Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2022/City&Venue

Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2022
Ohrid, North Macedonia, 14–16 October
Bringing Back Together!

Welcome to Ohrid!

Ohrid is the most popular tourist destination in N. Macedonia. As a seat of Ohrid Municipality, it is the main urban center of the region around Ohrid Lake, and also the largest city located near the lake itself. Famous for its churches and old city architecture, it attracts large number of tourists from N. Macedonia and abroad. Nicknamed 'Jerusalem of the Balkans', the city serves as one of the main religious center of the country as well.

Information about travelling to Ohrid and its public transportation system can be found here.

Ohrid

Ohrid (Macedonian: Охрид) is the seat of the Ohrid Municipality. It is the largest city on Lake Ohrid and the eighth-largest city in the country, with the municipality recording a population of over 42,000 inhabitants as of 2002. Ohrid is known for once having 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as a "Jerusalem of the Balkans". The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. It is located southwest of Skopje, west of Resen and Bitola. In 1979 and in 1980 respectively, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are Cultural as well as Natural sites.

In antiquity the city was known under the ancient Greek name of Λυχνίς (Lychnis) and Λυχνιδός (Lychnidos) and the Latin Lychnidus, probably meaning 'city of light', literally 'a precious stone that emits light', from λύχνος (lychnos), 'lamp, portable light'.

The city is predominantly Macedonian-speaking urban center, while Orthodox Christians make up the majority of the population.

Geography and Climate

Ohrid is located in the south-western part of North Macedonia, on the shore of Lake Ohrid, at an elevation of 695 meters above sea level.

Ohrid has a warm-summer mediterranean climate, bordering on an oceanic climate moderated by its elevation, as the mean temperature of the warmest month is just above 22 °C (71.6 °F) and every summer month receives less than 40 millimetres (1.6 in) of rainfall. The coldest month is January with the average temperature 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) or in a range between 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) and −1.5 °C (29.3 °F). The warmest month is August with average range of 27.7 °C (82 °F)-14.2 °C (57.6 °F). The rainiest month is November, which sees on average 90.5 mm (3.6 in) of rain. The summer months of June, July and August receive the least amount of rain, around 30 mm (1.2 in). The absolute minimum temperature is −17.8 °C (0.0 °F) and the maximum 38.5 °C (101.3 °F).

Culture and Art

According to the 2002 census, Ohrid has a population of 55,700. Ohrid is situated located on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in south-western Macedonia, at an altitude of 695 meters above the sea level. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, each for every day of the year, and is referred as the Macedonian Jerusalem. Ohrid is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. The new, modern Ohrid, with the old part creates a synthesis between the past and the future. The old part represents a citadel and contains many cultural-historical monuments that attracts the eyes of the tourists. Ohrid travel guides can take you for a tour around lake Ohrid as well as through city Ohrid vizit. Hotels & restaurants can be found on every corner. Ohrid hosts many cultural events, like: the Balkan Folklore Festival, Ohrid Swimming Marathon, Ohrid Summer Festival, Ohrid Fest as well as many others.

Popular Attractions

Church of St. Sophia
Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon
Church of St. John at Kaneo
Monastery of St. Naum
Vestiges of basilicas from the early-Christian time, e.g. Basilica of St. Erazmo (4th century)
Robevi House, museum of archeology
Ancient Theatre of Ohrid
Samuil Fortress
The Bay of Bones

Venue

Accommodation

The resort complex Metropol (Метропол) is located on the shores of Lake Ohrid, some 8 km south of Ohrid. The participants will be hosted in comfortable single or twin-bed rooms, which are reserved for participants who want to share room with other people. Scholarship grant includes four nights. Breakfast is included in the accommodation costs.

More information about the hotel can be obtained on the following link.

Catering

Catering during the conference days includes lunch, dinner (except for Saturday when we’ll have dinner in the city center) and two coffee breaks per day. Lunch and dinner are on the buffet system.

Social Event

On Saturday evening, a city tour will be organized for the guests of the conference. They will have the opportunity to see the beauty and history of Охрид with the help of a tourist guide. After the tour, the dinner is planned in a restaurant located in Bljanini izvori. The transport will be organized by rented bus.

For self-organised and informal meetups, please see Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2022/Meetups.