Komotini

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

Understand

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

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

Get around

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

The major monuments in the city are:

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

Museums
  • 🌍 Archaeological museum of Komotini. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 🌍 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
  • 🌍 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)
  • 🌍 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)

Do

Buy

Eat
  • 🌍 Sultan Tepe, 10, "Vasileos Paulou" St. Turkish cuisine (updated Feb 2016)
  • 🌍 Ta Aderfia, 33, Orfeus str. Oriental cuisine (updated Feb 2016)
  • 🌍 Farma Kreaton (Fabrika), Adrianoupoleos St., ☎ +30 253 102 0000. Steak house (updated Feb 2016)
  • 🌍 Ta Pyrofania, 10 "Kyriakidi Stilpnos" St, ☎ +30 6970746460. Fish taverna (updated Feb 2016)
  • 🌍 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

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Connect

Go next


Routes through Komotini

Thessaloniki ← Xanthi ←  W  E  → Alexandroupolis → Istanbul


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