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Komotini or Komotene (Greek: Κομοτηνή. Turkish: Gümülcine) is a city in north-eastern Greece. The history of this busy Greek city reflects its position as a commercial centre at the cross-roads 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. The town has also been called Bulgarian: Гимюрджина (Gyumurdzhina).

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.

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.

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.

Modern Komotini

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Historical population

Notable people

• Katerina Stikoudi (1985) fashion model

See also

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

References

1. De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 39 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.

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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