Alexandroupolis

Country: Greece · 59,476 inhabitants · Founded: 1875

Wikivoyage

Alexandroupolis (Greek: Αλεξανδρούπολη, Alexandroúpoli) is a city in Western Thrace, northeast of Greece.

Wikipedia

Alexandroupolis (Ἀλεξανδρούπολις, IPA: [aleks̠anˈðɾupolis̠]) or Alexandroupoli (Αλεξανδρούπολη, IPA: [aleks̠anˈðɾupoli]), also known as Alexandrople, is a port city in Greece and the capital of the Evros regional unit, in Greek Thrace. It is the largest city in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with a population of 71,751 and is an important port and commercial center for Northern Greece.

The city was first settled by the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century and grew into the fishing village Dedeağaç. In 1873, it became a kaza and one year later was promoted to a sanjak. The city developed into a regional trading center. Later, it became a part of Adrianople Vilayet. During the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), the area was briefly captured by the Russians. Ottoman rule ended with the First Balkan War, when the city was captured by Bulgaria in 1912. In the Second Balkan War, Greece took control of the city. With the Treaty of Bucharest (10 August 1913), the city returned 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.

Alexandroupolis benefits from its position at the centre of land and sea routes connecting Greece with Turkey. 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 Cyclops Polyphemus and the nearby Evros delta.

Alexandroupolis has developed into a strategic port for both Greece and NATO in 2022, complementing the port of Souda in southern Greece.