Kajmakčalan (2521 m) – A Historic Peak on the Macedonian-Greek Border

Kajmakčalan (Kaimakchalan, Kaimaktsalan, Macedonian: Кајмакчалан) is a mountain peak on Nidze mountain at an altitude of 2.521 m.a.s.l. Located on the southern border of the Republic of Macedonia, it is the fifth highest peak in Macedonia and the third highest peak in Greece.

From the peak Kajmakcalan, the lakes Vegoritida and Petron in Greece and the whole Mariovo region in the Republic of Macedonia can be seen.
Near Kajmakcalan are located the villages Skocivir in Macedonia and the ski center Voras in Greece.

About the toponym Kajmakcalan

According to one legend, the name Kajmakcalan originates from the name of the thief “Kajmak” (the best), who climbed at the peak with his fellows, carrying the stolen gold from the raids. Kajmak dug out a hole and hid the gold, after which the leader the of group killed him and said that in this way he will be an eternal keeper of the buried treasure. (Kajmakcalan – literally translation: Kajmak+calam = the best in stealing). There are also other legends and stories for the name Kajmakcalan.

Kajmakcalan peak - Nidze mountain, Macedonia

Battle of Kajmakcalan

Kajmakchalan is one of the best-known peaks in Macedonia and Greece, but its significance extends far beyond mountaineering. On its steep slopes, in the autumn of 1916, one of the fiercest battles on the Macedonian (Salonika) Front of the First World War took place—the Battle of Kajmakchalan.

The battle was fought from 12 to 30 September 1916, as part of the Allied offensive. The Serbian Army, reorganized after its retreat through Albania and subsequent recovery on Corfu, once again found itself engaged in fierce fighting with Bulgarian forces, which had established heavily fortified positions on the Kajmakchalan massif. To the Bulgarians, the peak was known as “Boris City”, while in Serbian military tradition it later became known as the “Gate of Freedom.”

On 12 September, attacks began against the heavily fortified Bulgarian positions. The Serbian units gradually advanced toward the summit at great cost. The fighting took place under exceptionally difficult conditions—at an altitude of around 2,500 metres, under intense artillery fire and amid dense fog, cold, and snow. The positions on the peak were so strongly fortified that every advance came at a heavy human cost.

On 25 September, Serbian forces succeeded in capturing the summit, but Bulgarian units immediately launched counterattacks. Over the following days, Kajmakchalan changed hands several times. Particularly fierce fighting took place during the night of 26 September, including hand-to-hand combat and bayonet fighting. Exhausted Serbian units were forced to withdraw from the summit once again, followed by further attacks and counterattacks.

The decisive assault took place on 30 September 1916. Following a heavy artillery bombardment, Serbian units once again advanced toward the summit. The attack involved forces from the Drina and Danube Divisions, as well as the Volunteer Detachment commanded by Vojvoda Vuk. After several hours of fierce fighting, the Bulgarian forces were pushed back and the Serbian Army finally secured Kajmakchalan. Fighting for the surrounding heights continued over the following days, and their capture eliminated the threat of another Bulgarian counterattack against the summit itself.

The fighting was exceptionally bloody for both sides. According to Bulgarian military sources, Bulgarian forces suffered 1,927 killed and 6,067 wounded. The main burden of the defence was borne by the 11th Sliven Infantry Regiment. According to figures from the Serbian Ministry of Defence, the Serbian Army suffered approximately 4,800 killed and around 2,000 missing in the fighting for Kajmakchalan. The Drina Division alone, which bore the main burden of the attacks, suffered 3,804 casualties.

The capture of Kajmakchalan had important operational significance for the subsequent Allied advance toward the Crna River valley and Bitola. Following a series of further battles, Serbian and French forces entered Bitola on 19 November 1916, making the capture of Kajmakchalan part of the wider Allied offensive on the Macedonian Front.

Kajmakcalan chapel

According to some sources, immediately after the Kajmakcalan Battle, given the large number of casualties on both sides, the soldiers started to build some kind of memorial chapel. The temple St. Peter and Paul was completed in 1921 with the nearby ossuary which houses the bones of many unknown soldiers, which were gathered many years after the First World War. The Belltower and the facilities around the chapel were built in 1928, marking the 10th anniversary of the end of the First World War. On that occasion also was put into service the road leading from Bitola to Kaimakchalan.

Kajmakcalan chapel in 1930s

Aerial view of Kajmakcalan Peak in 1930s

Dr. Rudolphe Archibald Reiss

Rudolphe Archibald Reiss (8 July 1875 – 8 August 1929) was a German-Swiss criminology-pioneer, forensic scientist, professor, writer and correspondent for newspapers in several countries, reporting the events directly from the front.

At the request of the Serbian government, he arrives in Serbia in 1914 to investigate the crimes against civilians, made by the armies of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Bulgaria. He remained in Serbia until the end of his life.
Last time he visited Kajmakcalan on September 15, 1928, marking the 10th anniversary of the Dobro Pole Battle.

Rudolphe Archibald Reiss and the urn in which his heart was placed

Rudolphe Archibald Reiss died on August 8, 1929 in his villa in Belgrade called “Dobro Pole” and he was buried at the Topcider cemetery. At his request, his heart was taken away in an urn on the peak Kajmakčalan, where it rested along with other soldiers that died here. The heart today is missing but the urn can still be seen into the chapel.

Kajmakcalan today

The peak Kajmakcalan is visited by tourists during the whole year. During the winter, many tourists that visit the ski center Voras in Greece also visit the peak Kajmakcalan, and during summer, the Peak is visited by many tourists interested in the First World War.

The easiest and most reliable way to visit the peak Kajmakcalan is with 4×4 vehicles, and our organization has experienced drivers with modern and air-conditioned vehicles that will enable you an unforgettable one-day experience.

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