Elšani


Elšani is a village in the municipality of Ohrid, North Macedonia. It is situated south of the City of Ohrid. It is spread across the western slopes of Galičica Mountain, near Lake Ohrid. The village is located at above sea level.

Demographics

According to the statistics of Bulgarian ethnographer Vasil Kanchov from 1900, 240 inhabitants lived in Elšani, all Christian Bulgarians. Elšani has 620 inhabitants living in the village all year around, though, in the summer, there are approximately 400 additional temporary inhabitants staying in their holiday homes.
As of the 2021 census, Elšani had 620 residents with the following ethnic composition:
  • Macedonians 598
  • Persons for whom data are taken from administrative sources 17
  • Others 5

Ethnicity

All of Elšani's inhabitants are ethnic Macedonians, and Macedonian is their mother tongue.

Religion

For centuries, Orthodox Christianity has been the traditional religion in Elšani and the dating of the oldest church in the village goes back as far as 1408. The Cathedral Church is dedicated to St. Elijah, and there is a chapel dedicated to Saint Menas. The chapel of St. Petka from 1947 is shared with the neighbouring village of Peštani.

Economy

Most of the local people work in hotels by the lakeside, or in the Ohrid factories. There are still some more traditional activities, as well: each family has its own vineyard and a garden, animals are still kept, and traditional production of wine and rakija is still practised.

Historical timeline of Elšani