Veles

Veles (Macedonian: Велес) is a city in the Povardarie region of North Macedonia on both sides of the Vardar, the country's most important river. The city is home to over 43,000 residents, making it the sixth-largest in the country. The larger Municipality of Veles, which includes 27 villages, has a total population of over 55,000. The Macedonian capital, Skopje, is northwest of the city. Veles is a city with a rich and varied cultural tradition. The city was home to Macedonia's first theatre, its first library, first music school, and first museum. Veles is also a relatively important transportation hub of the country, situated along both its main highway and main railway line.

Understand
Veles is situated on hills that sit above both sides of the Vardar River. This interesting terrain has given Veles a rather unique cityscape.

History
Under Ottoman rule, Veles was named Köprülü after a noble family that produced six grand viziers of the empire and several other high-ranking officers. During World War II, the Veles village of Rudnik was the site of a massacre committed by the occupying Bulgarian forces result in seven deaths. A monument was erected at the site in 2017. After the war, a massacre of 53 individuals in Veles accused of being opposed to the communist government was committed by Yugoslav forces. This was the largest massacre committed during communist rule of Macedonia. A mass grave containing the remains of the individuals was discovered in 1996.

Following World War II, the city was named Titov Veles in honour of Yugoslavian president Josip Broz Tito. In 1996, several years after Macedonian independence, "Titov" was dropped from the name.

The city briefly received international attention after it was revealed that a group of teenagers in Veles were producing fake news related to the 2016 US presidential election as a way of generating income.

Get in
Veles is a relatively large transport hub, with excellent road and rail connections. It is close to the country's main international airport.

By car
Veles is on the international highway, E-75, which connects Central Europe to the Aegean Sea. The city lies 55 km (33 mi) southeast from Skopje.

By plane
Skopje Airport, the country's main airport, is about 36 km (21.6 mi) north of Veles.

Get around
The city center of Veles can be walked but several of the important sites lie further out and are best reached by car or taxi.

See

 * Veles is home to one of the largest collections of traditional architecture in the country. Such buildings can be seen all over town. The Varnali complex in particular is often used in tourist promotional videos. The memorial house of Vasil Glavinov is another example which is also open to the public.
 * Veles is home to one of the largest collections of traditional architecture in the country. Such buildings can be seen all over town. The Varnali complex in particular is often used in tourist promotional videos. The memorial house of Vasil Glavinov is another example which is also open to the public.
 * Veles is home to one of the largest collections of traditional architecture in the country. Such buildings can be seen all over town. The Varnali complex in particular is often used in tourist promotional videos. The memorial house of Vasil Glavinov is another example which is also open to the public.
 * Veles is home to one of the largest collections of traditional architecture in the country. Such buildings can be seen all over town. The Varnali complex in particular is often used in tourist promotional videos. The memorial house of Vasil Glavinov is another example which is also open to the public.

Churches and monasteries
Veles is home to four medieval-era churches, which all sit near each other at the south of the city. The 19th-century Saint Pantaleon sits perched above the city.

Neighboring villages
Most of the places of interest in the Veles area are in the city itself.

Sleep
It looks like there are no hotels in Veles. The closest option will be Motel Montenegro Rivijera which is about 3 km away from the city center.



Go next



 * Stobi - the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia Salutaris dating from 197 BC. The surviving mosaics and other archaeological finds are of exceptional value.
 * Stobi - the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia Salutaris dating from 197 BC. The surviving mosaics and other archaeological finds are of exceptional value.