Kumanovo

Kumanovo is a city in North Macedonia and the seat of Kumanovo Municipality, the largest municipality in the country. Kumanovo lies 340 metres above sea level and is surrounded by the Karadag part of Skopska Crna Gora mountain on its western side, Gradištanska mountain on its southern side, and Mangovica and German mountain on the Eastern side. Skopje airport also serves Kumanovo.

The town was first mentioned in 17th century. It was initially settled by Turks and later by Muslim Albanians. Slavic people entered the town in the late 18th century and early 19th century. It has many historical sites. One of the most important sites is the 4,000-year-old megalithic astronomical observatory of Kokino, located 30 km northeast of Kumanovo and discovered in 2001. It is ranked fourth on the list of old observatories by NASA.

In 1912, during the First Balkan War, Serbian forces won a decisive victory over the Ottomans north of the town. The two-day Battle of Kumanovo ended Ottoman authority in Vardar Macedonia which contributed to the region's integration into Serbia, and consequently, into Yugoslavia.

The rapid economic, administrative and cultural expansion of Kumanovo began in 1945. The town's metal-processing, tobacco, agriculture, footwear and textile industries have made it an economic, trading and cultural center of approximately 135,529 people. It is internationally known for a jazz festival hosting bands from all over the world.

Dresden

The city of Dresden is the state capital of the Free State of Saxony and, with its population of over 500,000, is one of the medium-sized German cities. The history of the settlements dates back to the Stone Age, the city was founded in 1206. Today, Dresden is both the cultural and economic center of Saxony. The city has become famous through the Dresden Christstollen, which enjoys a great popularity during the Christmas season.

Dresden is famous for its sightseeing spots that attract a great number of tourists every year:

 The Dresden Frauenkirche (The Church of Our Lady): The Dresden Frauenkirche is the symbol of the Saxon state capital and was built within 17 years and completed in 1743. In the Second World War the impressive church was almost completely destroyed by a huge fire. After the reconstruction, which lasted from 1994 to 2005, it now shines again in its new splendor and is a popular excursion destination of Dresden. Especially from the air-balloon over Saxony, the Frauenkirche looks particularly beautiful!

Dresden Residence Castle: The Dresden Residence Castle is one of the historical buildings of the city whose history dates back to the 14th century. Visitors can visit the Green Vault and the New  Green Vault, where valuable art treasures are exhibited.

Military History Museum of the Bundeswehr: The Military History Museum of the Bundeswehr is one of the largest museums of the German military and was opened in 1877. Here, visitors can learn everything about German military history from its beginnings to modern days. Well-known exhibit is the Brandtaucher (Fire Diver), the first German submarine which Dreiller Wilhelm Bauer developed and built in 1850.

Ufa Crystal Palace: The Ufa Crystal Palace is a Cinema center in the city center, which has an extraordinary architectural design with a glass exterior facade. It is located in the Prague street and was opened in March 1998. The Cinema center has 8 cinemas with 2,700 seats for relaxation.

The Blue Miracle: The Blue Miracle is the Loschwitz Bridge and one of the most famous bridge structures in Dresden. The bridge was built in 1893 and connects the noble districts of Blasewitz and Loschwitz with a length of 280 meters.

The Transparent Factory: itis the production facility for Volkswagen's top-class car VW Phaeton. The publicly accessible Autowerk at the Großen Garten is home to the hotel and was opened in 2002. There is a restaurant and a bar for the culinary delights.

The Neue Kugelhaus is located directly at Dresden's main railway station and is an attractive shopping center in the form of a glass ball. There are over 30 shops on 4 floors, which offer a special shopping experience.

The Semper Opera House: The Semper Opera is the court and state opera of the Saxony, whose history dates back to the year 1841. Regular concerts and operettas are held there, including performances by well-known artists such as Richard Wagner.