Dojran
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Dojran (Macedonian Cyrillic: Дојран) is a city located on the western shore of Dojran Lake in the south-eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. Dojran is made up of two fisherman's towns; Nov Dojran (settled from the end of World War I to World War II) and Star Dojran, which contains both old ruins and recent construction, especially hotels, resorts and restaurants. Dojran is located 170 km from Skopje and 59 km from the nearest city of Strumica.
Dojran, primarily Star Dojran, was first settled in pre-historic times, and the first written record of the city was in the 5th century in which the Greek historian Herodotus, wrote about the Paionians, ancient Thraco-Illyrian people, who started and expanded the city. Herodotus notes how the Paionians, lived in settlements accessible only by boats, settlements which still exist today on the west and the north shores of Dojran Lake, in between the cane zones and the lake itself. The economy of Dojran has always been primarily dependent on fishing and success in the business is attributed to the traditional ancient fishing method used by the fishermen.
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[edit] Legend of Dojran Lake
Dojran was conquered by troops of the Ottoman Empire, led by Gazi Evrenos Bey (Beg), in 1391. On the day that the city was conquered, the lake was frozen and covered with snow. Fierce snow storms made recognition of the roads nearly incomprehensible. According to legend, the Turks were ignorant of the lake's existence and traversed the entire length of the lake. The next day, when Evrenos Bey found out what had happened, he believed that Allah had taken his army under his protection and immediately ordered preparations for a large feast. The memory of the feast gave the city its name; "Dojurmak" (Doyurmak), or "Dojaran" (Doyuran) - which translated into English means feast.
The Clocktower of Dojran, built in the 14th century, also has its origin shrouded in legend. Though some claim it was built (or rebuilt) more recently, most believe that the Tower was built by Evrenos Bey in honor of the conquest of Dojran. The Tower was partially destroyed in World War I, and was never repaired.
[edit] Turkish rule
Dojran developed according to the Turkish model of an Islamic city. The upper part was profoundly impacted by Turkish influence, with narrow streets; whereas the lower part retained its Bulgarian roots, crossed with wide streets and modern public buildings. Houses were usually two-storeyed, arranged amphitheatrically, with a view onto the lake. The style of architecture was so similar to that of Salonica that Dojran came to be known as "Small Salonica". The Bazaar, near Dojran Lake, had 300 shops and craft workshops. Many Turkish dignitaries settled there after being stunned by the beauty of the city.
World War I devastated the city physically and economically; destroying many cultural monuments and the fishing business. The population was forced to desert the city to escape bombardment. After the war the population returned and formed Nov Dojran. Today the two villages are seen as one town though most new buildings are located in Star Dojran, and are devoted to attracting tourism.
[edit] Architecture
The Amam (Hamam) is a Turkish bath located in the upper part of the city and in the past it was inhabited by the Turkish population. The year it was built is unknown and only parts of the tower remain. The Church of St. Ilija was built in 1874 in the northern part of the city. The current state of the church; fragments of paintings, suggests that the church walls were originally covered with frescos. Dojran is also significant archeologically due to numerous discoveries of accidental or systematic excavations including relief, marble plates with Greek inscriptions, remainders of walls, coins and tombs with epitaphs.
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