Vevcani

Vevčani sits below the Jablanica mountains west of Struga, and above the village a set of karst springs rises through the rock and runs down in channels crossed by small bridges, laid out with paths through the trees. The village is better known for its carnival, held on 13 and 14 January by the old calendar, an unbroken tradition centuries old in which masked participants satirise politics and events, sometimes sharply.

History

The name comes from the Old Church Slavonic ves, "village", and was recorded as Veščani by the 14th century and Veščano in the 17th. In 2002, partly to attract tourists, the villagers declared a light-hearted "Republic of Vevčani" with its own souvenir currency, the Ličnik, designed by Simun Lesoski, and the same year Vevčani became a municipality of its own (Wikipedia, Vevčani).

What to look for

• The springs - karst water rising above the village and running down through channels.
• The carnival - the January masked festival satirising the year's events.
• The village stonework - the old houses and lanes below the springs.
• The mountain setting - the Jablanica slopes rising behind.

When to go

The carnival falls on 13 and 14 January and fills the village. May to October is best for the springs. Water flow is strongest in spring.

Practical notes

The carnival is crowded and cold, and accommodation nearby is limited. Spring flow varies and can be low late in summer. The village is small and quickly seen outside carnival.

Nearby

Struga is east, and Lake Ohrid is beyond it.

Key facts