Kajmakčalan — Local services in Municipality of Florina

I took a summer day trip here with friends from Kragujevac, Serbia (2 hours South of Belgrade). It was like a pilgrimage for them to honor those who died there in WW1 at the final battlle of Thesaloniki front line. Soon after, the Austro-Hungarian surrendered.

The hike was mild to moderate... no cliff faces or bouldering necessary, although the grade can be steep at times. It took us a few hours round-trip from the last place you can park. Shorts, a t-shirt, and running shoes were sufficient in late July.

The location is very isolated. There are no public bathrooms or convenience stores nearby, so prepare accordingly. You will encounter grazing animal herds on the road getting there. Also, there seems to be very rustic ski lifts (not operating). Our group only encountered 2 other humans on the mountain. They were local guys who managed to drive a truck almost to the top and were drinking rakija while sitting on the tailgate.

The views are amazing. There are also some ruins, a small cemetery, and a chapel. I stamped my passport with a stamp from...

A great place of Serbian and European history. The place where the winner of the First world war was decided. Ascent from the ski center Wallace, 5 km with 500 meters of height difference. At the top is a chapel that takes you back to history and reminds you of the heroism of Serbian soldiers in the fight for freedom against the Bulgarian and German invaders. In the chapel there is an urn containing the heart of Archibald Reiss, the famous Swiss forensic scientist, a fighter for justice in the Great War. The first third of the climb is quite strenuous, the rest is less difficult. You should take into account the weather forecast, because the weather changes quickly. Ramonda nathaliae flower can be found here. The easiest approach is from the Greek side. You can also climb it with vehicles, but it is much more...

Kaymakchalan battle- November 1916 Kingdom of Serbia - Greece border The part of Salonika (Thessaloniki) front

The battle was fought between 12 and 30 September 1916, when the Serbian army managed to capture the peak of Prophet Ilia while pushing the Bulgarians towards the town of Mariovo, where the latter formed new defensive lines. Between 26 and 30 September, the peak changed hands several times until it was decisively captured by the Serbian army on the latter date.

The battle proved to be very costly for both sides. Serbian losses had reached around 10,000 killed and wounded by 23 September.[5] The Bulgarian companies had been reduced to 90 men each and one regiment, the 11th Sliven Regiment, had 73 officers and 3,000 men hors de combat.[6]

By strategic aspect, the battle was not a huge success for the Allies due to the upcoming winter that rendered further military engagements almost impossible.

Today, there is a small church on the peak of Prophet Ilia where the skulls of dead Serbian soldiers are stored, and it is regarded as a cultural site

Rodolph Archibald Reiss (Hausach, Baden, July 8, 1875 - Belgrade, August 8, 1929) was a Swiss forensic, publicist, doctor of chemistry and professor at the University of Lausanne. He stood out as a criminologist working on the investigation of crimes against the Serbian population during the First World War. Кајмакчалан је највиши врх планине Ниџе са 2.521 m надморске висине, на граници Kраљевине Србије према Грчкој (Мариово). Сачињен је од гнајса и гранита, а познат је као поприште најжешћих борби на Солунском фронту током Првог свјетског рата 1918. године. На њему је подигнута спомен капела где се налази и урна, у којој је (било)[1] сахрањено срце доктора Арчибалда Рајса/Родолф Арчибалд Рајс (нем. Rudolph Archibald Reiss; Хаузах, Баден, 8. јул 1875 — Београд, 8. август 1929) је био швајцарски форензичар, публициста, доктор хемије и професор на Универзитету у Лозани. Истакао се као криминолог радом на истраживању злочина над српским становништвом у време Првог светског рата./. Јужно од капеле стоји и костурница српских војника у којој се налазе остаци палих бораца, доста костију је лежало на брду и...