The city was first settled by theOttoman Empire in the 19th century and grew into the fishing villageDedeağaç. In 1873, it became akaza and one year later was promoted to asanjak. The city developed into a regional trading center. Later, it became a part ofAdrianople Vilayet. During theRusso-Turkish War (1877–1878), the area was briefly captured by the Russians. Ottoman rule ended with theFirst Balkan War, when the city was captured byBulgaria in 1912. In theSecond Balkan War,Greece took control of the city. With theTreaty of Bucharest (10 August 1913), the city returned to Bulgaria.
With the defeat of Bulgaria inWorld 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 theTreaty of Lausanne in 1923, Alexandroupolis became an official part of Greece.
Alexandroupolis benefits from its position at the centre of land and sea routes connecting Greece withTurkey.[5] Landmarks in Alexandroupolis include the lighthouse in the port, the archaeological sites of theMesimvria Zone, the city's waterfront (the centre of commercial activity), the Ethnological Museum of Thrace, the thermal springs (Hana) ofTraianoupoli, the cave of theCyclopsPolyphemus and the nearbyEvrosdelta.[5]
Alexandroupolis has developed into a strategic port for both Greece andNATO in 2022, complementing the port ofSouda in southern Greece.[6]
The modern city of Alexandroupolis was founded as a small fishing village in the early 19th century under theOttoman Empire, by fishermen fromAinos and the villages ofMakri andMaroneia.[5] It became known asDedeagach (Greek:Δεδεαγάτς;Turkish:Dedeağaç[dedeˈaːtʃ];Bulgarian:Дедеагач[dɛdɛaɡat͡ʃ]). The name supposedly comes from an old Turkish wise man (Turkishdede) who spent much of his time under 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 fromDedeağaç toNeapoli ("new city"), as it was the newest Greek city.[7] In 1920, KingAlexander I of Greece visited the city, and the local authorities renamed the cityAlexandroupolis ("city of Alexander") in his honor, with the approval of the central government.[8]
Ruins of theByzantine Avandas castle (Avas) outside the city.
Human settlements appear since theNeolithic Period (4500-3000 BC) at the southeast end ofWestern Thrace. In theBronze Age (3000-1050 BC) there is no strong evidence of active city participation. During theEarly Iron Age (1050-650 BC) the variousThracian tribes appeared and settled in mountainous and, more rarely, in lowland areas.
In theByzantine Period, the region which covers the modern city of Alexandroupolis was part of thetheme of Macedonia and played an important role, due to its proximity toConstantinople. For this reason the settlement was guarded by powerful military installations.Basil I "the Macedonian" (r. 867–886) hailed from the theme of Macedonia in Thrace, and theMacedonian dynasty he founded was named after the theme of Macedonia.
In the following years, up to the 19th century, the city seems to have been deserted and covered by forests and wild trees.[12]
The modern city was first settled in the 19th century, under theOttoman Empire. Long used as a landing ground for fishermen from the opposite coast ofSamothrace, a hamlet developed in the area during the construction of a railway line connectingConstantinople to the major cities ofMacedonia fromPythio. The work was part of an effort to modernise the Empire, and was assigned to engineers fromAustria-Hungary. The settlement grew into a fishing village, Dedeağaç.
In 1873 it was made the chief town of akaza, to which it gave its name, and akaymakam was appointed to it. In 1884 it was promoted to asanjak, and the governor became amutasarrıf. In 1889 the Greek archbishopric ofAenus was transferred to Dedeağaç.[13] In the late 19th and early 20th century, Dedeağaç was part of theAdrianople Vilayet.
Dedeağaç was captured by the Russians during theRusso-Turkish War (1877–1878). Russian forces settled in the village. The officers in charge saw that reconstruction incorporated wide streets running parallel to each other, allowing the quick advance of troops, and avoidedcul-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.[14]
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 apasha as the capital of asanjak. Ottoman control of the town lasted until theBalkan Wars. On 8 November 1912, Dedeağaç and its station was captured byBulgarian forces with the assistance of theHellenic Navy. Bulgaria and Greece were allies during theFirst Balkan War, but opponents in theSecond Balkan War. Dedeağaç was captured byGreek forces on 11 July 1913. TheTreaty of Bucharest (10 August 1913) determined that Dedeağaç would be returned to Bulgaria along with the rest ofWestern Thrace.
In September 1913, after the end of theSecond Balkan War, about 12,000 Bulgarian refugees took refuge in the outskirts of the city. They were from 17 different villages all over theWestern Thrace fleeing ethnic cleansing.[15]
The old military railway station (Gare Militaire) of Alexandroupoli, 1893
The defeat of Bulgaria by theAllies inWorld War I (1914–1918) ensured another change of hands for the town. Western Thrace was withdrawn from Bulgaria under the terms of the 1919Treaty of Neuilly.[16] Alexandroupolis was under temporary management of theEntente led by French General Charpy.[17] 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 theSan Remo conference. Bulgaria retained the right of transit to use the port of Dedeagach to transport goods through theAegean Sea.[18]
The change of guard between French and Greek officials occurred on 14 May 1920, in the city's Post Office.[18] In the interior of the Post Office there is a memorial plaque concerning this event. The city was soon visited byAlexander of Greece. He was the firstKing of Greece to visit the town which was renamed in his honour.[19]
Following the defeat of Greece in theGreco-Turkish War (1919–1922), the Greek Army underGeneralTheodoros Pangalos retreated fromEastern 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 theLeague of Nations. TheTreaty of Lausanne (24 July 1923) affirmed the Greek sovereignty ofWestern Thrace.
DuringWorld War II the Nazis gave Alexandroupolis to their Bulgarian partners.[20] 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 theJews were deported to the Nazi death camps, where they were exterminated.[21] 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 theGreek Civil War (1946–1949). Forces of the communistDemocratic 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 theEvros regional unit in the administrative region ofEastern Macedonia and Thrace, in the historical region ofWestern 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 andTraianoupoli.[22] The municipality currently has an area of 1,216.954 km2,[23] and is divided into the communities ofAisymi,Avas,Kirki,Makri andSykorrachi. 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 theEvros, 40 km from the border withTurkey, 346 km (215 mi) fromThessaloniki on the newly constructedA2Egnatia Odos motorway, and 750 km (470 mi) fromAthens. Around the city are small fishing villages likeMakri andDikella 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 the southern portion of the regional unit, running from theRhodope 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-summerMediterranean 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 41.4 °C (106.5 °F) on 18 July 2024.
Climate data for Alexandroupolis (1951-2010, extremes 1961-present)
Alexandroupolis is accessible by air, rail, road and ferry. It has an international port, theA2Egnatia Odos motorway, theairport "Dimokritos" and arailway connection with other cities. There are cycle lanes in the city centre.[28]
Alexandroupolis is served byDimokritos International Airport (IATA:AXD) in the suburbs of Apalos, about 6 km from Alexandroupolis city center. There are daily flights toAthens, and several days per week flights toCrete (Heraklion andSitia). At summer 2024 the direct connection toLarnaca 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 the islands ofSamothrace andLemnos. Due to its strategic location on NATO's eastern flank, it has important military logistical significance.[29]
Alexandroupolis has two railway stations: Alexandroupolis dialogi (trading station) andAlexandroupoli or Alexandroupoli Port (for passengers).[30] It is served by trains toThessaloniki and to Ormenio.[30][31] There is an extensive network of train and bus replacements services throughout the region ofEvros. There were railway connections toBurgas in Bulgaria and toEdirne andIstanbul in Turkey, but those were suspended.
TheA2Egnatia Odos motorway is the largest main road that passes through Alexandroupolis. It connects the city withIgoumenitsa,Ioannina,Kozani,Grevena,Veria,Thessaloniki,Kavala,Xanthi andKomotini to the west andKipoi of Evros to 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 withAthens. There is a frequent daily connection with the other regions ofEvros (Feres,Soufli,Didymoteicho,Orestiada, etc.).
The Urban Bus Service of Alexandroupolis operates 15 routes.[32] They connect the centre to theUniversity, 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.[33]
The Hospital of Alexandroupolis 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 theDemocritus University of Thrace. In 2002, the merger of the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis and the General Hospital of Alexandroupolis was completed in one unit under the name "University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis".[34]
The following subsidiary organizations and services are under its jurisdiction: Medical Center ofSoufli, Medical Center ofSamothrace (including the Regional Clinics), Technological Education of First Cycle of Nursing (Nursing School). It operates in a building complex with 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 ofEastern Macedonia and Thrace. The total capacity of the hospital is 673 beds.[34]
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 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.[35]
Since 1974 the hospital has been treating and examining patients of the12th Mechanized Infantry Division "Evros". In 1996 it was renamed to the 492 General Military Hospital and has operated under this name until 2011. Since 2011 it has operated as 216 KICHNE.[35]
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.[37]
On 14 May each year, the annexation of the city andThrace to Greece is celebrated by a parade. The city's patron saint isSaint Nikolaos, whose feast is celebrated on 6 December each year.[38][39]
Until the 1980s in the city, the Wine Festival was held under the auspices of theGreek 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 andEvros's regional unit cultural associations offer red and white local wine along with various meats.[40]
In 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.[41]
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 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).[42]
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 the western side of the city's harbor to facilitate the coasting of local sailors who traveled to the area ofHellespont. 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 inGreece. 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.[43]
Just 20 miles from the city, theEvros Delta is one of Europe's most important habitats with 200,000-acre area, which is on the list of protected areas of theInternational 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 aSpecial Protection Area and is proposed as a Site of Community Interest in theNatura 2000 Network.[44]
The building of the Ethnological Museum of Thrace in Alexandroupolis
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 ofThrace. It includes exhibits on the tradition of Thrace and covers the following themes: clothing, music and worship, confectionery, bronze and earthenware, textiles, land cultivation.[45]
It is located inMakri and is a famous cave of the CyclopsPolyphemus according to local folk tradition. It has traces of use since theNeolithic period (about 4,500 BC) and today the Neolithic settlement, one of the most important in theBalkans, has been discovered.
The "Cave of Cyclops"The archaeological site ofMesembria-Zone
Mesimbria-Zone is an archaeological site 20 km from Alexandroupolis. A number of coins and ruins from an ancient city, probablyZone, have been found here. It was one of the colony-fortresses ofSamothrace and flourished in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. The main buildings are: the sanctuary ofDemeter, the temple ofApollo, the fortification wall, the walled settlement of theHellenistic years, the cemetery and the Residences.[46] It is noteworthy that a number of amphorae can be seen that were probably used as a waterproofing system.
The thermal springs ofTraianoupoli 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 the16th 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.[47]
Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood[53]
Some highly specialised medical operations are performed in the new Regional General University Hospital – Research center, currently the largest one inGreece.[54] The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics is the only one in Greece in this scientific field.[55]
The city has a network of public schools, from nurseries to high schools, under the responsibility of the city council.
The Volleyball team ofEthnikos Alexandroupolis has a long-standing presence in theGreek Volleyleague with a long history in the sport, being the first provincial team to participate in theA1 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 theCEV Challenge Cup in2015 and2016. He has also featured great athletes of the Greek and global volleyball such asMarios Giourdas,Theodoros Baev andAndreas Andreadis, whileThanassis Moustakidis,Andrej Kravárik andNikos 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.[56]
Other city's Volleyball Teams are:
G.S.G. Nike Alexandroupolis: Women's team with 9 participations inWomen's Greek Volleyball Championship and best place the 4th (1997–98), that allowed the team to participate inChallenge 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 theGreek 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.[57]
The U14 Girls' team of Olympiada Alexandroupolis has won three consecutive times the U14 championship ofEastern 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.[58]
In beach handball the team of Kyklopes Alexandroupolis has won 6 Greek Men's Beach Handball Championships, 4 of them consecutive (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019),[59] 1 Greek Men's Beach Handball Cup (2022) and 2 Greek Women's Beach Handball Cup (2022, 2024).[60] The women's handball team has 7 participations in theWomen's A1 Handball Championship with best place the third in 1994-95 that allowed the team to participate inChallenge Cup next year.[61] Also the men's handball team of Kyklopes participates in theA2 Ethniki Handball. The second team of the city is Asteras Alexandroupolis.
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.[62] Also, 3 disabled swimmers from Alexandroupolis are members of the National Team and represent Greece at theWorld Para Swimming Championships andParalympic Games:Dimosthenis Michalentzakis (Gold Paralympic Medal in2016 at100 m. butterfly S9), Dimitrios Karypidis (4th Paralympian in2021 at100 m. backstroke S1) and Alexandros Lergios (first participation at theParalympic Games of Tokyo, 2021).[63]
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 andFotis Kosmas. Many athletes of the team have won Panhellenic and Balkan medals in development categories.[64]
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),[65] while the men's team participates in the Greek Men's Second Division (A2).[66]
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.[67]
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.[68]
In 2009, the stadium hosted an internationalrugby match betweenGreece andBulgaria; the match was the first time that Greece had played a home match outside ofAttica.[69]
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 bySEGAS, Municipality of Alexandroupolis andRegion of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Run Greece includes 800m race for children and races 5 km, 10 km.[70]
The international race 'Via Egnatia Run' is an action ofEvros 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 AncientVia Egnatia, which once connected Constantinople to Rome, culturally, economically and commercially, passing through the ancient city ofSale (today's Alexandroupolis) andTraianoupoli. 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 theAssociation 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.[71]
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.[72]
^abMyrtsidis, Diamantis (2022).The history of railway in Evros region (in Greek) (in Greek) (4th ed.). Nea Vyssa: Myrtsidis Diamantis.ISBN978-618-00-3174-4.
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