Kruševo is a town in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, nestled in the embrace of Mount Buševa. It is the city of the Kruševo Republic, with the famous monument “Makedonium” standing proudly above it.
At 1,220 meters above sea level, Kruševo is the highest town in the Balkans. According to the 2021 census, it has 4,104 inhabitants.
Kruševo is not just a town—it is a symbol. It was here, in 1903, that the Kruševo Republic was proclaimed. Ilinden is not merely a date, but a feeling of struggle, pride, and sacrifice. The home of Nikola Karev, Mečkin Kamen, and museums that testify to the Ilinden Uprising, along with the Memorial House of Tose Proeski, make Kruševo a living open-air museum.
On August 2, 1903, Kruševo was liberated and the Kruševo Republic established. A provisional government of six members and a national assembly of 60 delegates were formed. The Republic lasted until August 13, when Ottoman forces under Bahtiyar Pasha attacked with 15,000 soldiers. Fierce battles were fought at Mečkin Kamen and Sliva. After suppression, Kruševo was burned, and many residents emigrated.
After the Treaty of Bucharest, Kruševo came under Serbian rule. In 1915, during WWI, Bulgaria occupied the town and deported much of the Vlach population in four waves between 1915–1918.
Kruševo’s people took an active part in the National Liberation Struggle. On April 16, 1942, the Kruševo Partisan Detachment “Pitu Guli” was formed, carrying out several attacks in the region. The town was finally liberated on September 8, 1944.
Kruševo is known for its builders, icon painters, and woodcarvers. Among its sacred sites is the Church of St. Nicholas (1832), burned in the Ilinden Uprising. Its iconostasis, carved by Petre Filipovski–Garkata and Dimitar Stanišev, was considered a masterpiece of woodcarving.
Rebuilt in 1904–1905, the smaller St. Nicholas Church preserves only fragments of the old church, displayed in the Museum of the Ilinden Uprising.
The town’s craftsmen influenced woodcarving, fresco painting, and architecture throughout the Balkans. The distinct Kruševo house blends Vlach (Epirote) and Mijak (Galičnik) architectural styles, representing the town’s cultural richness.
Kruševo’s table is filled with warmth and tradition:
Kruševo is a paradise for adventure and nature lovers:
If you grew up with the songs of Tose, the stories of Ilinden, the smell of freshly baked bread, and the sound of stone-paved streets beneath your feet—then you are a Kruševjan, no matter where you live today.
Kruševo and Macedonia are a gift from God and a true home for all Macedonians in the diaspora.
