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 Debar is found in the mountainous border
country with Albania. Around 70km/43mi north-west of Ohrid, it lies at
an altitude of 625m above sea level.
This Macedonian town is stacked against the hillside
above the Crni Drim river and dominated by two mountain peaks: Valivar
and Krcin, both a little over seven thousand feet. There used to be a Roman
town here called Deborus and it was Byzantine until late in the thirteenth
century. For century's its craftsmen were famous, especially its goldsmiths
and silversmiths.
Much of Debar has been rebuilt since an earthquake in
1967, but beneath the remaining dilapidation you can imagine how beautiful
the typical house once were, amidst their forest of minarets. However,
on Saturday you will see an interesting market and costumes and with luck,
some of the traditional head-dresses of the woman: white veils aborned
with crimson circles in which are worked purple crosses. Should you be
in the Debar area (or in the neighbouring village of Rajcica) on 6th of
May you will be able to witness the kind of sobor (gathering) the
people have and on the day many of the woman don their best costumes for
this event.
At the mouth of the Radika and Crni Drim rivers the "Silje"
hydro-electric power station has been constructed, while Debar Spa is only
2 km away from Debar.
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