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Komotini (Greek: Κομοτηνή) is a city in Western Thrace.

Understand

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The provincial town is strongly influenced by Muslim culture and the center of Thrace. Komotini is the capital of the Greek region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. It is the seat of an Orthodox bishop and since 1973 the Democritus University of Thrace. Tourist is of minor interest, but a detour is worthwhile, if you go on the way to Turkey or Bulgaria or spend your holidays on the wonderful beaches between Fanari and Maroneia. Life in Komotini is influenced by students, as the local university is a popular study site.

History

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The first written mention of the town dates back to the 14th century. At that time, Komotini was a small and insignificant settlement founded by the Byzantines to protect the Via Egnatia and the plains before the frequent raids of Slavs coming from the north. In 1361 the settlement fell to the Ottoman Turks. From the 14th century, Komotini (then called Komoutzina) took the form of a city when people from the nearby Byzantine city of Mosynoupolis (destroyed by the Bulgarian ruler Kaloioannis in 1206) settled here, as well as a large number of Ottoman from Asia Minor. As there was no longer enough room for Christians and Muslims in the old Byzantine fortress, new quarters were gradually built: Christian and Muslim quarters, the Gypsy quarter and the Jewish quarter within the walls of the city. With the end of the First World War Komotini became Greek. As a result, the Bulgarian population was expelled. About half of the inhabitants of Komotini are ethnic Turks and Pomaks of Greek nationality. They were excluded from the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923, as agreed in the Treaty of Lausanne.

Get in

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  • 1 KTEL Bus Station
  • Komotini is located on the railway line Thessaloniki - Alexandropolis. The 2 Station is located about 1 km southeast of the city center

Get around

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Since the city is small and also flat, you can reach the tourist attractions on foot.

Yeni Mosque and Clock tower.
Eski Mosque.
Orthodox church Kimiseos tis Panagias.
Byzantine fortress.

See

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The major monuments in the city are:

  • 1 New Mosque (Turkish: Yeni Cami). built 1600-1618. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 2 Clock tower (Turkish: Saat Kule). built in 1884 by the order of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 3 Old Mosque (Turkish: Eski Cami). built 1608/9 or 1677/78. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 4 Orthodox church (Greek: Kimiseos tis Panagias). built in 1800 inside the Byzantine fortress of Komotini. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 5 Ruins of the Byzantine fortress. dating from the 4th century AD. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 6 Imaret of Komotini. one of the oldest Ottoman monuments in Thrace from 1360-1380. (updated Feb 2016)

Museums

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  • 7 Archaeological museum of Komotini. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 8 Folk museum (Greek: Laografiko museio), 13, "Aghiou Georgiou" St. 10:00 – 13:00. (updated Feb 2016)
  • Byzantine museum of Komotini. (updated Feb 2016)
  • Carathéodory's museum. dedicated to Constantin Carathéodory (updated Feb 2016)
  • Thracian, Ethnological, Historical and Cultural museum. (updated Feb 2016)

Further afield

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  • 9 The suburban forest of Nymphaea. north of Komotini. Beautiful forest landscape with walking paths and a restaurant with wonderful views. A few meters above you will find the ruins of the Fortress of Nymphea (updated Feb 2016)
  • 10 Mosynopolis (Maximianopolis). Ruins of a byzantine city of Maximnounopolis or Mosynopolis is an archaeological site located 7 kilometers west of Komotini, south of the village of Miskos. In the area there was the ancient city of Paxoula. Then was founded Maximianoupolis, which later became the name of Mosynopolis (also referred to as Mosynopolis). In the archaeological site, the ruins of a 11th-13th century temple, part of the walls, a tomb of Maximianopolis, as well as early-Christian tombs of the Mosynopolis, have been excavated. Findings from archaeological excavations are kept at the Archaeological Museum of Komotini. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 11 Monastery ruins of Linos Papikios Oros. The attraction of the place is more the beautiful nature and view than the ruins themselves. (updated Apr 2021)
  • 12 Symvola waterfalls. small waterfall in a very beautiful stream landscape. (updated Apr 2021)
  • 13 Bridge of Polyanthos. It is a remarkable medieval stone bridge over the Kompsatos river. The two large arches of the bridge are 21.8 and 17 m wide and the arch is 12 m high. The western of the three original arches has collapsed. From the parking lot on the street, a footpath goes uphill for about 10 minutes to the bridge. Polyanthos bridge (Q16738703) on Wikidata Polyanthos Bridge on Wikipedia (updated Apr 2021)
  • 14 Fort Nymphaea. The Nymphaea Fortress is a military museum located 17 km north of Komotini near the Greek-Bulgarian border. The Nymphaea fortress is famous today for the battle that took place on April 6th and 9th, 1941, when the German army attacked and captured the fort. The Nymphaea fortress has served as a military museum since 2000. (updated Apr 2021)
  • 15 Gratianos. near the village of Gratini are the ruins of the Byzantine city, which was the most important center of the region after the destruction of Mosynoupoli in the 14th century. Only very sparse remains have survived. Next door is the lovely chapel of Zoodochos Pigi, which is worth seeing mainly because of the view and the ruins of a castle. Gratini (Q3558787) on Wikidata Gratini on Wikipedia (updated Apr 2021)
  • 16 Old stone bridge Paterma. Located 2 km north of the village of Paterma. It has 2 arches and bridges the "Amygdalorema" stream. The large one is 8 m wide and the small 3.5 m wide. (updated Apr 2021)
  • 17 Seyyid Ali Sultan Dergahı. Museum of the Ottoman history of the conquest of the Balkans. (updated Apr 2021)

Do

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  • Hiking: in the forest of Nymphaea.
  • Beach: About 30km south of Komotini are very beautiful and uncrowded beaches from Fanari in the west to Platanitis in the east.

Buy

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  • Old Market: shopping street next to the Yeni Mosque
  • Supermarkets: all major Greek supermarket chains are represented in Komotini. The big markets are on the arterial roads.

Eat

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  • 1 Sultan Tepe, 10, "Vasileos Paulou" St. Turkish cuisine (updated Feb 2016)
  • 2 Ta Aderfia, 33, Orfeus str. Oriental cuisine (updated Feb 2016)
  • 3 Farma Kreaton (Fabrika), Adrianoupoleos St., ☏ +30 253 102 0000. Steak house (updated Feb 2016)
  • 4 Ta Pyrofania, 10 "Kyriakidi Stilpnos" St, ☏ +30 6970746460. Fish taverna (updated Feb 2016)
  • 5 Diamond, 6th km of Komotini- Iasmou Rd, ☏ +30 2531 033512. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. Renowned restaurant. Live music (updated Feb 2016)
  • Nedim Patisserie, Kriton 15-17, Orfeos, ☏ +30 25310 22036. Special cookies and Eastern Mediterranean sweets. 

Drink

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The hottest cafe bars are: AVANT GARDE, MOCCA CAFE BAR, AWAY CAFE BAR, LOBBY CLUB. As Greek young people always tend to go to the newly opened bars, what's trendy changes quickly. The best thing to do is ask on site.

Sleep

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Budget

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  • 1 Hellas Hotel, 31, Dimokritou Str, ☏ +30 2531 022055. A 1 star hotel built in 1995 and renovated in 2008. Noisy location. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 2 Democritus Hotel, 8, "G. Vizyinou" Square, ☏ +30 25310 22044, +30 25310 23396. A 2-star hotel built in 1967 and renovated in 2011. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 3 Olympos Hotel, 37, Orpheos Str, ☏ +30 25310 37690. A 2-star hotel built in 1932 and renovated in 2012. (updated Feb 2016)

Mid-range

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Splurge

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Connect

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Go next

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Routes through Komotini
Kavala ← Vistonida ←  W  E  → Alexandroupolis → Kipi/İpsala


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