Vratnica
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Vratnica (Macedonian Вратница) is a small village (or settlement) located in the northwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia, 22 km away from the city of Tetovo and 5 km away from Jazince, the border crossing point with Serbia and Montenegro.
Vratnica is situated in the upper part of the Polog plain, at the foothills of northern part of Šar mountain, under the Ljuboten peak. The village is about 720-750 meters above the sea level.
History
Vratnica was mentioned for the first time in Turkish books or documents dating back to the 15th century. It is registered that there were about 59 families living in Vratnica. Until the 18th century there were different sorts of migration movements and it's not clear enough how they happened and what was Vratnica's position at that time.
The village of Moravce is also important for Vratnica history, as it was located on the northwest, 800 meters above present day Vratnica. Due to the oppression of the Ottoman Turks, Moravce inhabitants were forced to search for better living conditions. They directed their steps to the north, towards Kosovo and middle Serbia, but Vratnicans were forced to leave those regions as well. They eventually came back and formed modern Vratnica with the ones that stayed at the native land.
Origin of the name
It is probable that it is because of those movements that Vratnica got its name (to return/to come back = se vraća/се враќа, in English/Macedonian), but there are two other theories. The first is about Vratnica being some kind of gateway (vrata - in Macedonian) between Kacanik and Polog valley. The other one tells that the western side of Ljuboten, a mountain pick above Vratnica, looks like a neck (vrat, shija - Shija Ljubotenska, in Macedonian), which gave it its name.
Vratnica community
The Vratnica community consists of seven populated places: Belovište, Vratnica, the center of the community, Staro Selo, Rogacevo, Orašje (Gorno And Dolno) and Jazince. There are over 3,500 citizens living in this community.
External links
- [Cyber VRATNICA Internet Site]
- [Vratnica site in Macedonian language]
- [Community Portal of Vratnica (in Macedonian Language)]
- [macedonia :: vratnica (macedonia :: general information web site)]
- [Info page of Rogacevo, populated place in Vratnica community]
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