Tetovo

Tetovo (Тетово, Tetovë) is a town in northwestern North Macedonia at the foot of the Šar mountains, the centre of the Polog valley. Most of its people are Albanian, and the town combines Ottoman monuments, a lively market life and quick access to the high mountains.

Its best known building is the Painted Mosque, the Šarena Džamija, built in the fifteenth century and later richly redecorated. Its walls are covered inside and out with painted panels of flowers, garlands, landscapes and geometric patterns, an unusual sight in the Islamic tradition. Nearby, the Arabati Baba Tekke, a Bektashi dervish lodge of the eighteenth century, keeps its wooden pavilions, fountains and gardens within a walled compound. Show more

Above the town, the Šar mountains rise to over 2,700 metres. Popova Šapka is a mountain resort for skiing in winter and hiking in summer, with alpine pastures, glacial lakes and shepherds' huts on the high trails. The monastery of Lešok, with its frescoed churches, lies in the villages of the valley, and the Kale fortress above Tetovo offers views over the plain. Grilled meat, flija, a layered Albanian pastry, and dairy products from the mountain pastures belong to local cooking.

Tetovo is reached by road or train from Skopje in about forty minutes. One day suits the town, and several days suit the mountains. Summer and early autumn are best for hiking, and winter brings snow to Popova Šapka.