The Mountain Village of Galičnik (Galichnik) – Selo Galičnik
The village of Galičnik (Galichnik / Галинчик) is located about 19.5 kilometers (35 minute drive via the Galički road) southwest of Mavrovo and 33.5 kilometers (one hour drive through Selce) northeast of Debar in the Mavrovo National Park on the Bistra mountain massif. Galičnik (Galichnik) is one of the more picturesque and culturally significant villages located in the Bistra massif such as Gari, Janče (Janche), Lazaropole, Kičinica (Kichinitsa), and Tresonče (Tresonche).
Galičnik (Galichnik) is home to the famous Galičnik Wedding Festival, Галичка свадба, an annual five day traditional festival that culminates on 12 July, the religious holiday honouring the martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul, with a wedding ceremony being held in the Church dedicated to Sts. Peter & Paul (Sveti Petar I Pavle / Свети Петар и Павле) in Galičnik.
Galičnik is also very famous for its cheeses, such as its white cheese (belo sirenje / бело сиренје) and their yellow cheese called kaškaval (kashkaval / кашкавал) using the livestock that are naturally fed by grazing the mountain pastures. The soft white sheep cheese is particularly one of my favorites and pairs very nicely with a dry red Macedonian wine, or as common in our house eaten as meze; white cheese, hot peppers (fresh and crisp, or roasted with garlic & vinegar) and rakija.
Galičnik (Galichnik) is one of the Mijak villages located in the Mijačija area (Radika River area). The Mijaks are famous for their skills in wood carving (such as the iconostasis at the Jovan Bigorski Monastery), architecture, animal husbandry, and painting icons.
Photos from the Archives
Galičnik in the Clouds
Google Map