PRILEP

Prilep Prilep a tobacco producing centre set among arid hills, is situated in the northern part of the Pelagonia Plain, 648m above sea level. Prilep is the largest and most famous centre for the production of high quality tobacco and cigarettes. The town also has metal-processing, electronic, timber, texture, food and marble industries. The marble from Prilep is well known in the whole world, even some rooms of former president houses in the world are done with this marble. Each year an International Art Colony is held here, as is the festival of theatres called "Vojdan Cernodrinski" which is held at the beginning of June. Prilep is one of the two towns where on 11th October, 1941 the struggle of the Macedonian people against the fascist occupiers began, and the old town architecture is extremely attractive. Clock Tower Prilep has a spacious and beautiful park, where the Tomb of the Unconquered is located, (a memorial in honour of the victims of fascism).
Several old monastery's are found in the towns immediate vicinity, including the Monastery of the St. Arangel , The Monastery of Treskovac which has been built in the 13th century, and the Monastery of Zrze built in the 14th century.
On a rocky hill above stand the craggy ruins of the castle of Krale Marko (King Marko), one of Macedonia's most colourful characters (a kind of 14th century Macedonian Robin Hood whose legendary heroic deeds against the Turks) are the theme of innumerable ballads epic legends and songs in existence. There are two accounts of Krale Marko. He was a historical figure and he become a legendary hero of the Macedonian's. Memorial He was a man of enormous strength (his mace alone weighed 186 lbs) of considerable cunning, and he had an inexhaustible capacity for liquor. He was chivalrous, fearless and passionate. Hector, Beowulf and Roland were not more heroic. Robin Hood, Tarzan and James Bond were mere neophytes by comparison. Krale Marko also owned a horse, Sarko which was the fastest in the world.

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