A paved road to the top of Popova Šapka

Popova Šapka is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.780m (5,840ft) above the sea level, located in the Republic of North Macedonia. It’s home of military base of the Macedonian Army & meteorological station.

Set high in the Šar Mountains, a mountain range in the Balkans that extends from southern Kosovo and the northwest of the Republic of Macedonia to northeastern Albania, the road to the summit starts at Tetovo, a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River. It is 18km long.

The surface of the road is paved, and chains or snow tyres can be required anytime. According to certain sources, a legend exist, how this area of Sar (Shar, Šar) Planina was named Popova Sapka (Popova Šapka). The legend says an orthodox priest exerting the evangelical mission, was killed like a martyr (and the body remained to be torn asunder by the wild animals), while visiting the orthodox-macedonian homes through the villages. At this district, where only the priest's hat (on macedonian "kamilavka") was found - was named in his honor, Popova Sapka (English - Priest's Hat). 
Pic: infoQender