Kruševo

The town of Kruševo was first mentioned in 1467 in Ottoman tax registers when it was a small Slavic settlement. It did not become a city and trading centre until the late 18th century. This was catalysed by large settlement by Vlachs (Aromanians), as well as some Christian Albanians and Mijaks (a group of Macedonians from western Macedonia). The Vlachs helped transform Kruševo into an organised city and, along with the Mijaks, they built quality buildings with fascinating architecture that is still visible in Kruševo today. The growing town had Bulgarian, Greek, and Romanian schools operating. Kruševo's population at the turn of the 20th century was 9,350. Over half were Slavs, while most of the rest were Vlachs.

The events for which Kruševo is best known occurred in August of 1903. The Ilinden Uprising was carried out by the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization against the ruling Ottoman Empire. On August 2 (the feast day of St Elijah, Ilinden), the Kruševo Republic was proclaimed and local school teacher Nikola Karev was named its president. Karev had written the Kruševo Manifesto which called upon all inhabitants of Macedonia, regardless of ethnicity or religion, to fight for independence from the Ottoman Empire. The Republic managed to last just 10 days before being squashed by the Turks. Despite this, it is considered a prelude to the independence of modern Macedonian republic and noted for being the first ever republic in the Balkans.

Along with the rest of Vardar Macedonia, Kruševo became a part of Yugoslavia following the World Wars and, later, part of the Republic of Macedonia.

Kruševo has 5,330 residents as of the last census, virtually all of whom are Orthodox Christians. Ethnically, Macedonians form 80% of the population while Vlachs form 20%. Kruševo is the centre of Kruševo Municipality with a total population of 9,684, which consists of 18 villages in addition to the town. In addition to Macedonians and Vlachs, there are significant populations of Albanians and Turks in these villages, who are primarily Muslims.

Kruševo is traditionally divided into seven main neighbourhoods.

1. Čaršija (Чаршија) - the centre of town
2. Vlach Quarter (Влашко Маало)
3. Strunga Quarter (Струнга Маало)
4. Arnaut Quarter (Арнаут Маало) - Arnaut was a term used to refer to Albanians in Ottoman times. Despite the name of the quarter, Kruševo has no Albanian residents.
5. Upper Quarter (Горно Маало)
6. Mijak Quarter (Мијачко Маало)
7. Gyspy Quarter (Ѓупско Маало) - Kruševo has no Roma (Gyspy) residents despite this quarter's name.

• 🌍 Bus Station (Автобуска станица). 

As the highest town in North Macedonia, Kruševo isn't the easiest place to get to. Regardless of which road you take, it will involve much uphill driving along steep hills and cliffs, making it a tad scary for those with fears of heights. Potholes are also very common. Kruševo can be reached from three directions.

• From the northwest, via P517
• From Prilep and the east, via R1306
• From Bitola and the south, via R1305

Kruševo is home to a number of significant churches from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Like the rest of the town's architecture, these churches often have a unique, visually-pleasing style.

• 🌍 Church of Saint Nicholas (Црква „Св. Никола“) (Čaršija). This church was built in 1905 on the site of an earlier church that was burned following the Ilinden Uprising. It is the cathedral of the town and it is situated in the old bazaar. The mostly white church has a tall central portion. The oldest frescoes on the interior date from 1884. It sits just east of the main road on Šula Mina Street. 
• 🌍 Church of the Assumption (Црква „Успение на Пресвета Богородица“) (Mijak Quarter). This church was built of stone in 1867 and its frescoes were done in 1870. It suffered some damage during the Ilinden Uprising but was repaired. The roof slopes downward from the middle, where there is a dome. It also has an attached black bell tower which, along with the dome, makes up a defining feature of the town skyline. 
• 🌍 Church of Saint John (Црква „Св. Јован“) (Čaršija). Known as the "Aromanian Church" (Basearica Armaneasca / Влашка црква). Construction on this church began in 1897 and was finished in 1904. The interior contains a large wooden iconostasis as well as frescoes and icons brought from an older church from 1627. It has two towers over the entrance and another dome over the centre. 
• 🌍 Church of the Holy Trinity (Црква „Св. Троица“) (Gypsy Quarter). This church was built in 1881 in the outskirts of the town in the Gypsy neighbourhood. It saw some damage in the Ilinden Uprising but was repaired. 
• 🌍 Monastery of the Transfiguartion (Црква „Св. Преображение“). This monastery, still undergoing some construction, was built with the help of Kruševo-native Toše Proeski. The monastery has one church, dedicated to the Transfiguration, which has a tall bell tower over the entrance. It sits north of the city, off the main road. (updated Sep 2016)

As a town with a great deal of history, Kruševo is home to multiple museums worth checking out.

• 🌍 Ilinden Monument (Makedonium; Споменик „Илинден“) (Upper Quarter). This very unique structure looks like something out of Star Wars. It opened in 1974 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Second Session of the Anti-fascist Assembly for the National Liberation of Macedonia and the 71st anniversary of Ilinden Uprising. It is a sphere-shaped structure with several outstretched windows, some of which have stained glass windows. The inside contains historical pieces as well as the remains of Nikola Karev, president of the Kruševo Republic. It shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to see everything inside. 100 denars. 
• 🌍 Toše Proeski Memorial House (Спомен-куќа на Тоше Проески) (Upper Quarter). Toše Proeski was a singer-songwriter popular across several countries, dubbed the "Elvis of the Balkans". Raised in Kruševo, he was a humanitarian and had also been helping construct the Transfiguration Monastery near Kruševo. He died tragically in a car accident in 2007 at the age of 26. The memorial house is located near the Ilinden Monument and is in the shape of a cross with modern architecture. Over 350 pieces are on display. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Nikola Martinovski Gallery (Галерија Мартиновски) (Strunga Quarter). Nikola Martinovski (1903-1973), one of the most important Macedonian contemporary painters, was born in Kruševo and donated 62 paintings to the town which are now exhibited in his birth house. The house itself is excellent example of Kruševo architecture and is worth exploring. A small ethnological museum has also been set up inside the house. Visiting the gallery gives you a chance to admire not just Martinovski's works, but also the beauty of Kruševo homes. 
• 🌍 Museum of the Ilinden Uprising (Музеј на Илинденското востание) (Arnaut Quarter). This museum chronicles the uprising for which Kruševo is famous. It is located within an old house in which the Kruševo Republic was proclaimed. Through photographs, documents, maps, and weapons, the period before, during, and after the Ilinden Uprising is explained. 
• 🌍 Museum of National Liberation War (Музеј на Народно-ослободителната војна) (Upper Quarter). East of the Ilinden Monument, this museum opened in 1988 and is dedicated to partisan leaders of Vardar Macedonia during World War II.