Komotini Κομοτηνή
Location
Coordinates	41°6′N 25°25′E / 41.1, 25.417Coordinates: 41°6′N 25°25′E / 41.1, 25.417
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (center):	45 m (148 ft)
Government
Country:	Greece
Periphery:	East Macedonia and Thrace
Prefecture:	Rhodope
Districts:	7
Mayor:	Dimitrios Kotsakis
Population statistics (as of 2001[1])
City Proper
- Population:	52,659
- Area:[2]	385.386 km² (149 sq mi)
- Density:	137 /km² (354 /sq mi)
Codes
Postal:	691 00
Area:	25310
Auto:	ΚΟ
Website
www.komotini.gr

Komotini or Komotene (Greek: Κομοτηνή), is a city in north-eastern Greece. The history of this busy Greek city reflects its position as a commercial centre at the crossroads of civilisations. It is the capital of the periphery of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and the Rhodope Prefecture. It is also the centre of the administration of Rhodope-Evros super-prefecture. Also based in the city is the Democritus University of Thrace, which opened in 1973. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 685 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (800 × 700 pixel, file size: 27 KB, MIME type: image/png) Other versions Adapted from Image:Greece outline map. ... Image File history File links Red_pog. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing daylight saving Eastern European Time (EET) is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) is one of the names of UTC+3 time zone, 3 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Eastern European Time Central Africa Time Israel Standard Time South Africa Standard Time Central European Summer Time West Africa Summer Time Category: ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... The peripheries (περιφέρειες) are the subnational divisions of Greece. ... East Macedonia and Thrace is one of the thirteen peripheries of Greece, being the eastern part of Greek Macedonia along with Thrace. ... Greece consists of 13 administrative regions known as Peripheries of Greece, which are further subdivided into 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos, Greek: νομοί, νομός)): See also List of the prefectures of Greece by area List of the prefectures of Greece by population density List of the prefectures of Greece by population External... Rhodope (Greek: Ροδόπη, Rodopi) is one of the prefectures of Greece. ... Districts are a form of local government in several countries. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... This is an alphabetical list of municipalities and communities in Greece. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Here are list of postal codes in Greece. ... This is a list of dialing codes in Greece. ... Greek car number plates are composed of three letters and four digits per plate (e. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... A crossroads (the word rarely appears in singular) is a road junction, where two or more roads meet (there are three or more arms). ... The peripheries (περιφέρειες) are the subnational divisions of Greece. ... East Macedonia and Thrace is one of the thirteen peripheries of Greece, being the eastern part of Greek Macedonia along with Thrace. ... Rhodope (Greek: Ροδόπη, Rodopi) is one of the prefectures of Greece. ... The super-prefectures of Greece are a second-degree organization of local self-government and an administrative division between the peripheries and the prefectures. ... The Democritus University of Thrace is a university in Komotini, Greece which opened in 1973. ...

Geography

The city is flat, built on the Thracian plain and next to the feet of the Rhodope Mountains at an altitude of 32-38m. There is little urban planning, particularly in the Old Town. Exceptions to this rule are the most recently constructed quarters. Trying to abolish the image of a cluster of oriental slums, the inhabitants of the city have been endeavouring to highlight its European image. According to the 2001 census, the city's population amounts to 52,659, a number that does not include approximately 13,000 resident students, trainees and soldiers. View of the city of Sliven and the eastern Upper Thracian Plain from southern Stara Planina The Upper Thracian Plain (Bulgarian: , Gornotrakiyska nizina) constitutes the northern part of the historical region of Thrace. ... Landscape of the Rhodopes near the village of Hvoyna View from the Belintash Rock towards the village of Vrata The Rhodopes (Bulgarian: , Rodopi, usually used with a definite article: Родопите, Rodopite, sometimes also called Родопа, Rodopa or Родопа планина, Rodopa planina; Greek: , Rodopi, red aspect) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over...

History

Eastern Roman/Byzantine Era

The city's history is practically contemporary with that of Via Egnatia, the Roman road which connected Dyrrhachium with Constantinople and grew with that trade route, firstly under the shadow of Maximianopolis and then under Ottoman occupation, while the Christian element was acutely suppressed. In the Byzantine Era, the fortress and the srrounding settlements were known as Koumoutzina or Komotina; and in the Ottoman Era, Komotini was known as Gümülcine - a name it has retained amongst its Muslim minority. Its historical population has included: Ancient Thracians, Greeks, Turks, Jews, Armenians, Bulgarians and Pomaks. Ancient Via Egnatia route Via Egnatia (Greek: Εγνατία Οδός) was a road constructed by the Romans around 146 BC. It was named after Gnaeus Egnatius, proconsul of Macedonia, who ordered its construction. ... The Greek city of Epidamnos (Strabo Geography vi. ... This article is about the city before the Fall of Constantinople (1453). ... Byzantine redirects here. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1683, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–1365) Edirne (1365–1453) Ä°stanbul (1453–1922) Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 (first) Osman I  - 1918–22 (last) Mehmed VI Grand Viziers  - 1320...

First Balkan War

During the first Balkan War, Bulgarian forces captured the city, only to surrender it to the Greek army during the second Balkan War on July 14, 1913. The Treaty of Bucharest, however, handed the city back to Bulgaria. Despite various schemes by Greek inhabitants to avoid Bulgarian occupation, the city was part of Bulgaria until the end of World War I. In this period, a short-lived independent state, the Republic of Gumuljina, was established in Western Thrace. Komotini (Gümülcine), was declared as capital city of that state. In 1919, in the Treaty of Neuilly, Komotini was handed back to Greece, along with the rest of Western Thrace. The Balkan Wars were two wars in South-eastern Europe in 1912-1913 in the course of which the Balkan League (Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, and Bulgaria) first conquered Ottoman-held Macedonia and most of Thrace and then fell out over the division of the spoils, Bulgaria suffering defeat at the... This article is about the land force of the modern nation of Greece. ... The Balkan Wars were two wars in South-eastern Europe in 1912-1913 in the course of which the Balkan League (Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, and Bulgaria) first conquered Ottoman-held Macedonia and most of Thrace and then fell out over the division of the spoils, Bulgaria suffering defeat at the... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Five peace treaties were signed in Bucharest: Treaty of Bucharest, 1812 - May 28, 1812, at the end of the Russian-Turkish war, Romania loses Bessarabia Treaty of Bucharest, 1886 - March 3, 1886, at the end of the war between Serbia and Bulgaria Treaty of Bucharest, 1913 - August 10, 1913, at... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ... Flag Capital Gümülcine Government Republic President Hoca Salih Efendi History  - Established August 31, 1913  - Disestablished October 25, 1913 Area 8,578 km² The Provisional Government of Western Thrace (Ottoman Turkish: غربی تراقیا حكومت موقته‌سی - Garbi Trakya Hükûmet-i Muvakkate) and after the official renaming the Independent Government of Western Thrace... Thrace or Greek Thrace or West Thrace or Western Thrace (Greek Θράκη or Ελληνική Θράκη or Δυτική Θράκη, Thrákı or Ellınıki Thrákı or Dıtıki Thrákı; Turkish Trakya or Yunan Trakyası or Batı Trakya) is the part of Thrace located between the rivers Nestos and Evros in northeastern Greece. ... The Treaty of Neuilly, dealing with Bulgaria for its role as one of the Central Powers in World War I, was signed on the November 27, 1919 at Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. ...

Modern Komotini

Komotini's Clock Tower

At the heart of the city lie the evergreen Central Park of Agia Paraskevi and the 15 m-high WW2 Heroes' Memorial, locally known as 'The Sword'. The revamped Central square or Plateia Irinis (Square of Peace) is the focus of a vibrant nightlife boosted by the huge number of students living in the city. The Old commercial centre is very popular with tourists as it houses traditional shops and workshops that have long vanished from other Greek cities. In addition, in the northwestern outskirts of the city (Nea Mosinoupoli) locals and tourists alike flock into a modern shopping mall: Kosmopolis Park, which houses department stores, shops, supermarkets, a cinema complex, cafés and restaurants. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (1944 × 2592 pixel, file size: 693 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Clock Tower of Komotini Vahe Gkoumousian Vahe Gkoumousian Cannot be used I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (1944 × 2592 pixel, file size: 693 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Clock Tower of Komotini Vahe Gkoumousian Vahe Gkoumousian Cannot be used I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... For other uses, see Agia Paraskevi (disambiguation). ...

Southwest of the central square one can find the Open-air Municipal Theatre, which hosts many cultural shows and events such as the cultural summer (πολιτιστικό καλοκαίρι = politistiko kalokairi). There is a Regional Theatre (DIPETHE) whose company produces many plays all year round. Komotini has several museums including the Archaeological, Byzantine and Folklore museums. 6 km NE of Komotini is the Nymfaia forest. It has recreational facilities which comprise trails, courts, playgrounds and space for environmental studies. The forest is divided by a paved road which leads to the Byzantine fortress and the historical fort of Nymfaia. Environmental studies is the systematic study of human interaction with their environment. ...

The population is quite multilingual for a city of this size and it is made up of local Greeks, Greek refugees from Asia Minor and eastern Thrace, Greek Muslims, Turks, Pomaks, Roma, descendants of Armenian refugees, and recent refugees, including Greeks, from the countries of the former USSR (mainly Georgia, Armenia, Russia and Kazakhstan). Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey. ... Greek Muslims, also known as Greek-speaking Muslims, are Muslims of Greek ethnic origin, and are found primarily in Turkey, Cyprus, and Greece, although migrations to Lebanon and Syria have been reported[1]. The vast majority of the autochthonous Muslim minority in Greece (including the Greek-speaking Muslims), most of... Muslim Bulgarians (also Bulgarian Mohammedans, bul:Българи-мохамедани; local: Pomak, Ahrian, Poganets, Marvak, Poturnak) are descendants of Christian Bulgarians who were forcibly converted to Islam by the Turks, during the 16th and the 18th century. ... Language(s) Romani, languages of native region Religion(s) Romanipen, combined with assimilations from local religions Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) This article is about the Indo-Aryan ethnic group. ... State motto (Russian): Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Capital Moscow Official language None; Russian (de facto) Government Federation of Soviet republics Area  - Total  - % water 1st before collapse 22,402,200 km² Approx. ...

Municipal Districts

Central

Historic Commercial Centre, Plaka, Armenio

West

Nea Mosinoupoli, Remvi

South-West

Kavakliotika, Stathmos, Ergatika Stathmou, Ergatika DEI

South

Zimvrakaki

South-East

Agios Stylianos

East

Neoktista

North

Agia Varvara/Stratones

Suburbs

• Komotini Industrial Zone (SE, 9km from City centre), with dozens of factories and an environmentally friendly natural gas-fuelled power plant.
• Panepistimioupoli/Democritus University Campus (NW,3km from City Centre) home of D.U.TH.
• Ifaistos (NW,adjacent to Nea Mosinoupoli), home of a large Roma community
• Roditis (SE,5km from City Centre), residential area with upmarket properties
• Karidia (NE,4km from City Centre), residential area with upmarket properties
• Kosmio (S,3km from City Centre), residential area
• Thrilorio (SE,8km from City Centre), residential area
• Ampelokipoi (SE,2km from City Centre), residential area
• Kikidio (SE,2km from City Centre), mixed residential-business area
• Ifantes (W, 2km from City Centre), mixed residential-business area

Environmentally friendly, also referred to as nature friendly, is a term used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment. ... A residential area is a type of land use where the predominant use is residential. ...

Other

Komotini is the administrative seat of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region, the Democritus University (third biggest in the country) and numerous governmental organisations. It has primary schools, gymnasia, lyceums, a Police Academy, Army bases, 7 University departments, banks, a post office, 3 Sports centres, a train station (Thessaloniki - Drama - Alexandroupoli) an Intercity Bus Station and several squares (plateies). Komotini also has one of the biggest and better organised Industrial Areas in Greece. Autobus redirects here. ... Plateia (πλατεία) is the Greek word for town square. ...

Education

Komotini is a well known university city in the North of Greece. It is home to the central administration and several departments of the Democritus University of Thrace including the Law School, the Sports Academy, and the International Economic Relations and Development Department. The Komotini campus has a population of approximately 5-10.000 students and a major part of social life evolves around it. The founding of the University of Thrace in 1973 has had a significant influence in the whole area. The Democritus University of Thrace is a university in Komotini, Greece which opened in 1973. ...

Transportation

Komotini does not have a civilian airport but is well-served by two airports. The nearest one is in Alexandroupoli (65km) and the other is in Kavala (110km). It has good rail and bus links to all continental Greek cities and the good provincial road network has been supplemented by the new Egnatia Motorway. Ancient Via Egnatia route Via Egnatia (Greek: Εγνατία Οδός) was a road constructed by the Romans around 146 BC. It was named after Gnaeus Egnatius, proconsul of Macedonia, who ordered its construction. ...

Sports teams

• Panthrakikos - B' Division Football Team
• G.A.S. Komotini - Basketball, Football and Swimming teams
• A.E.Komotini - Basketball, Volleyball and Football teams
• Olympiada - Track and Field

Panthrakikos is a football club based in Komotini, Greece. ... The Beta Ethniki (Greek: Β Εθνικη or Δεύτερη Εθνική Κατηγορία; Second National Division) is the second highest professional football league in Greece. ... Soccer redirects here. ...

Historical population

Notable people

• Katerina Stikoudi (1985) fashion model

Katerina Stikoudi also spelled Aikaterini Stikoudi, (Greek: Κατερίνα Στικούδη) born 1986 in Komotini, in 2005 she won the title Miss Hellas (Greek:Miss Ελλάς) and the chance to represented Greece at the Miss World pageant. ...

See also

• Rodhopi
• Greek Muslim minority
• Turks of Western Thrace
• Pomaks

Rodhopi (Greek: Ροδόπη) or Rodopi is one of the fifty-one prefectures of Greece. ... The term refers to a religious minority in western Thrace, in north-east Greece. ... Turks of Thrace executing a folk dance in Echinos - Şahin [1] Turks of Western Thrace (Batı Trakya Türkleri in Turkish, Τούρκοι Δυτικής Θράκης Turki Dhitikis Thrakis in Greek, Западнотракийски турци Zapadnotrakiyski turtsi in Bulgarian) is a minority group in Greece, traditionally settled in the Western Thrace region of Greece, which is composed of the... The Pomaks (помаци pomaci) or Muslim Bulgarians (българи мюсюлмани bălgari mjusjulmani), also known locally as Ahryani, are an Islamized Slavic speaking people of the Rhodope region. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Komotini's City Portal
• Komotini's Commercial Portal
• Komotini's Archaeological Museum
• Komotini's Byzantine Museum
• Basket Knitter Museum of the Romas
• Umbrella organisation of Western Thrace Turks and UN-ECOSOC member: Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe

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v • d • e   Capitals of Peripheries of Greece Athens (Attica) • Corfu (Ionian Islands) • Heraklion (Crete) • Ioannina (Epirus) • Komotini (East Macedonia and Thrace) • Kozani (West Macedonia) • Lamia (Central Greece) • Larissa (Thessaly) • Mytilene (North Aegean) • Patras (West Greece) • Ermoupoli (South Aegean) • Thessaloniki (Central Macedonia) • Tripoli (Peloponese)