Kosovo, North Macedonia and Skopje are gaining a new cultural tourism connection as the historic Mother Teresa pilgrimage route between Skopje and Letnicë/Letnica is being restored through European Union-backed cross-border cooperation. The route links places associated with Mother Teresa’s early life and spiritual heritage while creating a travel corridor for pilgrims, hikers and cultural visitors. Letnicë in Kosovo already attracts more than 30,000 pilgrimage visitors each summer, giving the route an established visitor base as restoration work develops the wider tourism experience.
A Historic Route Connects Two Countries
The Mother Teresa pilgrimage route connects Skopje in North Macedonia with Letnicë in Kosovo, creating a cross-border journey through landscapes and communities connected with the humanitarian’s heritage. The route provides a framework for visitors to explore religious sites, cultural landmarks and local communities across two neighbouring Balkan countries.
The European Union announced support for the route on 27 July 2026 through its cross-border cooperation programme. The initiative forms part of wider efforts to strengthen connections between communities and develop tourism routes that cross national borders.
For travellers, the project creates an opportunity to experience the journey as more than a visit to an individual religious site. Walking sections of the route can bring together pilgrimage, hiking, cultural discovery and rural tourism while allowing visitors to explore destinations on both sides of the border.
Skopje Provides the Northern Starting Point
Skopje is central to the route because Mother Teresa was born in the city in 1910. Visitors can begin their journey at the Mother Teresa Memorial House, located in central Skopje, before exploring other parts of the North Macedonian capital.
The city offers a combination of religious heritage, historic architecture, museums, markets and contemporary urban attractions. The Old Bazaar provides another major stop, with Ottoman-era buildings, traditional shops, restaurants and cultural landmarks.
A route-based itinerary can therefore begin with a city stay before moving towards rural landscapes and the Kosovo border. This allows cultural tourists to combine urban sightseeing with a longer heritage journey.
Letnicë Brings Pilgrimage Tourism Into Focus
Letnicë, also known as Letnica, is a village in Kosovo’s Vitina municipality with an established religious tourism tradition. The village is home to the Church of the Black Madonna, an important pilgrimage destination associated with Mother Teresa.
More than 30,000 visitors come to Letnicë during the summer pilgrimage period, demonstrating the scale of existing religious travel to the destination. The restoration of the wider route provides an opportunity to connect these visitors with additional experiences in the surrounding region.
Travellers visiting Letnicë can explore the village, religious heritage and surrounding countryside. The cross-border route also gives pilgrims a structured way to approach the destination from Skopje rather than treating the village as an isolated stop.
Hiking Adds a New Dimension to the Journey
Although pilgrimage remains central to the route, the corridor can also appeal to hikers and cultural travellers. Cross-border walking routes allow visitors to experience the landscapes between urban centres and rural communities at a slower pace.
This format supports several forms of tourism at once. Religious travellers can follow the historic pilgrimage connection, while hikers can explore the landscape and cultural tourists can visit heritage sites along the journey.
The route can also encourage longer stays. A visitor who might previously have spent time only in Skopje or Letnicë can incorporate additional communities, accommodation, food experiences and attractions into a multi-day itinerary.
Tourism Can Support Local Communities
The cross-border project is also designed to connect tourism development with local economic activity. As travellers move along the route, spending can reach accommodation providers, restaurants, guides, transport operators, shops and other small businesses.
This is particularly relevant for rural communities where tourism opportunities can be more limited than in major Balkan cities. A recognised pilgrimage and cultural route can distribute visitors across several destinations rather than concentrating tourism around one landmark.
For travellers, that can mean access to locally based experiences, traditional food, rural landscapes and cultural encounters that form part of the wider journey.
The Balkans Gain a Cross-Border Tourism Route
The Mother Teresa route adds another cross-border tourism connection to the Balkans, a region where cultural and religious heritage frequently extends across modern national boundaries. The route links North Macedonia and Kosovo through a shared heritage narrative while encouraging visitors to travel between destinations.
Its development also fits broader European efforts to strengthen cross-border cooperation through tourism. Clearer route infrastructure, interpretation, visitor information and supporting services can make multi-country travel easier for international visitors.
For pilgrims travelling from other European markets, the route could become part of a wider Balkan itinerary including Skopje, Pristina, Gjilan and other cultural destinations in Kosovo and North Macedonia.
A New Journey Through Mother Teresa’s Heritage
The restoration gives travellers another way to experience the heritage associated with Mother Teresa. Starting in Skopje and continuing towards Letnicë, the journey combines a major Balkan capital with a rural pilgrimage destination and the landscapes between them.
With more than 30,000 summer pilgrims already visiting Letnicë, the route begins with an established tourism audience. Its development can now connect pilgrimage travel with hiking, cultural tourism and local experiences across the border.
For visitors planning a Balkan journey, the restored route offers a distinct itinerary built around heritage, faith, walking and place. As Kosovo and North Macedonia strengthen the connection, the Mother Teresa pilgrimage route is becoming a tourism corridor linking two countries through one of the region’s best-known cultural stories.
