Bitola (Macedonian Битола, Turkish Manastır, Greek Μοναστήρι, Serbian Bitolj/Битољ) is a city in the present day Republic of Macedonia. It is in the district of Bitola It is located about 40 km N of Florina, E of Resen, and S of Skopje and Prilep and is accessed with the M5 and the E65 . As Heraclea Lyncestis, founded by Philip II of Macedon, it was a major city during the Roman Empire, lying on the Via Egnatia. Later it was settled by slavic peoples and in 1395 it was conquered by Ottoman Empire, which made the city a major military and commercial center. It later became the terminus of a major railway line and the largest city in western Macedonia.

The name "Bitola" comes from the old slavonic word "Obitel" which means monastery.

During the First Balkan War of 1912, both Greece and Serbia attacked Bitola in a pincer movement. The leader of the greek army, heir to the throne prince Constantine was heading towards Bitola but had to change direction towards Thessaloniki after several angry telegrams by his prime minister Eleftherios Venizelos. Thus Serbia won the race to Bitola. In 1917, the city suffered extensive damage from an allied artillery barrage, being the second most bombarded city in WW1.

Present day Bitola is the second largest city in the Republic of Macedonia, center of the Bitola Municipality, and an important agro-industrial, cultural and educational center.

Places in the Bitola district

• Alinci ?
• Baresani
• Crncani ?
• Dragos
• Egri
• Graesnica
• Kanino
• Kisava
• Lazec
• Medzitlija
• Mojno ?
• Oleveni
• Ostreč?
• Porodin
• Puturus ?
• Velušina
• Zabjani
• Zlokukani

Links: Bitola Municipality Offical Page Bitola Babam Bitola