Skopje Fortress, Medieval fortress in Skopje, North Macedonia
Skopje Fortress is a limestone structure perched on a hill beside the Vardar River in Centar Municipality, North Macedonia. The defensive walls connect round and square towers along a terrain that extends across the hillside, offering multiple levels with different viewing areas.
People lived on this hill as early as 4000 BCE, according to archaeological evidence. The visible limestone walls date from the 6th century, when Byzantine rulers built the fortification to protect the city and its trade routes.
The name Kale comes from the Turkish word for fortress and remains in everyday use among locals who visit the site for walks or informal gatherings. Within the walls stand French military graves from World War I, recalling the city's role during that conflict.
Access begins from the old bazaar through a paved path marked by signs that lead to several viewpoints. The visit takes between 30 minutes and an hour depending on interest, with some areas steep enough to recommend sturdy footwear.
The foundations contain fossilized remains of water, river and lake discovered in 1926 that indicate earlier courses of the Vardar. These fossils show how the landscape changed over thousands of years and where the water once flowed.
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