Golem Grad, also known as Snake Island, is located in Lake Prespa, a few kilometers from the Greek and Albanian border. Golem Grad is home to several ancient ruins and churches. It is also home to several different communities of animals, especially snakes.

The island is currently uninhabited and has been so since the mid-20th century, when the small monastic community left the island. The island can only be reached by boat.

References:

Comments

Your name



Address

Konjsko, North Macedonia
See all sites in Konjsko

Details

Founded: Unknown
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in North Macedonia

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Jovan Atanasov (9 months ago)
Golem Grad (Snake Island or St. Peter) — an island in Prespa Lake of great cultural-historical importance.[1] It is mistakenly considered to be the only island in the Republic of Macedonia,[2] which actually has several lake and river islands. Golem Grad has been declared a strict nature reserve due to its specific geomorphological characteristics, characteristic flora and fauna, and due to its historical past. The island is 750 m long and 450 m wide, with the highest part 50 m above the lake. From all sides the island is surrounded by rocks and cliffs with a height of 20 to 30 meters. A plateau is formed above them with two elevations on the northern and southern part of the island. Among the hills there is a saddle that ends with small bays on the shores. These two bays are the only places from which the plateau can be accessed[3]. The environment with a large amount of water, the geological base and the proximity of the Mediterranean allowed the island to have a special microclimate which is the reason for the emergence of a rich and sparsely distributed vegetation, dominated by southern European floral elements (41 or 25.6% - sub-Mediterranean species; 29 or 18.2% - Eurasian; 20 or 12.6% - Mediterranean; 18 or 11.2% - Pontic; 17 or 10.6% - European; 10 or 6.2% - Mesian; 8 or 5.0% - circumpolar; 5 or 3.1% - cultural; 4 or 2.5% - Atlantic-Sub-Mediterranean; 3 or 1.9% - cosmopolitan; 3 or 1.9% - Illyrian; 2 or 1.2% - Scardo- Pinda). On the island of Golem Grad, according to academician Hans Em, two forest communities are clearly distinguished, namely the forest of wild foya (Biaro tenuifoliae-Juniperetum excelsae) and the forest of Webbi's almond and smooth nettle (Pruno webbii-Celtetum glabrae).
Martin Jonacik (2 years ago)
Very nice island, i like it.
Igor Ivanovski (2 years ago)
Must see!
Özcan özdemir (2 years ago)
Good
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.