Car Samoil’s Castle in Ohrid, Macedonia

     Car Samoil’s Castle is named after the Bulgarian Tsar Samuel, who ruled the Bulgarian Empire from 997 to 1014. The fortress dates from his reign and the ramparts on the high walls offer wonderful views in all directions. This fortification couldn’t prevent the Byzantine Empire defeating the Bulgarian forces at the beginning of the 11th Century, and then the Ottomans took over the area from the Byzantines in the 14th Century.

     The real low point for Ohrid though came in 1767, when due to Greek intrigue – still a grievance for Macedonians and for Bulgarians – the archbishopric of Ohrid was abolished. Happily, the archbishopric was restored in 1958 and continues to this day as the Macedonian Orthodox Church’s highest office.