Royal Villa in Demir Kapija
Buildings/The Royal Winery in Demir Kapija, which also includes the royal villa, is considered one of the oldest wineries in the Balkans. The winery was built by King Alexander I Karađorđević in 1928–1929, following the recommendation of leading French oenologists who identified the Demir Kapija region as having the most favorable climate for viticulture. The royal villa was constructed in the 1930s as a residential building at the request of Queen Maria, designed by an unknown architect—although the name of architect Aleksandar Deroko is often mentioned, there is no definitive evidence confirming his authorship.
The villa itself is relatively small, with a basement, ground floor, and upper floor, functionally designed to meet the needs of the royal family for short stays. Its architectural design incorporates elements from traditional folk architecture, such as the characteristic roof with deep canopies, arched porches, a trifora window, bay windows, and a high base made of carved stone. A notable detail at the entrance is the presence of two terracotta caryatid statues, each 2.80 meters tall, crafted in a ceramics workshop from Vršac, Serbia.
Period 1930-1939
Investor / Owner King Alexander I Karađorđević
City / Municipality Demir Kapija
/ Demir Kapija
Address 11 Oktomvri St. b.b.
Floors B+GF+1
Original typology
Current purpose
Protection status protected
- Building chronology (project, construction phases)In 1928, King Alexander I Karađorđević purchased land with an area of 2,700 hectares in Demir Kapija from the Turkish beys Usni-bey and Memed-bey for 2,000 lira. The Royal Winery was built in 1929. The Royal Villa was constructed in 1930/31. The estate was put into operation in 1931 and remained the property of the king until 1947, after which it was nationalized by the People’s Republic of Macedonia and became the Agricultural Estate "Demir Kapija." Until 1995, it was managed by the "Povardarie" winery from Negotino, and in 2002 it was purchased by the company Agropin. Since 2015, the property has been owned by the Manasidis family and now bears the name "Queen Maria Winery."Number of floorsB+GF+1Program description (floor plan details)Basement: cellar and utility rooms. Ground floor and upper floor: residential.StructureThe building is constructed using a massive structural system.RoofMulti-pitched roof with deep canopies, covered with roofing tiles.FaçadeBase: made of carved stone. Façades: plastered and painted.CarpentryWooden doors and windows. Protective grilles on the basement windows are made of wrought iron.Building surroundingsThe villa is situated in the center of its own small, enclosed park within the winery estate. The immediate landscaping consists of stone-paved paths (a central path leading from the main gate to the villa and a perimeter path). The remaining area is covered with greenery and trees. The fence is made of stone.Interior / Private spacesThe floors are made of wooden planks and parquet. The interior doors are wooden with transom windows. The walls are plastered and whitewashed.ContextThe royal villa is part of the "Queen Maria" winery complex, which is strategically located on the southern corridor of the E75 highway, in the immediate vicinity of the town of Demir Kapija, right next to the Vardar River gorge, and surrounded by about 3,000 hectares of vineyards. The estate itself is divided into parcels that, in addition to the royal villa, contain various functional facilities: two laboratory buildings, the old wine cellar for storage, buildings intended for employees, a building (former school), as well as newly constructed facilities such as the modern factory for wine processing and aging, hospitality venues, and hotel villas. The entire area is planted with trees and greenery, with paved streets and cobblestone paths leading to the buildings, and the old enological machinery is displayed as an open-air museum in the park.
- RoofMulti-pitched roof with deep canopies, covered with tiles.FaçadeBase: made of carved stone. Façades: plastered and painted.CarpentryWooden doors and windows. Protective grilles on the basement windows are made of wrought iron.Building surroundingsThe villa is situated in the center of its own small, enclosed park within the winery estate. The immediate landscaping consists of stone-paved paths (a central path leading from the main gate to the villa and a perimeter path). The remaining area is covered with greenery and trees. The fence is made of stone.Interior / Private spacesThe floors are made of wooden planks and parquet. The interior doors are wooden with transom windows. The walls are plastered and whitewashed. On the ground floor, the ceilings are plastered, while on the upper floor, the wooden structure is exposed (likely a temporary condition due to replacement during the roof renovation).Exterior conditionsatisfactoryInterior conditionpoorExterior authenticitygoodInterior authenticitygoodModificationsThe villa was looted by the fascists at the end of World War II. Almost nothing remained of the furniture and valuable items. To save them from theft, the terracotta caryatids were buried in the ground by the winery manager, and were rediscovered during accidental plowing in the 1960s, when they were returned to their original position. No significant interventions have been carried out on the villa, except for the replacement of the roof (there is no information on when this change occurred). There is a change in the height of the roof at the rear balcony, which is visible as a trace on the façade. The cornice below the eaves has also been replastered.
- Unless it is restored, the building will continue to deteriorate.
- protected The property holds the status of a monument complex, in which the royal villa and the building of the old royal winery are declared cultural heritage of great importance with a first-degree protection regime, while the other buildings constructed in the same period have a second-degree protection regime. The surrounding contact zone is under a third-degree protection regime.
- historical architectural and aesthetic The villa, along with the entire complex, holds great historical significance because they are among the rare royal constructions on the territory of Macedonia built in the period between the two World Wars. Their existence and preservation contribute to ensuring the historical continuity in the development of Demir Kapija.
- Kadiјević, A. (2007). One Century of Searching for a National Style in Serbian Architecture (mid-19th – mid-20th Century). Belgrade. Građevinska knjiga Grchev, K. (2003). Architectural Styles in Secular Construction in Macedonia Between the Two World Wars 1919-1940. Skopje. Institute of Folklore Corporate author: UNESCO Office Venice and Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (Italy). (2004). Cultural heritage in South-East Europe: Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of). Retrieved March 2025, from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000188172 Website of the Wine Museum Demir Kapija. Accessed March 2025, https://museumdk.mk/?page_id=1690&lang=mk Politika. (2008 April 29). Royal, and now Macedonian. Retrieved March 2025, from https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/40831/kraljevsko-a-sada-makedonsko Politika. (2021 April 6). Queen Maria in North Macedonia. Retrieved March 2025, from https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/480590/kraljica-marija-u-severnoj-makedoniji Website of the Royal Winery Villa Maria. Accessed March 2025, https://sites.google.com/wineryqueenmaria.com/royal-winery-queen-maria/about-us