Some towns are not measured in square meters, but in love. Pehčevo is just such a place — small in size, but endlessly large in soul.
Located in the far eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, in the Maleshevia region, Pehčevo sits at 1,000 meters above sea level, making it the second-highest town in Macedonia after Kruševo. Around 20% of the municipality’s territory is arable land, while the rest consists of pastures, forests, and non-arable land.
Before the Ottomans arrived in Maleshevia at the end of the 14th century (1394–1395), part of the local population of Pehčevo was engaged in exploiting iron ore from Bukovik. Written records from 1580 confirm that the mine was exploited by the Ottoman authorities. Thanks to its favorable location, new settlers soon arrived in Pehčevo.
By the end of the 19th century, the town had grown into a major administrative center of the Ottoman administration for the wider Maleshevia region. The Pehčevo kaza (district) was established with its seat in the town. At that time, Pehčevo had nine khans (inns), a clock tower with a bell heard far and wide, the district administration building (uqumat), a pharmacy, and other structures. Most of these buildings, including the renovated clock tower, were destroyed during the First World War. The war also brought displacement and loss of life among the local population.
During the Serbian occupation (1912–1941), Pehčevo suffered greatly. From 1913–1915, many citizens were executed simply for being members of IMRO (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization). Among the first victims of Maleshevia were Pavle Dodukov from Berovo and Ivan Strandžata from Ratevo.
Serbian gendarmes arrested and executed members of the Committee for the Evacuation of the Population from Pehčevo and surrounding villages. Notably, Tase Mihajlov of Pehčevo, despite being beaten and tortured to death, never revealed the names of his fellow collaborators. To intimidate citizens, Serbian authorities imprisoned all men between the ages of 15–80, yet the spirit of resistance remained unbroken.
In Pehčevo, tradition is not just formality — it is a way of life. Every celebration, every Ilinden, every gathering is a celebration of identity. The people keep their cultural soul alive through music, folklore, and community.
The main economic branches in Pehčevo are light industry, agriculture, and livestock farming. Key industries include:
The municipality is considered an ecologically clean region with potential for tourism and organic food production. All villages are connected by asphalt roads and have developed electricity and telephone networks.
If you grew up with the sound of rain on cobblestones, with the scent of pine from Maleshevia, if you miss your grandmother’s voice calling you to dinner — then you know that wherever you are, Pehčevo will always be within you.
