Greek Thrace and the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with a population of 71,751,[2] and is an important port and commercial center for northeastern Greece.[3]
(10 August 1913), the city returned back to Bulgaria.
With the defeat of Bulgaria in World War I, the city came under Greek control for the second time. In 1920, 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
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.[6]
Alexandroupolis benefits from its position at the centre of land and sea routes connecting Greece with Turkey.[7] 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 CyclopsPolyphemus and the nearby Evrosdelta.[7]
Alexandroupolis has developed into a strategic port for both Greece and NATO in 2022, complementing the port of Souda in southern Greece.[8]
Name
The modern city of Alexandroupolis was founded as a small fishing village in the early 19th century under the
Alexander I of Greece visited the city, and the local authorities renamed the city Alexandroupoli ("city of Alexander") in his honor, with the approval of the central government.[10]
History
From Neolithic Period to the 19th century
Human settlements appear since the
Byzantine Period, 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.[11]
Ottoman era
The modern city was first settled in the 19th century, under the Ottoman Empire. Long used as 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 was made the chief town of a
Adrianople Vilayet
.
Russo-Turkish War
Dedeağaç was captured by the Russians during the
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 a lasting effect on the design of Alexandroupolis' streets.[13]
Balkan Wars
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
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 the outskirts of the city. They were from 17 different villages all over the Western Thrace fleeing ethnic cleansing.[14]
World War I
The defeat of Bulgaria by the
Treaty of Neuilly.[15] Alexandroupolis was under temporary management of the Entente led by French General Charpy.[16] In 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.[17]
The change of guard between French and Greek officials occurred on May 14, 1920, in the city's Post Office.
King of Greece to visit the town which was renamed in his honour.[18]
Greco-Turkish War
Following the defeat of Greece in the
Eastern Thrace to the area of Alexandroupolis. Bulgaria used 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.[19] Alexandroupolis 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.[20] Only 4 Jews survived. The city suffered some damage to buildings and a loss of population during the war.
Alexandroupolis 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.
Changes in local governance
Since 1930, Alexandroupolis has been in 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.[21] The municipality currently has an area of 1,216.954 km2,[22] and is divided into the communities of Aisymi, Avas, Kirki, Makri and Sykorrachi. As of May 2019, the mayor of Alexandroupolis is Ioannis Zampoukis.
Geography
Alexandroupolis is about 14.5 km (9.0 mi) west of the delta of the
Egnatia highway, and 750 km (470 mi) from Athens. Around 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 around 70,000 inhabitants, and its area covers 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).
Climate
Alexandroupolis has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa) with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The lowest temperature ever recorded is −14.0 °C (6.8 °F) on 15 February 1985 while the highest temperature ever recorded is 39.8 °C (103.6 °F) on 4 August 1998 and 6 July 2000.
Climate data for Alexandroupolis 1951-2010 averages (extremes 1961-present)
Source 1: NOAA rain days & humidity (1961-1990)[23]
Source 2: HNMS averages,[24] Info Climat extremes 1991-present[25]
Transport
Alexandroupolis is accessible by air, rail, road and ferry. It has an international port, the
railway connection with other cities. There are cycle lanes in the city centre.[26]
Airport
Alexandroupolis 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.
Seaport
The port of Alexandroupolis has been used principally by travelers. There are daily services to the islands of Samothrace and Lemnos. Due to its strategic location on NATO's eastern flank, it has important military logistical significance.[27]
Railway
Ethnological Museum of Thrace
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.[43]
Cave of Cyclops
It is located in
Neolithic period (about 4,500 BC) and today the Neolithic settlement, one of the most important in the Balkans, has been discovered.
The "Cave of Cyclops"The archaeological site of Mesembria-Zone
Mesimbria-Zone
Zone, have been found here. It 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.[44]
It is noteworthy that a number of amphorae can be seen that were probably used as a waterproofing system.
Thermal springs of Traianoupoli (Evrenos Bey Han).
Thermal springs of Traianoupoli
The thermal springs of Traianoupoli are 14 km away from 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 the most important in Greece.[45]
Museums
Historical Museum of Alexandroupolis (335, Democracy Avenue)
Ethnological Museum of Thrace (63, 14 May street)
Archaeological Museum of Alexandroupolis (44, Makris Avenue)
Ecclesiastical Museum of AlexandroupolisEcclesiastical Museum of the Holy Metropolis of Alexandroupolis (Mitropoleos Square)
Folklore Museum of Cappadocian Association of Alexandroupolis (1, Mitropoulou street)
Museum of Folklore and Natural History (8, Thermopylae street, Nea Chili)
Museum of Natural History (Platanopathos of Maistros)
Museum of Flora and Fauna (Art & Culture Center of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis "Georgios Vizyinos")
Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood[51]
Some highly specialised medical operations are performed in the new Regional General University Hospital – Research center, currently the largest one in Greece.[52] The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics is the only one in Greece in this scientific field.[53]
The city has a network of public schools, from nurseries to high schools, under the responsibility of the city council.
Sport
Volleyball
The Volleyball team of
A1 Volleyball championship (42 years). He has made significant progress in all three home titles (Championship, Cup, League Cup), reaching the final (2014) and 8 times the first 4 teams in ranking, but also in European competitions, reaching two times the quarterfinals of the CEV Challenge Cup in 2015 and 2016. He has also featured great athletes of the Greek and global volleyball such as Marios Giourdas, Theodoros Baev and Andreas Andreadis, while Thanassis Moustakidis, Andrej Kravárik and Nikos Samaras also wore his shirt. He has also won many national championships in the infrastructure departments. In total, she has won 6 Greek U21 championships (1976, 1987, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2023), 2 Greek U18 championships (2008, 2011), 3 Greek U16 championships (2007, 2008, 2009). The headquarters of the team is the closed gym of "Michalis Paraskevopoulos", 1000 seats, located next to the "Fotis Kosmas" athletic stadium.[54]
Other city's Volleyball Teams are:
G.S.G. Nike Alexandroupolis: Women's team with 9 participations in Women's Greek Volleyball Championship and best place the 4th (1997–98), that allowed the team to participate in Challenge Cup. Nike has won 2 National Junior championships (1990, 1992) and 1 National Girls Championship (1989).
There are two basketball teams in the city: Ethnikos Alexandroupolis and Olympiada Alexandroupolis. Each game between them is a local derby. These two teams compete in the regional basketball championship of East Macedonia and Thrace. Ethnikos Alexandroupolis has celebrated two rises and participations in the Greek C Basket League (1995, 2014), counting equal relegations. The biggest success of the team's academy is the 3rd place in the National Children Basketball Championship in 1983/84.[55]
The U14 Girls' team of Olympiada Alexandroupolis has won three consecutive times the U14 championship of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, in 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Also, in 2021-2022 and in 2022-23 qualified to the Greek U14 Girls' Basketball Championship, placing 8th and 7th respectively in Greece in this age category.[56]
Handball-Beach Handball
In beach handball the team of Kyklopes Alexandroupolis has won 5 Greek Men's Beach Handball Championships, 4 of them consecutive (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019),
Challenge Cup next year.[59] Also the men's handball team of Kyklopes participates in the A2 Ethniki Handball
. The second team of the city is Asteras Alexandroupolis.
Swimming
In June 2013 was inaugurated the new Municipal Swimming Pool of Alexandroupolis "Dimosthenis Michalentzakis", which is the most modern swimming pool in Greece in terms of technical equipment and one of the most modern in Europe. In this place have been hosted major international events, such as the international synchronized swimming meeting Hellas Beetles Fina Artistic Swimming World Series, in April 2019. It is the headquarters of the swimming clubs: OFTHA and NOA, but also of the polo team of Ethnikos Alexandroupolis. The OFTHA team has held the first place in Thrace for several years and is one of the top clubs in Greece, while many of its athletes have achieved distinctions in national championships.[60] Also, 3 disabled swimmers from Alexandroupolis are members of the National Team and represent Greece at the World Para Swimming Championships and Paralympic Games: Dimosthenis Michalentzakis (Gold Paralympic Medal in 2016 at 100 m. butterfly S9), Dimitrios Karypidis (4th Paralympian in 2021 at 100 m. backstroke S1) and Alexandros Lergios (first participation at the Paralympic Games of Tokyo, 2021).[61]
Track
The track team of Ethnikos Alexandroupolis also has a great tradition as has been in the first 10 teams of the Greek track championship ranking 4 times in men (1953, 1955, 1956, 1958), best place the 4th (1956), and in women (1959, 1989, 1990, 1991), best place also the 4th (1959). It has featured great athletes such as: Hrysopigi Devetzi, Dimosthenis Magginas and Fotis Kosmas. Many athletes of the team have won Panhellenic and Balkan medals in development categories.[62]
Table Tennis
The last 10 years, Ethnikos Alexandroupolis has been consistently among the top 10 teams in Greece according to the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation rating tables. The women's team participates in the Greek Women's First Division (A1),[63] while the men's team participates in the Greek Men's Second Division (A2).[64]
As far as infrastructure teams are concerned, the club was 4 times in the finals of the Panhellenic Junior Children Championship (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019). In 2017 he won the 1st place and was the Greek Champion in this category, while in 2016, 2017, 2019 he won the 2nd place in Greece. In the category of Children, in 2017, 2018 and 2022 the team of Ethnikos Alexandroupolis took the 3rd place in the Panhellenic Table Tennis Championship, while in 2019 was the champion in this category and climbed to the top of Greece. In 2019, Ethnikos Alexandroupolis took the 2nd place in the Panhellenic Table Tennis Championship in the category of Young Women.
Athletes of the club are at the top of the federation's ranking list by winning cups and medals at the Panhellenic Open Championships.[65]
Badminton
Since 2018, the Badminton department of Ethnikos Alexandroupolis has been competing in the A1 Greek Badminton Division, while club's athletes have won medals at the Panhellenic Development Championships.[66]
Rugby
In 2009, the stadium hosted an international
Greece and Bulgaria; the match was the first time that Greece had played a home match outside of Attica.[67]
Run Greece Alexandroupolis
Since 2014, with the help of the track team of Ethnikos Alexandroupolis, Run Greece Alexandroupolis is held, which continues until today, on the last Sunday of September, co-organized by
The international race 'Via Egnatia Run' is an action of Evros Regional Unit which started in 2016 and is being held every May. It is a 21.1 km half-marathon on the route of the Ancient Via Egnatia, which once connected Constantinople to Rome, culturally, economically and commercially, passing through the ancient city of Sale (today's Alexandroupolis) and Traianoupoli. There is also a race of 5 km, and two races of 800 meters for disabled people and children. It takes place on the Alexandroupolis-Kipoi National Road and the routes have been certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). The goal is through the sport to get to know the culture and history of this important route.[69]
Thrace Night Run
Every June Thrace Night Run, which has become an institution the recent years and includes 5 and 10 km runs, is held on the coastal avenue of Alexandroupoli since 2021. The organization is undertaken by the sports club "Dromeas of Thrace" with the support of the Alexandroupoli's Municipality and EAS SEGAS of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.[70]