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Radoviš (Municipality, Macedonia)

Радовиш

Flag and gonfanon of Radoviš - Images by Mello Luchtenberg, 1 April 2007

Presentation of Radoviš
Municipal flag of Radoviš

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Presentation of Radoviš

The municipality of Radoviš (28,244 inhabitants; 56.77 sq. km), located in eastern Macedonia, is made of the town of Radoviš and the 36 villages of Ali Koc, Ali Lobaci, Bučim, Voislavci, Damjan, Držani, Durutlija, Zleovo, Iljevo, Jargulica, Kalauzlija, Kalugjerica, Karalobosi, Karadžalar, Kozbunar, Kodžalija, Novo Selo, Oraovica, Papavica, Pogulevo, Podareš, Pokrajčevo, Prnalija, Rakliš, Sarigjol, Smilanci, Suldurci, Supurge, Topolnica, Kjoselija, Hudaverija, Češme Maale, Šanitaš, Šipkovica and Šturovo.

The town of Radoviš is built on the river Strumica, which has its source on the neighbouring Plaskovica mountain. According to the legend, the name of Radoviš comes from rado vis, to look with pleasure. Once upon a time, the Slavic princess of Radoviš, standing on the fortress wall, was advized by her fiance to rado vis; this was expected to warn her of an enemy attack and became a symbol of endurance. Other traditions say that the town was named after Princess Rada. During Tsar Samuel's rule, whereas the neighbouring town of Konče was a religious center, Radoviš was a trade and business center; it was mentioned for the first time in 1019 in the deed of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II. At the time, the town was located north-west of its present site.

Radoviš is known for the production of pepper and oriental, small-leaved tobacco Jaka (4,000 tons per year). The only gold and copper mine in Macedonia is located in the village of Bučim, producing yearly 45,000 tons of copper concentrate, 7,000 tons of cathode copper, 800-1,000 kilos of gold and 1,000 kilos of silver. The iron mine of Damjan is no longer exploited.

Radoviš is one of the world capitals of Olympic wrestling; the BK Bučim Jaka club was proclaimed European Champion in 1995 and World Champion in 1996. The poetry festival "Aco Karamanov Poetry Meetings" recalls Aco Karamanov (1927-1944), a poet and revolutionary from Radoviš.

Sources:

Ivan Sache, 7 April 2007

Municipal flag of Radoviš

The symbols of Radoviš are extensively described in the Municipal Statutes, adopted by the Municipal Council on 15 October 2002.

Article 6 describes the coat of arms.
The combination of the dark green, golden yellow, blue and black colours represents the natural resources of the region and the fertility of its soils, as well as the natural treasure represented by copper and gold ore. The blue, thin descending diagonal is charged with two golden tobacco leaves lined in black. In the upper left corner is placed the golden symbol of mining, a hammer and a burin. The crown recalls the legend of Queen Rada, who lived in a medieval town whose ruins can still be seen upstream form the town, to which she gave her name.
A dark green scroll placed under the shiled bears in golden stymized letters the name of the town, separated by a dot from "1019", recalling thet date of the first written document mentioning the town.

Article 7 describes the flag. The flag is dark green with the municipal arms, the scroll omitted, in the middle, flanked by the writing "Municipality" / "Radoviš".

The flag is shown, together with a gonfanon not described in the Statutes, on the Macedonian Ministry of Local Self-Government website (page no longer online).

Ivan Sache, 16 January 2010