Kale Castle (Skopje Fortress), Skopje (must see)

Perched above the city, the Skopje Fortress is accessible from the Old Town and provides a unique vantage point to appreciate the city's beauty. While much of the castle is now in ruins, its towers remain, and it still affords visitors a breathtaking view from its elevated position.

The fortress holds great significance for the city, as it is prominently featured on the coat of arms of Skopje, which, in turn, is incorporated into the city's flag.

The history of the Skopje Fortress dates back to ancient times. The first fortress was constructed in the 6th century AD, on a site with a history of human habitation dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, roughly from 4000 BC onwards. It was predominantly built using yellow limestone and travertine, and it contains fragments of Latin inscriptions. Much of the material used in the construction of the fortress was sourced from the remnants of the Roman city of Skupi, which had been utterly destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 518.

The fortress is believed to have been erected during the reign of Emperor Justinian I and was subsequently expanded during the 10th and 11th centuries, using the remains of Justinian's original Byzantine fortress. It's likely that the earlier fortress suffered damage during a series of wars and battles in the region.

One of the pivotal historical events that took place at the Skopje Fortress was the coronation of Stefan Dušan, who adopted the title of Emperor in 1346 and subsequently moved the capital of the Serbian Empire to Skopje.

In 1660, the chronicler of the Ottoman Empire, Evliya Çelebi, provided a detailed account of the fortress's appearance during his travels through the empire, further emphasizing its historical significance.

Despite its rich history, the fortress suffered substantial damage from an earthquake in 1963. However, recent reconstruction efforts have aimed to restore this iconic landmark to its former glory, ensuring that it remains a place of historical and cultural importance for Skopje and its visitors.