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CTP >> CULTURAL TRIANGLE OF PRESPA

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Sep 07th
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History in Prespa PDF Print E-mail
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Prespa has always been a place where people and culture have met. It’s story has seen the rule of Bulgars, Serbs, Franks, Byzantians and Ottomans, giving the area a rich and interesting cultural heritage.

Prespa has many Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments. The most famous is certainly the Basilica of Agios Achillios, on the island of same name, built by Samuel, Czar of the Bulgars in the late 10th century. However many other churches are interesting to visit too: the 11th century church of Agios Germanos with its beautiful frescoes, the recently restored 15th century church of Agios Nikolaos on the edge of Pili village, or the church of the Virgin of the Porphyra on the island of Agios Achillios.

After the collapse of the Byzantine Empire in the mid 14th century came five centuries of Ottoman rule. However, Prespa being so remote, the Turkish presence was relatively light. This period then saw a flourishing Christian presence, with the building of churches, monasteries and hermitages. On the shore of lake Megali Prespa one can find the remains of numerous hermitages, still decorated with impressive frescoes dating up to the 14th century. These are easily accessible by boat, but a bit more difficult is the walk to them. However a lucky trekker will be granted an amazing view over the lake.

The XXth century was incredibly eventful. The Macedonian Struggle and the Balkan wars saw fights for regional identities and the division into three countries. The First World War brought the occupation by the French army, and the subsequent debacle of the Greek army and forced population exchanges emptied the region of all the Muslims, who had to move to Turkey in exchange for Asia Minor Greeks. However, the most painful part of the century was the Greek civil war, Prespa being under Communist partisan control. There are still remains of their headquarters and a field hospital to be found in cave. At the end of the war, most of the inhabitants were forced to flee the area. Later few ever returned, and some villages disappeared. In the 50s, the Greek government settled Vlach communities and immigrants from Asia Minor in Pespa. However, like most of the Greek countryside, Prespa suffered strong rural desertification in the 70s, people leaving for the city or abroad. Unfortunately, the population of Prespa has never returned to it’s pre-war level.
Until relatively recently Prespa has been a sensitive area and visitors to the region required special permits to enter. Nowadays however, things are different, and visitor are welcome.
Last Updated ( Σάββατο, 01 Σεπτέμβριος 2007 )
 


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