Resen (Macedonian: Ресен) is a city in southwestern North Macedonia. It has just under 9,000 residents within city limits and is the seat of Resen Municipality which includes the town as well as 43 surrounding villages with a total population of nearly 17,000. It sits north of the Great Prespa Lake, roughly equidistant between Ohrid to the west and Bitola to the east.

Old architecture in Resen

Understand

Resen is the only town near the Prespa Lakes, which span North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece. It has an ethnically diverse population consisting in which Macedonians form three-quarters of the town, Turks form 16%, and Albanians form 4%. The Macedonians are Orthodox Christians, while the Turks and Albanians are Muslims.

The Municipality of Resen consists of the town as well as over 40 villages. The southern portion of the municipality is considered the Prespa region. The municipality is known as agricultural hub of the country, particularly for its apples. Resen produces half of the apples in the country.

The Resen area is located in the Prespa valley, bounded by Pelister to the east, Galičica to the west, and the mountains of Bigla and Plakenska to the north.

Get in

By bus

• 1 Bus Station (Автобуска Станица Ресен), Leninova Blvd. (Ленинова). Resen is easy to get to by bus and has daily connections with Ohrid, Bitola, and beyond. The bus station itself is pretty awful. It is apparent that a renovation was planned and started but money must have run out giving it its current depressed look. If you're not the adventurous type, find a restroom elsewhere. 

By car

The highway E-65 runs through Resen, connecting it to Ohrid in the west and Bitola in the east. The condition of the road varies, so exercise caution in case of deep potholes. The highway also consists of a lot of uphill driving, so try finding a car that doesn't give out easily.

Resen can also be reached from Albania. There is a border crossing at the village of Stenje in the southwestern part of the municipality. Road R1307 runs from the border up to the town of Resen.

By taxi

From Ohrid, a taxi to Resen will cost up to 1,000 denars. From Bitola, it should be a bit less. From further cities, the cost will be higher.

By plane

There is no airport in Resen, but the Ohrid Airport is only 44.5 km (27.7 mi) west of Resen. This airport, in summertime, normally sees two or three flights a day and, in winter, sees two or three flight a week.

Get around

Resen is not a very large city, with most places of interest near each other, so walking is the best way to get from place to place. Taxis are also available around town.

See

The Saraj estate

The Church of Saint Ignatius at Jankovec Monastery

• 1 The Saraj, 29th of November 47, ☏ +389 47 551 021. This neoclassical estate is one of the most unique buildings in Macedonia, built by Ahmed Niyazi Bey, the local bey of Resen, who was inspired by French estates. Construction began in 1905 and was completed in 1908, though the interior was not finished until 1922. Ahmed Niyazi Bey died, however, in 1912 of unknown causes and never lived to see the estate complete. It served various functions during the world wars and now serves as a museum, library, and gallery. Its ceramic colony is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics of UNESCO, while its Dragi Tozija House of Culture is a branch of the Museum of Macedonia. (updated Sep 2016)
• 2 Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius (Црква „Св. Кирил и Методиј“). The consecration of this church in 1894 was used by revolutionaries to hide an important meeting of its members from the Ottomans. The delegates, who came from across Macedonia, dressed in clerical attire to avoid being found out. The church is white with a detailed exterior, including a wide dome. A bell tower stands next to the church. (updated Oct 2019)
• 3 Church of Saint George (Црква „Св. Ѓорѓи“). This church was built in the 1840s. The frescoes inside were also completed in that decade. The church is built of stone and brick with a pitched roof and has a porch on its sides. (updated Sep 2016)
• 4 Jankovec Monastery (Јанковечки манастир), village of Jankovec. This 15th-century monastery is located in Jankovec, a large village immediately north of Resen. It contains multiple churches, including the Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch and the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The monastery has an active monastic life. (updated Oct 2019)

Eat

Here is a list of some popular restaurants in Resen:

• Kaj Stevo
• Star Sokak
• Makedonski Biser
• Viktorija
• Jambo

Drink

Here is a list of some popular cafes and bars in Resen:

• PORTA
• Boa
• Bolero
• Metak
• Amor
• Evolution
• PORTA Club Cafe, Centar. 

Sleep

• Kitka, Phone: +389 47 Fax: +389 47. This four star hotel is located in the center of the city.
• 1 Klarite, s.Perovo, ☏ +389 72 627 714. (updated Dec 2019)
• 2 Villa Raskrsnica, village of Brajcino, ☏ +389 75 796 796, vila.raskrsnica@gmail.com. (updated Jan 2020)

Go next

• Prespa (North Macedonia), just south of the town. Resen is the entrance to Prespa for most visitors. This is an area of spectacular nature and important cultural landmarks, surrounding North Macedonia's share of Lake Prespa. It contains the island Golem Grad, a bird sanctuary, an ethnological museum, and several medieval churches and monasteries.
• Pelister National Park, the land surrounding Baba Mountain. It sits west of Resen and contains pristine mountainous terrain, rivers, and glacial lakes.
• Galičica National Park, the land between lakes Ohrid and Prespa, east of Resen.