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58-548: Its capital is Alexandroupolis . Together with the regional units Rhodope and Xanthi , it forms the geographical region of Western Thrace . The population density was 32 per km (2021). Evros is one of the largest regional units of Greece. It forms the eastern part of the geographical region Western Thrace , and includes the island Samothrace in the northern Aegean Sea . Its length is about 150 km from north to south (excluding Samothrace). Its width ranges from 70 to 100 km from east to west. The most important rivers are

116-534: A Special Protection Area and is proposed as a Site of Community Interest in the Natura 2000 Network . It is housed in a 1899 built neoclassical stone building on 14 May, 63 street, and has been operating since October 2002 to preserve historical memory in the wider geographical area of Thrace . It includes exhibits on the tradition of Thrace and covers the following themes: clothing, music and worship, confectionery, bronze and earthenware, textiles, land cultivation. It

174-448: A landing ground for fishermen from the opposite coast of Samothrace , a hamlet developed in the area during the construction of a railway line connecting Constantinople to the major cities of Macedonia from Pythio . The work was part of an effort to modernise the Empire, and was assigned to engineers from Austria-Hungary . The settlement grew into a fishing village, Dedeağaç. In 1873 it

232-531: A lasting effect on the design of Alexandroupolis' streets. The building of a railway station in Dedeağaç led to the development of the village into a town, and a minor trade centre by the end of the century. The town became the seat of a pasha as the capital of a sanjak . Ottoman control of the town lasted until the Balkan Wars . On 8 November 1912, Dedeağaç and its station was captured by Bulgarian forces with

290-471: A refreshment, walkways, green spaces and kiosks. This park is named after Konstantinos Altinalmazis, Alexandroupolis's longest-serving mayor (1925–29, 1929–33, 1933–37,1937-41). A central attraction and symbol of the city is the Lighthouse (recognized as a cultural heritage monument in 2013) located on the city's promenade (Megalou Alexandrou Street). It was built in 1850 and started operating in 1880, built on

348-623: A strategic port for both Greece and NATO in 2022, complementing the port of Souda in southern Greece. The modern city of Alexandroupolis was founded as a small fishing village in the early 19th century under the Ottoman Empire , by fishermen from Ainos and the villages of Makri and Maroneia . It became known as Dedeagach ( Greek : Δεδεαγάτς ; Turkish : Dedeağaç [dedeˈaːtʃ] ; Bulgarian : Дедеагач [dɛdɛaɡat͡ʃ] ). The name supposedly comes from an old Turkish wise man (Turkish dede ) who spent much of his time under

406-569: A total area of 93,544 sq.m., within a plot of 200,000 sq.m., the largest hospital ever built in Greece, and covers the needs of the wider region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace . The total capacity of the hospital is 673 beds. In 1953, the operation of the 216th Mobile Campaign Surgical Hospital (KICHNE) began under the administration of Dr. Kampakis Vassilios at the Alexander the Great Camp. The mission of

464-467: Is an important port and commercial center for northeastern Greece. The city was first settled by the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century and grew into the fishing village Dedeağaç . In 1873, it became a kaza and one year later was promoted to a sanjak . The city developed into a regional trading center. Later, it became a part of Adrianople Vilayet . During the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) ,

522-644: Is celebrated on 6 December each year. Until the 1980s in the city, the Wine Festival was held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT). This celebration revived after 25 years, in the summer of 2013 at the initiative of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis and is the city's greatest cultural event. The city's and Evros's regional unit cultural associations offer red and white local wine along with various meats. In

580-484: Is divided into the communities of Aisymi , Avas , Kirki , Makri and Sykorrachi . As of May 2019, the mayor of Alexandroupolis is Ioannis Zampoukis. Alexandroupolis is about 14.5 km (9.0 mi) west of the delta of the Evros , 40 km from the border with Turkey , 346 km (215 mi) from Thessaloniki on the newly constructed A2 Egnatia Odos motorway, and 750 km (470 mi) from Athens . Around

638-417: Is done through the pages "e-evros", "Alexpolisonline", "evros24" and "evrosnews". Each year, in the summer on the coast avenue of King Alexander, a book exhibition is held. Every two years near the harbor the international trade fair "Alexpo" is organized. On 14 May each year, the annexation of the city and Thrace to Greece is celebrated by a parade. The city's patron saint is Saint Nikolaos , whose feast

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696-704: Is located in Makri and is a famous cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus according to local folk tradition. It has traces of use since the Neolithic period (about 4,500 BC) and today the Neolithic settlement, one of the most important in the Balkans , has been discovered. Mesimbria - Zone is an archaeological site 20 km from Alexandroupolis. A number of coins and ruins from an ancient city, probably Zone , have been found here. It

754-504: Is served by Dimokritos International Airport (IATA:AXD) in the suburbs of Apalos, about 6 km from Alexandroupolis city center. There are daily flights to Athens , and several days per week flights to Crete ( Heraklion and Sitia ). At summer 2024 the direct connection to Larnaca Airport will begin. The airport is connected to the city by highway, taxi services, and scheduled bus services. The port of Alexandroupolis has been used principally by travelers. There are daily services to

812-460: Is −14.0 °C (6.8 °F) on 15 February 1985 while the highest temperature ever recorded is 41.4 °C (106.5 °F) on 18 July 2024. Alexandroupolis is accessible by air, rail, road and ferry. It has an international port, the A2 Egnatia Odos motorway, the airport "Dimokritos" and a railway connection with other cities. There are cycle lanes in the city centre. Alexandroupolis

870-415: The Evros and its tributary Arda . The Rhodope Mountains lie in the west and the southwest. The Aegean Sea lies to the south. The Evros valley is flat. Samothrace is mountainous. The coastal area has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, whereas the northern part and the mountains have a colder continental climate. The Evros regional unit is subdivided into 5 municipalities. These are (number as in

928-409: The Evros regional unit in the administrative region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace , in the historical region of Western Thrace . In 2006, the province of Alexandroupolis was abolished. In 2011, the municipality of Alexandroupolis was created by the merger of three former municipalities of Alexandroupolis, Feres and Traianoupoli . The municipality currently has an area of 1,216.954 km , and

986-655: The Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine . Initially it was part of the Thrace Prefecture , which was subdivided in 1930. During the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) , many Greek refugees settled in the Evros. New towns were built, including Orestiada. The Evros river valley has flooded several times, with the most recent floods taking place in 2005, 2006, 2014 and in 2021 where the multiple and largest floods took place . The main roads in

1044-859: The Adrianople Vilayet as per the 1906-07 Ottoman Census A publication from December 21, 1912, in the Belgian magazine Ons Volk Ontwaakt (Our Nation Awakes) estimated 1,006,500 inhabitants: Male population of the Filibe Sanjak of the Adrianople Vilayet in 1876 according to the British R. J. Moore: Ethnoconfessional groups in the Sanjak of Filibe in 1876 Male population of İslimiye sanjak of Adrianople Vilayet in 1873 according to Ottoman almanacs: Male population of İslimiye sanjak of Adrianople Vilayet in 1875 according to British R.J. Moore: Total population of

1102-400: The Evros regional unit are: A railway line connects Alexandroupolis with Thessaloniki via Komotini, Xanthi and Drama . Another line connects Alexandroupolis with Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria via Didymoteicho and Orestiada, with a branch line from Didymoteicho to Uzunköprü , Turkey. The Alexandroupolis International Airport is served by mostly national flights. The most important sights of

1160-531: The General Hospital of Alexandroupolis was completed in one unit under the name "University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis". The following subsidiary organizations and services are under its jurisdiction: Medical Center of Soufli , Medical Center of Samothrace (including the Regional Clinics), Technological Education of First Cycle of Nursing (Nursing School). It operates in a building complex with

1218-513: The Post Office there is a memorial plaque concerning this event. The city was soon visited by Alexander of Greece . He was the first King of Greece to visit the town which was renamed in his honour. Following the defeat of Greece in the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), the Greek Army under General Theodoros Pangalos retreated from Eastern Thrace to the area of Alexandroupolis. Bulgaria used

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1276-694: The Vilayet and its sanjaks according to the 1906/7 Ottoman census, in thousands, adjusted to round numbers. The communities are counted according to the Millet System of the Ottoman Empire rather than by the mother tongue. Thus, some Bulgarian-speakers were included in the Greek Rum millet and counted as Greeks, while the Muslim millet included Turks and Pomaks (Bulgarian speaking Muslims). Ethnoconfessional groups in

1334-589: The Vilayet: Ethnoconfessional groups in the Adrianople Vilayet as per the 1875 Vilayet Census Total population of the Adrianople Vilayet by ethnoconfessional groups according to French orientalist Ubicini on the basis of the official Ottoman Census of the Vilayet in 1875: Total population of the Adrianople Vilayet (including Eastern Rumelia ) in 1878 according to the Turkish author Kemal Karpat : Population of various ethnoconfessonal communities in

1392-641: The approval of the central government. Human settlements appear since the Neolithic Period (4500-3000 BC) at the southeast end of Western Thrace . In the Bronze Age (3000-1050 BC) there is no strong evidence of active city participation. During the Early Iron Age (1050-650 BC) the various Thracian tribes appeared and settled in mountainous and, more rarely, in lowland areas. In the Byzantine Period ,

1450-619: The area was briefly captured by the Russians. Ottoman rule ended with the First Balkan War , when the city was liberated by Bulgaria in 1912. In the Second Balkan War , Greece took control of the city. With the Treaty of Bucharest (10 August 1913), the city returned to Bulgaria. With the defeat of Bulgaria in World War I , the city came under Greek control for the second time. In 1920,

1508-504: The assistance of the Hellenic Navy . Bulgaria and Greece were allies during the First Balkan War , but opponents in the Second Balkan War . Dedeağaç was captured by Greek forces on 11 July 1913. The Treaty of Bucharest (10 August 1913) determined that Dedeağaç would be returned to Bulgaria along with the rest of Western Thrace . In September 1913, after the end of the Second Balkan War , about 12,000 Bulgarian refugees took refuge in

1566-667: The centre of land and sea routes connecting Greece with Turkey . Landmarks in Alexandroupolis include the lighthouse in the port, the archaeological sites of the Mesimvria Zone , the city's waterfront (the centre of commercial activity), the Ethnological Museum of Thrace, the thermal springs (Hana) of Traianoupoli , the cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus and the nearby Evros delta . Alexandroupolis has developed into

1624-503: The centre to the University , the hospital, the Airport and surrounding areas such as: Maistros, Makri (and Agia Paraskevi Beach), Palagia, Loutra , Nipsa, Mesembria , Avas , Amfitriti , Aisymi , Dikella and Apalos. Additional routes connect the centre with five districts: Poimenidi, Altinalmazi Park, Agios Vasileios, Exopolis and End of Avantos Street. The Hospital of Alexandroupolis

1682-478: The city are small fishing villages like Makri and Dikella to the west, and suburban Maistros, Apalos, Antheia, Aristino, Nipsa, Loutra to the east, while north of the city are the Palagia, Avantas , Aissymi, and Kirki. At the 2001 census, the main city had a population of 48,885 and the municipal unit had a population of 52,720. The current metropolitan population is estimated at 70,000 inhabitants, and its area covers

1740-484: The city of Alexandroupolis and are of the most famous hot springs in the region, since ancient times. Hana was an Ottoman inn and behind it during the Ottoman Empire there were baths (hamams), today ruins from the 16th century . In 1964, modern facilities for bath therapy and positherapy were rebuilt at the archeological site, which are officially recognized by the Greek state for their healing properties and are considered one of

1798-660: The city was renamed to honour the King of Greece, Alexander . With the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, Alexandroupolis became an official part of Greece. The modern city is near the site of ancient Sale , a colony of Samothrace . Alexandroupolis, as well as the whole area from the Evros Delta to Lake Vistonida and the foothills of Rhodope Mountains , was inhabited by Cicones , a Thracian people with whom, according to mythology, Odysseus and his comrades clashed on their return from Troy . Alexandroupolis benefits from its position at

Evros (regional unit) - Misplaced Pages Continue

1856-520: The city, the Evros Delta is one of Europe's most important habitats with 200,000-acre area, which is on the list of protected areas of the International Ramsar Convention (1971) due to the significant and rare species of plants (more than 300 species), fauna (40 species of mammals, 28 species of reptiles and 46 species of fish) and birds(320 species). Part of the Delta has been designated as

1914-656: The east, on the Salonica Vilayet in the west, on Eastern Rumelia (Bulgarian since 1885) in the north and on the Aegean Sea in the south. Sometimes the area is also described as Southern Thrace , or Adrianopolitan Thrace . After the city of Adrianople ( Edirne in Turkish; pop. in 1905 about 80,000), the principal towns were Rodosto (now Tekirdağ ) (35,000), Gelibolu (25,000), Kırklareli (16,000), İskeçe (14,000), Çorlu (11,500), Dimetoka (10,000), Enez (8000), Gümülcine (8000) and Dedeağaç (3000). Sanjaks of

1972-482: The east. There are bus routes of the Evros Bus Service connecting Alexandroupolis with the cities of Komotini, Xanthi, Kavala and Thessaloniki. There are bus routes that connect Alexandroupolis directly with Athens . There is a frequent daily connection with the other regions of Evros ( Feres , Soufli , Didymoteicho , Orestiada , etc.). The Urban Bus Service of Alexandroupolis operates 15 routes. They connect

2030-409: The hospital was to provide treatment to officers and hoplites of local units. In 1960 it stopped receiving patients, and became a recruited unit. In April 1962 it was transferred to the current Patsouka Camp, while it was receiving and treating pathology and surgical patients. Since 1974 the hospital has been treating and examining patients of the 12th Mechanized Infantry Division "Evros" . In 1996 it

2088-437: The islands of Samothrace and Lemnos . Due to its strategic location on NATO's eastern flank, it has important military logistical significance. Alexandroupolis has two railway stations: Alexandroupolis dialogi (trading station) and Alexandroupoli or Alexandroupoli Port (for passengers). It is served by trains to Thessaloniki and to Ormenio. There is an extensive network of train and bus replacements services throughout

2146-547: The map in the infobox): Evros was established as a prefecture in 1930 ( Greek : Νομός Έβρου ), when the former Thrace Prefecture was divided into the Rhodope and Evros prefectures. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the prefecture was transformed into a regional unit within the East Macedonia and Thrace region, with no change in its boundaries. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to

2204-539: The most important in Greece. Alexandroupolis houses four Departments of the Democritus University of Thrace . These Departments are the following: Adrianople Vilayet The Vilayet of Adrianople or Vilayet of Edirne ( Ottoman Turkish : ولايت ادرنه ; Vilâyet-i Edirne ) was a first-level administrative division ( vilayet ) of the Ottoman Empire . Prior to 1878, the vilayet had an area of 26,160 square miles (67,800 km ) and extended all

2262-551: The opportunity of the Greek defeat to demand that Alexandroupolis either be returned to Bulgarian control or declared a neutral zone under international control. Both demands were rejected by the Greek leadership and found no support in the League of Nations . The Treaty of Lausanne (24 July 1923) affirmed the Greek sovereignty of Western Thrace . During World War II the Nazis gave Alexandroupolis to their Bulgarian partners. Alexandroupolis

2320-580: The outskirts of the city. They were from 17 different villages all over the Western Thrace fleeing ethnic cleansing. The defeat of Bulgaria by the Allies in World War I (1914–1918) ensured another change of hands for the town. Western Thrace was withdrawn from Bulgaria under the terms of the 1919 Treaty of Neuilly . Alexandroupolis was under temporary management of the Entente led by French General Charpy. In

2378-529: The prefecture are: Alexandroupolis Alexandroupolis ( Greek : Ἀλεξανδρούπολις , pronounced [aleksanˈðrupolis] ) or Alexandroupoli ( Greek : Αλεξανδρούπολη , pronounced [aleksanˈðrupoli] ) is a city in Greece and the capital of the Evros regional unit . It is the largest city in Greek Thrace and the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace , with a population of 71,751, and

Evros (regional unit) - Misplaced Pages Continue

2436-511: The region of Evros . There were railway connections to Burgas in Bulgaria and to Edirne and Istanbul in Turkey, but those were suspended. The A2 Egnatia Odos motorway is the largest main road that passes through Alexandroupolis. It connects the city with Igoumenitsa , Ioannina , Kozani , Grevena , Veria , Thessaloniki , Kavala , Xanthi and Komotini to the west and Kipoi of Evros to

2494-427: The region which covers the modern city of Alexandroupolis played a leading role, because the city bordered Constantinople . For this reason the settlement was guarded by powerful military installations. In the following years, up to the 19th century, the city seems to have been deserted and covered by forests and wild trees. The modern city was first settled in the 19th century, under the Ottoman Empire . Long used as

2552-513: The second half of April 1920 prime ministers of the main allies of the Entente powers (except United States), gave Western Thrace to Greece at the San Remo conference . Bulgaria retained the right of transit to use the port of Dedeagach to transport goods through the Aegean Sea . The change of guard between French and Greek officials occurred on 14 May 1920, in the city's Post Office. In the interior of

2610-489: The shade of a tree ( ağaç ) and was eventually buried beside it. From the first days of the city's capture (14 May 1920), the local authorities as well as the Metropolitan, decided to rename the city from Dedeağaç to Neapoli ("new city"), as it was the newest Greek city. In 1920, King Alexander I of Greece visited the city, and the local authorities renamed the city Alexandroupoli ("city of Alexander") in his honor, with

2668-511: The southern portion of the regional unit, running from the Rhodope regional unit to the Evros Delta. Besides Alexandroupolis, its other largest settlements are the villages of Mákri (pop. 820), Ávas (497), Sykorráchi (309), Aisými (289), and Díkella (288). Alexandroupolis has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Csa ) with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The lowest temperature ever recorded

2726-575: The summer of 2022, the Municipality of Alexandroupolis revived the "Nautical Week" after many years. This fest takes place in July and includes a number of events and activities, which aim to highlight the seamanship and the special relationship of Alexandroupolis and its people with the sea. Since May 2017, Alexandroupolis has a new 1400-seat garden theatre in "Ecopark Altinalmazis ", where various cultural events such as theatrical performances and concerts are held. It has an area of 135,597 sq.m. (80 acres) and has

2784-457: The table below. Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece . As a part of Western Thrace , the territory of the Evros regional unit followed the fate of that region. In 1821, several parts of Evros region rebelled, such as Lavara and Samothraki , and participated in the Greek War of Independence . It became part of Greece in 1920 when it was ceded by Bulgaria as a result of

2842-609: The vilayet was split between Turkey and Greece in 1923, culminating in the formation of Western and Eastern Thrace after World War I as part of the Treaty of Lausanne . A smaller portion had already gone to Bulgaria by virtue of the Treaty of Bucharest (1913) following the Balkan wars . In the late 19th century, it bordered on the Istanbul Vilayet , the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara in

2900-402: The village. The officers in charge saw that reconstruction incorporated wide streets running parallel to each other, allowing the quick advance of troops, and avoided cul-de-sacs . This was very unlike the narrow alleys, cobbled streets, and dead-ends that were characteristic of Ottoman cities at the time. The city returned to Ottoman control by the end of the war. The brief Russian presence had

2958-596: The way to the Balkan Mountains . However, by virtue of the Treaty of Berlin (1878) , the Sanjak of İslimye , most of the Sanjak of Filibe and a small part of the Sanjak of Edirne (the Kızılağaç kaza and Monastır nahiya) were carved out of it to create the autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia , with a total area of 32,978 km . The province unified peacefully with the Principality of Bulgaria in 1885. The rest of

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3016-477: The western side of the city's harbor to facilitate the coasting of local sailors who traveled to the area of Hellespont . It is on a cylindrical pedestal and is 27 meters from the average sea level and 18 meters from the ground, making it one of the tallest lighthouses in Greece . It operates with electricity and its distinctive feature is its light beam reaching 24 nautical miles (approximately 44 km) and three white blinks every 15 seconds. Just 20 miles from

3074-560: Was founded in 1939 under the name "Alexandroupolis State Hospital". The hospital was divided into two services, Medicine and Administration. The staff of the hospital at that time was 26 people, i.e. 13 administrative staff, 5 scientific and 8 nursing staff. In 1987 it was co-located with the Department of Medicine of the Democritus University of Thrace . In 2002, the merger of the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis and

3132-471: Was largely spared the effects of the Greek Civil War (1946–1949). Forces of the communist Democratic Army of Greece in and around the town area were small and loosely organized, resulting in the absence of major battles in the area. The return of peace allowed for Alexandroupolis to grow from a town of 16,332 residents in 1951 to a city of 57,812 residents by 2011. Since 1930, Alexandroupolis has been in

3190-519: Was made the chief town of a kaza , to which it gave its name, and a kaymakam was appointed to it. In 1884 it was promoted to a sanjak , and the governor became a mutasarrıf . In 1889 the Greek archbishopric of Aenus was transferred to Dedeağaç. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Dedeağaç was part of the Adrianople Vilayet . Dedeağaç was captured by the Russians during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) . Russian forces settled in

3248-557: Was one of the colony-fortresses of Samothrace and flourished in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. The main buildings are: the sanctuary of Demeter , the temple of Apollo , the fortification wall, the walled settlement of the Hellenistic years , the cemetery and the Residences. It is noteworthy that a number of amphorae can be seen that were probably used as a waterproofing system. The thermal springs of Traianoupoli are 14 km away from

3306-559: Was renamed to the 492 General Military Hospital and has operated under this name until 2011. Since 2011 it has operated as 216 KICHNE. There are 3 regional television stations operating in Alexandroupolis: Delta TV, Thraki NET (Thrace Television Network), ALFA TV. Daily active newspapers Weekly active newspapers The main Radio Stations broadcasting from Alexandroupolis are: Local information in electronic form

3364-508: Was under Bulgarian occupation between May 1941 and 1944. Before the war the city had a Jewish community of 150 members. The city suffered destruction of its Jewish population by Bulgarian forces. In March 1943 the Jews were deported to the Nazi death camps , where they were exterminated. Only 4 Jews survived. The city suffered some damage to buildings and a loss of population during the war. Alexandroupolis

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