Negotino between Wine Tradition and the Vardar

Negotino is located in the central Povardarie and the eastern part of the Tikveš Valley, a region shaped by vineyards, fertile land and a long winemaking tradition. The town lies on the Vardar. For visitors, this brings together a clear set of local highlights: the history of winemaking sits alongside religious heritage, while the river and fishing spots offer another perspective on the municipality. If you are looking for a hotel in Negotino, you can plan your stay around these different interests.

Winemaking as a common thread

The Negotino City Museum houses an ethnological and wine-related exhibition and a lapidarium. Its ethnology department presents the material and spiritual culture of settlements in the municipality and the town of Negotino through numerous traditional costumes, household items and agricultural objects. The exhibition also showcases the municipality’s winemaking tradition, which has been known there since antiquity. Everyday culture and the history of winemaking thus sit side by side in the museum, offering two different ways to explore local history.

The wineries also each have their own distinctive character. Bovin was founded in 1998 as the first privately established winery in Macedonia. The winery has a room for tasting its high-quality wines; check current visitor arrangements in advance if you plan to take part in a tasting. Dudin has been operating since 2004 and produces white and red wines; it is one of the newer private wineries in Negotino. Maksimilijan is a small family winery in the village of Pepelishte in the municipality. Together, the wineries represent different aspects of the wine region: founding history, different types of wine and family heritage.

Churches, monastery and feast days

The Church of St. Athanasius was built in 1837 and is considered a typical 19th-century church. A complete renovation of the exterior and interior in 2017 added a new iconostasis and new frescoes; the church was then reconsecrated. The Monastery of St. George at Crkviste was built in 1860 by the people of Negotino. Its guest accommodation has capacity for visitors. If you are considering an overnight stay there, check availability in advance.

Religious feast days offer further points of interest throughout the calendar. The annual celebration at the Monastery of St. George begins on September 20 with the so-called Monastery Evening and is observed on September 21 for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos. The current program may vary. The patronal feast of the Church of St. Athanasius is celebrated on January 31 according to the Gregorian calendar, or January 18 according to the Julian calendar. The traditional St. Tryphon celebration also takes place every year in February and promotes the local tradition of wine and wine culture. The Negotino Fair is an annual economic and cultural event that attracts visitors from all over Macedonia.

The Vardar, fishing spots and ancient history

The Vardar and Dosh nica rivers are designated fishing spots in the municipality. Their fish populations include catfish, carp, barbel, chub and whitefish. The Vardar also shapes the town’s setting. Those interested in the area’s longer history can visit the ancient site of Gradishte-Antigonea near Negotino. It was continuously inhabited from the Iron Age through Roman times and is considered an important cultural and historical heritage site as well as a tourist destination. The site is also described as being near the Skopje–Thessaloniki highway.

Getting there and finding your way

Negotino has direct connections to the A1 highway and the railway line to Thessaloniki. The Tabanovce–Skopje–Gevgelija railway line also passes through the municipality. Its area is served by four railway stations: Kukurecani, Krivolak, Negotino and Dubrovo. Road and rail are both options to consider when planning your journey; check suitable connections and timetables for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Negotino, Krivolak, Bogdanci, Bitola, Kavadarci, Prilep, Saraj, Delchevo.

For the main travel overview: Macedonia.