Markovi Kuli

Markovi Kuli, Marko's Towers, stands on a hill of weathered granite boulders above the old quarter of Prilep, a fortress built and rebuilt from the fourth century to the fourteenth, its walls running between and over the rock. It is named for King Marko, the fourteenth-century ruler who became a hero of South Slavic epic poetry. Medieval churches stand on the slopes below, and the boulder field is a landscape in itself.

Background

The fortress stands on a hill 120 to 180 m high on the northwestern side of Prilep, directly above the Varoš quarter. The oldest remains are Hellenistic, followed by Byzantine finds of the 5th and 6th centuries and Slavic settlement from the late 10th century. Four decades of excavation also found traces of an early antique settlement called Keramija, and marble ornaments from an early Christian basilica. The ramparts date from the 13th and 14th centuries. Their walls are about one metre thick, set in limestone mortar on large limestone rocks. The palace of King Vukašin and his son Marko stood within the acropolis, and three well-preserved towers survive on the south wall.

Source: Wikipedia, "Markovi Kuli"

What's there

• The walls among the boulders - fortification built between and over granite outcrops.
• The boulder field - the weathered granite the hill is made of.
• The Marko association - the ruler who became a figure of epic poetry.
• The churches below - the medieval buildings on the slopes at Varos.

When to go

April to October is the season for the climb. Summer heat on the bare rock is severe. Morning and evening light suits the granite.

Practical notes

The climb is over rough rock with no proper path in places. There is no shade and no facilities. Interpretation on site is absent.

Nearby

Prilep is below, and Treskavec is north.

Key facts