Murtino: A Working Village, Honestly Described
Murtino is a small agricultural village in Strumica Municipality, on the Belasica foothills above the valley and about 9 km from the retreat, roughly 12 minutes by road towards Strumica.
We describe it honestly to guests: this is not an attraction with an entrance gate. It is a working village, and its interest lies in the scenery, the political history attached to it, and the drive across that gets you there.
Why the village is known
Murtino's place in the national story comes from people rather than buildings. Boris Trajkovski, president of North Macedonia from 1999 to 2004, and Zoran Zaev, a former prime minister, are both listed as coming from the village.
For guests interested in recent Balkan politics, standing in the village that produced a president and a prime minister within one generation is a real thing, and locals are used to the question.
What you actually do there
You drive through slowly, walk a lane or two, look at the church tradition that in this region mostly belongs to the 19th-century revival period, and take in the view back across the Strumica valley.
The village belongs to the same fruit-and-vegetable belt as the rest of the valley floor, so the surrounding fields change with the season: ploughed earth, green rows, harvest trailers.
How to fit it in
Murtino works best as a stop on a route rather than a destination in its own right: on the way to Strumica, or as part of a bike loop through the western side of the valley.
Riders on our guided biking tours use these lanes for exactly that reason. Late spring, when the valley is green, is the most photogenic time.
Why visit
- The village of a former president and former prime minister
- Quiet lanes through the valley's fruit and vegetable belt
- Views back across the Strumica valley from the foothills
- A 19th-century-period village church tradition
- Roughly 9 km and about 12 minutes from the retreat
Good to know
Getting there
About 9 km and roughly 12 minutes by road from Gabrovo, in the direction of Strumica on the western side of the valley.
When to go
Year-round, and most scenic in late spring when the fields are green and the light is clear.
Set expectations
There are no developed sights. Treat it as a short stop, a drive-through or part of a cycling loop, and it rewards you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Murtino worth a special trip?
Which municipality is it in?
What is there to see in the village?
More to explore
Stay at the hacienda
Ask us to fold Murtino into a bike ride or the drive to Strumica. It costs twenty minutes and adds a piece of the country's recent history.