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VRATNICA is a beautiful little city located in north-western part of Republic of Macedonia (south-eastern Europe).
Entrance in Vratnica from Tetovo. In the back of the photo is mountain pick Ljuboten (2498m) at Shar Planina. Geographic characteristics and location ...
As I said above, Vratnica is located in the north-western part of Macedonia, 22 km from the city of Tetovo. At the other hand it is only 5 km from Jazince, the border crossing point with Serbia & Montenegro (SCG). Vratnica is placed in the upper part of the Polog valley and the foothills of mountain pick Ljuboten (2498 m), at one of the most beautiful mountains in Macedonia, Sar Planina. The altitude of our city is 680-750 meters above the sea level.
History and name ...
For the first time Vratnica was mentioned in Turkish books/documents in 15th century (1452-1453). There is registered that Vratnica had around 59 families living in it. Until the 18th century there were smaller and bigger migration movements, so it's not clear enough how they happened and what was Vratnica position at that time.
The village of Moravce is also important for Vratnica history (Moravce was located at north-west, 800 m above Vratnica of today). Because of tyrannizing from the Ottoman Turks, Moravce inhabitants were searching for better living conditions. They directed their steps to the north, to Kosovo & middle Serbia.But, Vratnicans were forced to leave that regions, too. They came back, and together with the ones that stayed at the native land formed the modern Vratnica. Probably from their returning (coming back) Vratnica got its name (to return/to come back=se vraca/se vrakja [eng./maced.]).
There are two more theories about the name of Vratnica. First is about a thing that Vratnica is some kind of gate/door (vrata - in Macedonian) between Kacanik to Polog valley. The other one tells that the western side of Ljuboten, mountain pick above Vratnica, looks like neck (vrat, shija - Shija Ljubotenska, in Macedonian), so there the name come from.
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