Valandovo is not just a small town in the south of Macedonia — it is a warm embrace of tradition, love, and perseverance.
Located at an altitude of 170 meters, in one of the lowest valleys of the country, Valandovo has 3,671 residents (2021 census).
Here, figs grow sweeter, songs sound deeper, and every stone tells a story of survival and pride.
Valandovo has always been a meeting place of civilizations, carrying the spirit of those who built it and rebuilt it, who suffered and celebrated on its soil. Its past speaks of ancient mosaics, medieval faith, Ottoman travelers, and modern traders who made it flourish.
Archaeological findings show life here since antiquity. The most famous site is Isar–Marvinci, identified with the ancient city of Idomenae (5th century BC). Located on the Thessaloniki–Belgrade route, it thrived under Roman rule until a devastating earthquake in the early 6th century. More than forty archaeological sites have been found across the municipality, making Valandovo a true open-air museum.
Slavic tribes settled in the 6th–7th centuries, leaving their mark on place names and culture. The town was first recorded in the 10th century as Valander.
In the 17th century, Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi described Valandovo as a small Christian-majority settlement with around 150 houses and a lively bazaar. According to legend, its name comes from its founder, Valandova, who built the Monastery of St. George.
Despite earthquakes, floods, and wars, Valandovo always rose again. In the 19th century, thanks to its favorable location, it became a hub of trade with Thessaloniki. Local products such as livestock, pastrma (cured meat), wool, silk, grapes, figs, and pomegranates made the town prosperous and well-connected.
In Valandovo, culture is not just preserved — it is lived. Folk songs and dances echo through generations, while young artists give the town a fresh creative pulse.
Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, Valandovo offers some of the finest produce in Macedonia — figs, grapes, eggplants, and olives. Here, food is simple, wholesome, and made with love.
Valandovo’s sporting heart beats strong. FK Pobeda Valandovo has nurtured generations of football players. Basketball, volleyball, and martial arts are also popular, while the surrounding hills and fields are perfect for cycling, hiking, and outdoor adventures.
For those far away, Valandovo is not forgotten. It is in every fig preserve opened abroad, in every folk song played at a gathering, in the laughter of old friends meeting again.
Valandovo is love that never fades, a home that never closes its doors, and Macedonia’s warm southern heart waiting for you to return.
