème century and surrounded by a rosery, considered to be one of most beautiful the Islamic buildings of the country, the mosque Murat Pasha , raised at the beginning of the XIXème century. It is necessary to also quote the church of the Rise , which preserves old icons and at half is buried because of the Othoman law which prohibited any being drawn up monument higher than the mosques. The church Saint Dimitri was built with the XIXème century and the cathedral Saint Clement in 1990.
The city also preserves picturesque a Bazar and several caravanserais , Karpan An , date of XVème century, Kursumli An became vast complex of leisures and Suli An , raised in XVIème century, is a museum today. They are located in full heart of Carsija , the Turkish old city.
The center of the city is marked by vast the place of Macedonia , place of all the great events, built after the earthquake of 1963, just like the concert hall, representative of communist architecture.
The turn of the Clock rises since 1570 with the site of an old convent. Same time, the bridge Kameni Host , today symbol of the city, spreads out its arches over the Vardar.
The city is dominated by the fortress of Kala , which dates from XIème century, but whose site is occupied since IIème century.
Not far, is the Musée of Contemporary art , supplemented by the national art gallery installed in the old Turkish baths Daud Pasha and the Musée of Macedonia , in the caravanserai Kursumli An which presents imposing collections recalling the hsitoire country.
1500 French soldiers victims of the First World War rest in a cemetery of 1923.
Sports
the city is the seat of the football clubs FK Vardar and Rabotnički Kometal, the drives take place with the Stade Gradski, most important of the city.
Twinnings
Évêché
- Diocese of Skopje
- Cathedral of Skopje
Birth
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Mother Teresa
To see too
- Mail of Macedonia, regional page of the Mail of Balkans
-
Skopje on the site of Quid
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the official site of the Town of Skopje, (in Macedonian, Albanian and English)
Be-X-old: Скоп'е Roa-rup: Scopia Simple: Skopje
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