Tetovo is a city in Northwestern Macedonia, on the slopes of Šar Mountain, in the lower Polog Valley. According to the most recent census in 2021, the Municipality of Tetovo has 63,176 inhabitants.
The name Tetovo, according to a local legend, is connected to an unusual event from the time of Ottoman rule. Near the city, between two hills, there lived a giant snake that everyone feared. Nobody dared to face the terrifying beast—except for a certain brave man named Teto.
One day, armed with a bow and arrow, sword, and shield, and mounted on his swift horse, he headed toward the threatened place. When he arrived, the snake appeared, blocking his path. Teto was not afraid. He drew his bow and provoked the beast with a single arrow. The snake reacted, making a strange sound. Enraged, it rushed toward its prey with great speed. But Teto stood fearless. As the creature came close, he swung his sharp, pointed sword and pierced it. Thus, the people were freed from the dreadful monster, and the passage between the two hills became safe and easy to cross.
From then on, according to legend, the place where the snake was killed with sword and shield (in Turkish: kalkan) was called Kalkandelen in Turkish. In memory of the hero Teto, the local population also gave the city the name Tetovo.
The history of Tetovo tells of a centuries-old city that endured under various empires but always kept its spirit. From ancient times to the present day, Tetovo stands as proof of the perseverance and strength of the Macedonian people. The Ottoman era left the Painted Mosque as a gem of Islamic art from the 15th century, and the Leshok Monastery as a steadfast guardian of Orthodox faith and Macedonian literacy.
The famous geographer and travel writer Hacı Kalfa, when traveling through this region, referred to the city as both Tetovo and Kalkandelen, describing it as an oriental town similar to those in the Middle East. By the end of that century, Tetovo suffered a devastating fire, and throughout the entire 18th century it was not mentioned in records as an urban settlement. However, governmental reforms in the Ottoman Empire at the start of the 19th century had a strong impact on its redevelopment into an important economic center.
Ami Boué, another traveler and geographer, described Tetovo as a clean city with much greenery. According to him, the city had 4,000–5,000 inhabitants, half of whom were Christians (Macedonians), and the rest Turks and Albanians. Like Hacı Kalfa, he compared Tetovo to Oriental cities, with monuments mostly built during Ottoman rule.
By the turn of the 20th century, Tetovo had developed into a well-known commercial and craft center. During the Balkan Wars, despite the emigration of the Turkish population, the city’s population grew again, with a mix of ethnic groups.
There are no extensive written records about the Tetovo region’s participation in the liberation struggle during the time of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO), but it is known that the people of Polog took active part in both preparing for and fighting in the Ilinden Uprising, as well as in actions after it was suppressed.
A Local Committee of IMRO was formed in Tetovo, working not only on ideological education but also on preparing the population for armed action. These preparations involved all capable men from the city and surrounding villages.
During this period, Mannlicher rifles, Berdan rifles, and the famous Tetovo “martinki” were produced. A special workshop on the Pena River was used for gunmaking, organized through trusted people.
Even after the uprising was crushed, some armed bands in the region continued their activities, especially in forested areas, maintaining contact with groups in Poreče and Kičevo. One such band on Suva Gora was led by Sofre Gjorgjievski from the village of Radiovce, who gathered a large group of fighters from Macedonian villages at the foot of Suva Gora and continued fighting for two more years.
Following the suppression of the uprising, Ottoman authorities carried out further repressions. For example, several Tetovo citizens—such as Milan Mladenov, Trpe Altikolač, priest Dime Sarov, and Tome Smilkovski—were arrested. Mladenov and Altikolač were sentenced to 101 years in prison each: the former in the fortress of Diyarbakır in Asia Minor, and the latter in the Fezzan region deep in the Libyan desert of North Africa. Others were sentenced to several years in prison and taken to Kuršumli An in Skopje.
Tetovo was liberated in World War II on November 19, 1944, by the 3rd, 13th, 14th, and 19th Macedonian Brigades, becoming the last liberated city in Macedonia.
In early February 2001, some Kosovo militants entered Macedonian territory in the village of Tanusevci near Kumanovo, and later expanded their activity to Tetovo on March 14. This led to a conflict between the Macedonian army and police on one side, and the so-called National Liberation Army (NLA) on the other.
After several days, Macedonian security forces launched an operation to clear out the militants, marking the start of the so-called Battle of Tetovo—the largest engagement of the Macedonian army and police during the 2001 conflict. Around 3,000 Macedonian soldiers attacked Baltepe and Tetovo Fortress, engaging in heavy battles with local Albanian militants and Kosovo extremist-criminal groups. The battle aimed to regain control of the city and ended with a heavy defeat for the NLA.
In Tetovo, culture is not only something to be seen—it is lived. From traditional folk costumes and customs, to ethnic music, to modern cultural projects and artistic events.
Summer in Tetovo is a vibrant stage. From festivals like “Days of Culture” to local events in Leshok, Gajre, Selce, and other villages, every month brings a reason to gather. Young and old, locals and guests, all are part of a spirit that never fades. Celebrations during holidays, weddings, and religious ceremonies are moments when the city’s heart beats the loudest.
Tetovo smells of roasted meat, baked beans (tavče gravče), homemade ajvar, and pies with hand-stretched dough. Every bite tastes like home. You can’t think of Tetovo without thinking of shopska salad, kebabs in the old bazaar, and homemade baklava.
In Tetovo, football is more than just a sport—it is a way of life. The city stadium vibrates with every match, and loyalty to the local club FK Teteks is passed down from generation to generation. Besides football, the city thrives on combat sports, basketball, mountaineering, and winter sports at Popova Šapka, where snow hides but also reveals the passion of Tetovo’s people for movement and nature.
Today, no matter where you are in the diaspora, if you are from Tetovo, you will always be part of a history, a song, a shared root.
Tetovo and Macedonia are your true home.
