Radoviš, Southeastern Region, North Macedonia

🇲🇰 Radoviš is a city in the south-eastern part of North Macedonia. It is the second largest city in the south-eastern region. The city is the seat of Radoviš Municipality, which is spread on the bottom of Plačkovica Mountain and the northern part of the Radoviš-Strumica valley. The main road M6 Štip–Radoviš-Strumica is tangentially placed on the township of Radoviš. This road is a main communication route with other parts of the country.

History The town of Radoviš was mentioned for the first time in 1019 during the reign of the Byzantine King Basil II (which was the name of the town during the Middle Ages). At this time in history, Radoviš is an important centre for regional trade, craftsmanship and mining. At that time, the town was located in the North-West of the town's present location, on the banks of the Old river, where we can find traces of several churches, for example St. Archangel church.

In the 14th century, after the withdrawal of the Byzantine Empire, Radoviš found itself in the Serb medieval state. In 1361, the tsar Uroš sojourned in Radoviš. During the Ottoman Empire, in the 17th century under the Kyustendil sanjak, it belonged to the diocese of the Kustendil metropolitan. At that time, the town had 3,000–4,000 inhabitants.

The Medieval period of Radoviš is characterized by the expansion and development of Radoviš and its surroundings. The economical, political and educational histories of the region can attest to this. In the territory of the Municipality of Radoviš are located both explored and unexplored archeological sites, monasteries, and churches all of which are truly a part of a rich heritage of culture monuments. In addition, this territory dates back to prehistoric times and contain artifacts from the Neolithic, Eneolithic, Halsta and the Bronze Ages. In the time of Philip the Second and Alexander the Great, poems about the territory of the Municipality of Radoviš were written. Also, numerous remains date back to Roman times and even earlier. Additional findings include ancient settlements, terms and aqueducts.

During the 19th and 20th centuries Radoviš and surrounding regions, were influenced by the historical events related to the Razlovo, Kresnensko and Ilinden Uprisings along with the events related to the Balkans, First and Second World War influenced the entire micro region. During Turkish hegemony in Macedonia in the 16th century, the micro region was populated by a nomadic Turkish population called the Juruci, an ethnic group that still exists to this day in this part of the world. The documents Kustendilski metropolitan from the 17th century are also called "Radoviš documents". By the end of the 18th century Radoviš was a town surrounded by the old fortress, the remains of which also exist today. The former main road to Strumica from Pomoravje through Kumanovo, Ovce Pole and Radoviško Pole led to Thessaloniki and the Orphan Bay.

Ethnicities The ethnic structure of the population living in the city is: • Macedonians: 13,991 (86.25%) • Turks: 1,927 (11.88%) • Romani: 181 (1.12%) • Serbs: 60 (0.37%) • Vlachs: 20 (0.12%) • Albanians: 1 (0.01%) • Others: 42 (0.26%).

Religion Radoviš is a mainly Macedonian Christian city, with minorities of Protestants and Catholics. There are three Macedonian Orthodox churches, the new one Holy Trinity, the old one St.Ilija, and St. King Constantine and Queen Elena from the 18th century. There are also Macedonian Christian monasteries such as those of St. Archangel Michael, St. Pantaleon and St. George.

There are also various Protestant churches, such as two Methodist churches, a Baptist church and a Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall; as well as two mosques.

Transport Radoviš is linked with the neighbour cities Štip and Strumica by road.

Roads: The national road M6 passes near Radoviš. It is the only way to arrive in the city. To the north the closest city is Štip (37 km from Radoviš), and to the south Strumica (29 km). Radoviš is 121 km far from the capital Skopje.

Airports: The closest airport is Skopje International Airport located near the capital Skopje, 108 km north from Radoviš.

Taxis and Buses: The Radoviš bus station is located on the boulevard Alexander Makedonski, it is 500 meters far from the city center. The bus station connects the city with the capital Skopje, Bitola, Prilep and the neighbour cities. Taxis are all over the city. The price for a drive in the city is about 0.80 euro or 50 Macedonian denars. Taxis can also drive to the villages or to other Macedonian cities.

Media and communications There is one regional private television channel based in Radoviš - TV Kobra, three cable TV providers - Telekabel, A1 and Telekom, free and paid DVB-T2 (MPEG-4) Television, Internet Providers (Cable, ADSL, WDSL, WiFi) and WiFi hotspots across the city. The two national mobile operators have full 4G coverage.

Sport and leisure The people in Radoviš, especially its youngest inhabitants, like sports. Favourite sports are Football, Basketball, Handball, Fishing, etc. Radoviš has its own Football club: FK Plačkovica, Handball club: RK Radoviš and Fishing club: Carp-Radoviš. Another football club, FK Detonit Junior, plays in the Macedonian Third Football League. "Lebari" are the supporters of the Radoviš sport clubs. The supporters club "Lebari" (Macedonian: Лебари) was formed in 1991. They generally support all clubs in Radoviš, and mostly wear green and yellow symbols, which are the group colours.

In the past and now, Radoviš rightly carries the attribute of a sports city. It can be freely called "The metropolis of wrestling in free and Greco-Roman style" in Europe and worldwide after Radoviš' favourite club BK "Bučim-Radovis" won the titles "European Club Champion in 1995" and "World Club Champion in 1996". The final competition for those titles as well as for many other tournaments such as "Balkan Championship in Wrestling, Free and Greco-Roman Style" 1991 and "Macedonian Pearl" were held in the Sport Center in Radoviš "25 Maj".

The new sport centre Šampion (Macedonian: Спортски Центар и Ресторан Шампион - Радовиш) was built in 1999, and consists of: Olympic swimming pool, small swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, table tennis facility, handball court, soccer fields, gym and a restaurant.

Economy and industry The economy of Radoviš runs through several activities such as: Mining, Building and Construction, Agriculture, Livestock Farming, Business and Trading, Tourism and Hospitality, Banking, Insurance, Crafts, Services, Transportation and traveling agencies.

The industry in Radoviš consists of several factories such as: - Bučim (Бучим) - the only active mine in the Municipality of Radoviš and the only mine for copper and gold in North Macedonia. Bučim employs about 500 people. It is one of the most important industrial facility in Radoviš and a driving force of the Radoviš industry and economy. The mine (directly and indirectly) contributed significantly to the initiation of other industrial activities such as the building industry, business, hospitality industry, transport and others. - Best Food TI - that processes vegetables and fruits - Mlekara Gjorgievi Radoviš, formerly Kooperant - A company for purchasing and production of milk and dairy products - Textile & clothing factories In the metal manufacturing industry the most important capacities are: Metalpromet and Semi Building and Construction in Radoviš is an important industrial activity: - TEHNIKA is the largest building company. Besides "Tehnika" there are many other entrepreneurs in the building industry. Their activities are mainly focused toward the individual building of residential housing and building of small industrial objects as well as weekend houses.

Other activities in the municipality of Radoviš are banking, insurance, transportation, travel, taxi-services and hospitality industry.