Orestiada
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Orestiada municipality Δήμος Ορεστιάδος (Ορεστιάδα) |
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| Basic data | |||
| State : |
 Greece
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| Region : | East Macedonia and Thrace | ||
| Regional District : | Evros | ||
| Geographic coordinates : | 41 ° 30 ' N , 26 ° 32' E | ||
| Area : | 967.5 km² | ||
| Residents : | 37,695 (2011) | ||
| Population density : | 39 inhabitants / km² | ||
| Post Code: | 68200 | ||
| Prefix: | (+30) 25520 | ||
| Community logo: |
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| Seat: | Orestiada | ||
| LAU-1 code no .: | 0303 | ||
| Districts : | 4 municipal districts | ||
| Local self-government : |
2 city districts 27 local communities |
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| Website: | www.orestiada.gr | ||
| Location in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace | |||
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Orestiada ( Greek Ορεστιάδα [ ɔrɛˈstjaða ] ( f. Sg. ), Older also Orestias Ὀρεστιάς , Turkish Kumçiftliği ) is the northernmost community in Greece . It was created in its current form in 2010 by incorporating the previously independent municipalities of Kyprinos , Trigono and Vyssa .
Geographical location
Orestiada is the northernmost city in Greece. The city is two kilometers west of the Evros , which forms the border with Turkey here. Oriestiada is located 23 km south of Edirne about 64 km southwest of the Greek-Turkish- Bulgarian border triangle, 110 km north of Alexandroupoli , about 20 km north of Didymoticho and 460 km away from Thessaloniki . Orestiada is on the GR-51 / E85 , which used to run through the city, but now runs one kilometer to the west.
Community structure
The area of the municipality corresponds to that of the province of Orestiada, which existed until 1997. The seat of the municipality and the largest municipality is the small town of Orestiada with around 18,500 inhabitants. Other settlements in the municipality are the small town of Nea Vyssa (2805 Ew.) And the villages Dikea (561 Ew.), Fylakio (595 Ew.) And Kyprinos (806 Ew.).
Villages of the municipality
Villages belonging to the municipality of Orestiada, are NEA VYSSA , Thourio, Neo Chimonio, Valtos , Ambelakia, Patagi, Lepti, Neochori, jackets, Sterna, Kyprinos, Amovouno, Rizia, Pentalofos, Ambelakia, Fylakio , Spileo, Dikea, Canada, Ormenio and petrota.
Nea Vyssa
The largest village in the municipality based on the number of inhabitants is Nea Vyssa (Gr.:Νέα Βύσσα). Vyssa received the re-establishment of the village, and with it the addition "Nea", through the Treaty of Lausanne and the associated population exchange and resettlement between Greece and Turkey in 1923. The old village of Vyssa, which at that time was called Wosnohori and was located on the opposite bank of the Evros near Edirne, was known for the cultivation of salads and vegetables, which were sold by the inhabitants in the markets of Edirne. Until now, the main source of income for the inhabitants is the cultivation of various types of vegetables. In the last few years, garlic has become known from Nea Vyssa in northern Greece.
Rizia
The place Rizia (Gr.:Ρίζια) is located 20 kilometers north of Orestiada and is located directly on the tributary of the Evros, the Ardas. This location leads to the annual organization of the " Ardas Youth Festival ", which attracts national attention, and the annual corn festival . About 600 meters from Rizia, and on the northeastern outskirts, the area called "Tsagia", archaeological excavations were carried out between 1987 and 1989, which prove that the area dates back to the 9th and 8th centuries BC. Was colonized. The archaeological work unearthed a tumulus with a cross section of 30 meters and a height of 7 meters. The floor of this tomb is made of wood. Ceramic and wooden carafes and containers were also found. A burial site dating from 190 to 211 AD has been found near the tumulus. In this one found a rectangular recess with burned walls, which suggests a fire burial, as the remains of the deceased have also been found. Furthermore, glass vases, iron nails and a table made of clay as well as two copper coins , one of which comes from Adrianople and the epoch of Septimius Severus (193-311 AD) , were found inside this grave recess . On one side of the copper coin the head of the emperor and on the other side the three rivers Evros , Ardas and Tountza are inscribed with Adrianople. Tombs of the old village church, which have dates from 1800 to 1850, show that the place has existed since at least 1800. In 1815 the village received an icon of the Holy Archangels from the residents of Karagac. This icon made the village a place of pilgrimage , where every winter on November 8th, people come to worship the icon. Rizia was completely destroyed in the Balkan War. Houses, the school and the church were completely burned, as a result of which in 1914, 16 families fled the village. Around 1920, around 18 Greek refugee families from Adrianople came to Rizia and found a new home. During the Second World War, most of the town's citizens reunited, fled to the mountains and waged a partisan war against the German occupiers.
Neo Chimonio
The village of Neo Chimonio (Gr.:Νέο Χειμώνιο), which was founded exclusively by expelled Arvanites from the place Megalo Zaloufi, is 6 kilometers south of Orestiada. The place is flanked east by the railway line and west by national road 51 . The place has direct access to the agricultural areas of the Evros plain, which is also the main source of income for the residents. In Neo Chimonio, the Orestiada police have established their quarters in the old primary school. The "Cataract" wellness oasis with pools and playgrounds, as well as an event restaurant, attracts many guests from the whole community, especially in summer.
Ormenio
Ormenio (Gr.:Ορμένιο) is the northernmost inhabited place in Greece. The village was an important city called Germiano (Gr.:Τζερμιάνο) in the Byzantine era . In 1371 there was a decisive battle of the Eastern Roman Empire against the Ottomans, where the Christian nations, represented by Serbs, Bulgarians and Greeks, lost against the Ottomans . The battle is known as the Battle of the Maritsa .
Pentalofos
The village of Pentalofos (Gr.:Πεντάλοφο) is built on five hills, hence the origin of the name of this place. Most of the inhabitants are said to come from Constantinople , today's Istanbul . The largest game reserve in Greece is on the outskirts. Deer , roe deer , wild boars , hares , partridges and pheasants populate the forests around Pentalofos and are also part of the enclosure. This is why the place is especially popular with hunters, with strict hunting regulations in order not to endanger the biotope and the species, but rather to contribute to the preservation of flora and fauna. Part of the game reserve is open to visitors and offers a viewing platform for observing the wild animals in their natural environment, restaurants, taverns and hotels. Graves from late Greek antiquity were found in Pentalofos and were examined in 1993. One of these graves contains grave goods of the brother of the king of the Odrysen Sitalkis, which dates from 445-435 BC. BC. The grave goods of the king brother Sparadokos included tetradrachms, various silver objects as well as the mortal remains of the king brother. The finds in these tombs are scientifically valuable because they prove that the Thracians at the time when the Athenians built the Parthenon , communicated the Greek language, and were familiar with the Greek script. The finds also show that the Thracian tribes traded with other ancient city-states and were closely connected economically and culturally.
history
Orestiada is a modern and young city. It was only founded in 1923 on the occasion of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey according to plans by the architect Spyros Dasios . A small settlement had existed in the same place since ancient times . The city got its name from the ancient Orestiada, later Adrianople, which was called Edirne in Ottoman times.
From around 1360 Edirne belonged continuously to the Ottoman Empire, initially until 1912, before it was occupied by Bulgarian troops during the First Balkan War and initially ceded to Bulgaria. As a result of the Second Balkan War, the Ottomans got the city back again in 1913, but finally ceded it to Bulgaria in 1915 in order to persuade Bulgaria to join the First World War on the side of the Central Powers . After the defeat of the Central Powers, Bulgaria finally had to cede Western Thrace and Orestiada to Greece in 1919.
Orestiada and the prefecture of Evros remained as an enclave also Greek during the Second World War , although the areas of Thrace west of the Evros were annexed by Bulgaria again in 1941-44 , as it was under German military administration in contrast to the Bulgarian-occupied western Thrace and eastern Macedonia.
Over the border river, including in the Orestiada area, there has been significant illegal migration in recent years. In 2009 there were 4,000 border crossings, in 2010 already 50,000. There were several deaths. The European border protection agency Frontex has been working since 2009 . In 2011, the construction of a moat began to curb the flow of refugees. In December 2012, a border fence was completed on Evros. The Greek state raised the funds for this itself. Since the fence was completed, the rate of illegal border crossings in the Evros area has dropped to almost zero.
Education and culture
In 1999, a Faculty of Rural Development and a Faculty of Forest Sciences, Environmental Management and Natural Resources were established at the Democritus University of Thrace . The city thus became the fourth location of the university.
The annual youth, culture and music festival Ardas takes place in July / August on the river of the same name and is known nationwide.
In the town there is a folklore museum where traditional costumes, old agricultural tools and antique objects of the Greeks from the region of today's Edirne and the first settlers of Orestiada are exhibited. The museum was built in 1974 and also houses the first gospel which was printed in Turkish script. This first gospel in Turkish was printed in Zurich and is one of the museum's treasures. The year 2017 was proclaimed as the year of Karatheodori (Κωνσταντίνος Καραθεοδωρή). The city and the region celebrate the famous mathematician Konstantinos Karatheodori , who comes from Nea Vyssa , through various events such as readings on the history of the scientist and exhibitions of various works and photos.
traffic
Road traffic
The main route is the national road 51 , which connects Orestiada with Didymoticho in the south. The central bus station (KTEL) in the city center connects the city and the communities to the north with Alexandroupolis and Thessaloniki on a daily basis . The route of the urban bus line starts from the suburb of Pyrgos and ends at the state sugar factory and vice versa. Six trips a day are offered. Bicycle paths have been laid out in the city and should primarily be made available to schoolchildren and students to get to the respective facilities.
railroad
Orestiada Railway Station is on the historic Istanbul Sirkeci – Svilengrad railway line . Since 1971 there has been a parallel railway line that runs exclusively over Turkish territory, so that the Orestiada train station is only touched by regional traffic today.
economy
Agriculture
The area around Orestiada is one of the most fertile and agriculturally productive areas in Greece. Here are corn , potatoes and watermelons grown. Outside the city is a sugar factory that processes sugar beets from the area. In the wake of the financial crisis, their operation was suspended from 2014 to 2016. Sugar production resumed in 2017.
Industry
At the first exit of the national road to Orestiada, coming from Didymoticho, you will find the largest industrial area of the city at the entrance to the village.
The Green Cola Company Hellas set up shop on the outskirts in 2011 . It produces a sugar-free cola sweetened with stevia . The product is advertised with its low number of calories. The company owns the trademark rights and is headquartered in Orestiada. The company is expanding, creating jobs that are important for the region.
media
Orestiada has its own local television station, which offers local news magazines and reports on cultural events. The state television broadcaster ERT operates a branch in Orestiada for reporting from the northern Ewros.
Orestiada is also home to Greece's northernmost radio station, Radio Evros.
retail trade
The Greek diaspora revives the business of the merchants of Orestiada in the summer months and thus makes a contribution to the economic development of the city.
Parks and squares
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There is a two-lane boulevard in the city as well as a spacious square. In 2014 it was expanded and converted into a large pedestrian zone. Trees were planted around this new center and a floor fountain was installed, which is illuminated in the evening. There are cafes, fast food restaurants, bars and bakeries on the edge of the square. The center thus extends to the train station at the easternmost point of the city, where it flows into the parks Alsos , Andrianopoleos and the Thrace Park . There is a small open-air theater in the Thrace Park, which is used in the warm months. Another park is located on the opposite city limit, the Nea Helvetia Park .
Sports
The city has a volleyball team: the AO Orestiada. The region and the team produced great talents and national players in the 1980s and 1990s, who later played in the big clubs in Athens and Thessaloniki. The team won many youth championships in Greece during these decades, bringing out one of the greatest talents in Greek volleyball: Nikos Samaras. After his sudden death in January 2013, both the city's volleyball arena and a tournament organized by the Greek Volleyball Federation were named after him. AO Orestiada also has a football department that organizes young people and children who have also emerged from national players, such as the 2004 European champion, Stylianos Venetidis .
Another valued sportswoman in the city is the bronze medalist Morpho Drosidou, who took the podium in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona in Taekwondo . Drosidou comes from Neochori, a place in the Orestiada district.
In the city there is a tennis club with a playing and training field with four tennis courts. The first junior tennis tournament took place in June 2017. The tournament was international, including the Tenis Club Orfey Kardzhali from Bulgaria and Luleburgaz Tenis Spor from Turkey. Other participants were the tennis clubs from Alexandroupolis and Soufli . The municipal stadium, in which the football club and other teams such as archery and athletics pursue their activities, was built in 1969 and is still the central point of contact for sports and festivals, as well as school championships. The municipal sports arena Nikolaos Samaras, which was built in 1985, instead hosts all other sports that are not practiced outdoors and houses the local clubs such as the Tae Kwan Do Association and the volleyball club.
Town twinning
Orestiada has been twinned with the German city of Siegburg since 1994 . In honor of this, a street in the city was named after the city of Siegburg.
Personalities
Timeline of the Lord Mayors and Mayors
| Lord Mayor | Legislature | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Stefanos Dimitrios | 1923-1924 |
| 2. | Dimitrios Zoupidis | 1924 |
| 3. | Ioannis Thalassinos | 1924-1926 |
| / | Mayor of the municipality | 1927-1945 |
| 4th | Apostolos Chatzichristou | 1946-1948 |
| 5. | Athanassios Samouridis (2) | 1948-1950 |
| 6th | Evangelos Rozakeas | 1950-1951 |
| 7th | Athanassios Pantazidis (2) | 1951-1957 |
| 8th. | Vassilios Chatzinikolaou | 1957-1974 |
| 9. | Dimitrios Tselikas | 1975-1978 |
| 10. | Nikolaos Evangelou | 1979-1986 |
| 11. | Warsamakis Warsamakidis | 1987-1996 |
| 12. | Anastasios Anagnostou | 1996-1998 |
| 13. | Angelos Papaioannou | 1999-2002 |
| 14th | Grigoris Tzotzolas | 2003 - 2006 |
| 15th | Dimitrios Mouzas | 2007-2014 |
| 16. | Vassilios Mavridis | since 2014 |
| Mayor of the municipality | Legislature | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panagiotis Philimbelis | 1927-1928 |
| 2. | Athanassios Pantazidis (1) | 1928-1935 |
| 3. | Athanassios Samouridis (1) | 1935-1936 |
| 4th | Ioannis Stamatopoulos | 1936-1937 |
| 5. | Konstantinos Perentidis (1) | 1937 |
| 6th | Georgios Chatzikonstantis | 1937-1941 |
| 7th | Emmanuel Doukidis | 1941-1942 |
| 8th. | Christos Papaioannou | 1942-1944 |
| 9. | Konstantinos Perentidis (2) | 1944-1945 |
City personalities
- Spiros Dasios was a lawyer and the main responsible planning architect of the new city.
- Nikephoros Bryennios, born around 1081 in Orestiada near Adrianople, was a Byzantine military and politician and husband of the imperial daughter Anna Komnena .
- Polikarpos Varvakis was the first metropolitan of Orestiada from 1923 to 1931.
- Georgios Pappas, the leader of a rebel group in the Principality of Moldova, comes from Orestiada.
- Stylianos Venetidis was European champion with the Greek national team in 2004 and was born in Orestiada.
- Nikos Samaras (1970 - 2013) was a national volleyball legend who was born in Orestiada.
- Petros Polichronidis is an entertainer and presenter of various TV formats on Greek television, and the owner of the only Greek wrestling league ZMAK Wrestling , comes from Nea Vyssa.
Families of the city
- The politically active Chatzinikolaou family, made famous by the journalist and news anchor Nikos Chatzinikolaou , comes from the city.
- The Karatheodori family , a phanariotic diplomatic family from which the famous mathematician Konstantinos Karatheodoris (1873–1950) and the philosopher and writer Stephanos Karatheodoris (1789–1867) come, came from what is now Nea Vyssa from Orestiada.
Honorary citizen
- Jean-Claude Juncker (* 1954), former President of the EU Commission.
- Frangoulis Frankos , retired Chief of Staff D. and former Minister of Defense in the interim government of Panagiotis Pikrammenos .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Results of the 2011 census at the National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)
- ↑ Ρίζια Έβρου. Retrieved October 27, 2018 (Greek).
- ↑ Πεντάλοφος Έβρου. Retrieved October 27, 2018 (Greek).
- ↑ Ann Löwin, "Digging at the Border," Jungle World, No. 33, August 18, 2011
- ↑ Video A border fence on Evros is in the ZDFmediathek , accessed on February 5, 2014. (offline)
- ^ Homepage of the city of Orestiada. Retrieved August 19, 2017 (Greek).
- ↑ Nagold: Greek Cola made in Hochdorf. September 5, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2017 .
- ↑ Presentation of the building
- ↑ Δημήτρης Μηλίκας: 25 Χρόνια από το Χάλκινο Ολυμπιακό Μετάλλιο της Δροσίδου στην Βαρκελώνη. August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2017 (Greek).
- ↑ Δημήτρης Μηλίκας: Ξεκίνησε το 1st Junior Tennis Tournament του Ο.Α.Ο. June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017 (Greek).
- ↑ Δήμος Ορεστιάδας. Retrieved October 21, 2018 (Greek).
- ↑ Πέτρος Πολυχρονίδης: Σχετικά. Retrieved October 28, 2018 (Greek).