Radoviš is a town in the southeastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. It is the second largest city in the southeastern region, located at the foot of Mount Plačkovica. Radoviš is known for the Church of “St. Trinity,” the Cross above Radoviš, Mount Plačkovica, the Bučim mine, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and for its traditional Radoviš flatbread (samun) and sweet tatlija. The town’s elevation is 380 m above sea level, and according to the 2021 census it has 14,460 inhabitants.
Nestled between Mount Plačkovica and a fertile valley, Radoviš is a town with thousands of years of history. Archaeological sites reveal traces of life from the Neolithic period, through antiquity, all the way to the present day. In written sources, it was first mentioned in the 11th century, and over the centuries it became an important economic and spiritual center in Eastern Macedonia—from the Ottoman period, through the Ilinden Uprising, to modern independent Macedonia.
The territory of the Radoviš municipality has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with traces of material culture from the Neolithic, Copper Age, Hallstatt period, and the Bronze Age. During the time of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great, the area was inhabited by the Paeonians. It is believed that the Paeonian tribes of the Doberi and Astrai lived here, and that the settlements Dober and Astraion were named after them. Numerous remains from the pre-Roman and Roman eras have been found, including settlements, necropolises, fortifications, baths, aqueducts, milestones, and other archaeological finds.
Radoviš was first mentioned in 1019 in the charter of Byzantine Emperor Basil II, which also carried the name of the medieval župa (district), indicating that the town function dates back to the Middle Ages. At that time, Radoviš was a significant regional trade, crafts, and mining center.
Radoviš fell under Ottoman control in 1382–1383. Historical records state that the Ottoman army, on its way to Central Europe, occupied towns along its path. In these towns, the Ottomans stationed only a few officials and guards, whose role was to receive and send off troops. They generally avoided provoking the local population into rebellion, so as not to create obstacles for their European campaigns.
Radoviš and its surroundings were influenced by key historical events such as the Razlovci, Kresna, and Ilinden uprisings, the Balkan Wars, World War I and II, and the post-war period, all of which shaped the city’s modern appearance. The municipality is rich with explored and unexplored archaeological sites, monasteries, and churches that form part of its cultural heritage.
On October 22, 1944, German fascist forces burned a large number of houses in the central urban area. The town was liberated on November 6, 1944.
In Radoviš, culture is a way of life. Each generation preserves tradition through songs, dances, language, and customs. Folklore ensembles maintain the spirit of the people, while local musicians, poets, and artists carry the city’s name beyond national borders. With festivals, theater performances, and exhibitions, Radoviš offers a true cultural experience filled with heart and love for the homeland.
Thanks to fertile land and traditional recipes, food here is prepared with soul:
Football, handball, and martial arts are the most popular sports in Radoviš, where young people grow up with discipline, respect, and competitive spirit.
Radoviš is not just a city—it’s the voice of a grandfather, the warmth of a grandmother’s kitchen, the smell of rain over the Sushica, the sound of monastery bells at dawn, and the strong embraces of family.
For the diaspora, Radoviš and Macedonia are pieces of the heart that never change, no matter how many kilometers away you are.
