In the heart of the Balkans, where the mountains of North Macedonia dip their toes into turquoise waters, lies Ohrid —a city so old it was once called Lychnidos, the "City of Light."
Built in the Hellenistic period, it once hosted gladiators; today, it hosts musicians whose voices echo against the same stone seats where Greeks and Romans once sat. Ohrid/Macedonia
The lake itself is a living fossil. Scientists say it is over a million years old, one of the oldest and deepest in Europe. Its water is so clear that you can see the white pebbles on the floor even when the ground is far beneath you. If you take a boat to the , you can see where the springs bubble up through the sand, fresh and icy cold, feeding the lake with water that has traveled through underground limestone caves from the mountains above. Exploring the Heights If you want to see the whole story at once, you climb. Samoil's Fortress Varosh / Old Town In the heart of the Balkans, where the
From the massive stone ramparts of this 11th-century garrison, you can see all of Ohrid—the red-tiled roofs, the sprawling lake, and the distant mountains of Albania across the water. Ancient Macedonian Theatre of Lychnidos Historical landmark OpenVarosh / Old Town Its water is so clear that you can