Krystallopigi
Encyclopedia
Krystallopigi is a former community
in Florina regional unit, West Macedonia
, Greece
. Krystallopigi means "crystal source". Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Prespes
, of which it is a municipal unit. The population is 383 (2001). The main village is also called Krystallopigi. After the Greek Civil War, the village was resettled with Aromanians
from Epirus
. Today they still form the majority of the towns population. Here is located the depopulated village Vambel
.
Krystallopigi borders
Albania
to the west; Prespes municipality
to the north; Korestia municipality
, Kastoria Prefecture
, to the east and southeast; and Kastraki community
, Kastoria Prefecture
, to the south. A major road border crossing
into Albania
is located here. The Albanian side of the border crossing is known as Kapshtica, 9 km east from Bilisht
.
Many residents of Smardesh took part in the struggle of IMORO. There was an illegal foundry and depot for hand grenades in 1903. The village was burned by Turkish troops and Albanian
irregulars in May 1903. It was plundered and burned for the second time in 1903 during the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising.
The name of the village was changed to Krystallopigi in 1926. In 1951, the village was declared entirely uninhabited, and later Vlachs
from Thesprotia
and from the vicinity of Preveza
were settled there.
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
in Florina regional unit, West Macedonia
West Macedonia
West Macedonia is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the western part of Greek Macedonia. It is divided into the regional units of Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, and Kozani.-Geography:...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Krystallopigi means "crystal source". Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Prespes
Prespes
Prespes is a municipality in the Florina peripheral unit, Greece. Population 1,851 . The seat of the municipality is in Laimos.-Municipality:...
, of which it is a municipal unit. The population is 383 (2001). The main village is also called Krystallopigi. After the Greek Civil War, the village was resettled with Aromanians
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
from Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
. Today they still form the majority of the towns population. Here is located the depopulated village Vambel
Vambel
Vǎmbel ; ; was a small village in Greece, Krystallopigi, community. Dring the Ilinden uprising Vambel was burned from the Ottomans. Its population in the beginning of the 20th century was Bulgarian, but after the Balkan Wars and the First World War most of it took refuge in Bulgaria. During the...
.
Border crossings of Albania
The following list includes the border crossings of Albania, via air, sea, and land. Recently, some major border crossings have been reconstructed by the EU presence in Albania.-Sea border crossings:*Port of Shëngjin*Port of Durrës*Port of Vlorë*Port of Himarë...
Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
to the west; Prespes municipality
Prespes
Prespes is a municipality in the Florina peripheral unit, Greece. Population 1,851 . The seat of the municipality is in Laimos.-Municipality:...
to the north; Korestia municipality
Korestia
Korestia is a former municipality in Kastoria peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kastoria, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 1,000 . The seat of the municipality was in Makrochori....
, Kastoria Prefecture
Kastoria Prefecture
Kastoria is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Macedonia. Its capital is the town of Kastoria.-Geography:...
, to the east and southeast; and Kastraki community
Kastraki, Kastoria
Kastraki is a former community in Kastoria peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kastoria, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 769 . The seat of the community was in Ieropigi. The other village in the community is...
, Kastoria Prefecture
Kastoria Prefecture
Kastoria is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Macedonia. Its capital is the town of Kastoria.-Geography:...
, to the south. A major road border crossing
Border crossings of Albania
The following list includes the border crossings of Albania, via air, sea, and land. Recently, some major border crossings have been reconstructed by the EU presence in Albania.-Sea border crossings:*Port of Shëngjin*Port of Durrës*Port of Vlorë*Port of Himarë...
into Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
is located here. The Albanian side of the border crossing is known as Kapshtica, 9 km east from Bilisht
Bilisht
Bilisht is a city of about 12,000 people. It is the local capital of Devoll District, south-eastern Albania. The city is 9 km from the border with Greece at Kapshticë. The closest Greek town across the border is Krystallopigi in the Florina Prefecture. Bilisht is at about 800–850 meters above...
.
History
The bigger part of the population of Smerdesh in 19th and in the beginning of 20th century was Bulgarian. There were 1780 inhabitants in 1900.Many residents of Smardesh took part in the struggle of IMORO. There was an illegal foundry and depot for hand grenades in 1903. The village was burned by Turkish troops and Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
irregulars in May 1903. It was plundered and burned for the second time in 1903 during the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising.
The name of the village was changed to Krystallopigi in 1926. In 1951, the village was declared entirely uninhabited, and later Vlachs
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
from Thesprotia
Thesprotia
Thesprotia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Epirus region. Its capital is the town of Igoumenitsa. It is named after the Thesprotians, an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region in antiquity.-History:...
and from the vicinity of Preveza
Preveza
Preveza is a town in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece, located at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. It is the capital of the regional unit of Preveza, which is part of the region of Epirus. An immersed tunnel, completed in 2002 which runs between Preveza and Actium, connects the town...
were settled there.
Demographics
| > | Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1913 | 1,488 |
| 1920 | 718 |
| 1928 | 598 |
| 1940 | 624 |
| 1951 | 0 |
| 1961 | 364 |
| 1971 | 309 |
| 1981 | 265 |
| 1991 | 213 |
| 2001 | 573 |
Notable persons
- Konstantinos ChristouKonstantinos ChristouKonstantinos or "Kottas" Christou was an insurgent leader associated first with the pro-Bulgarian Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization and later with pro-Greek irregular fighters during the Greek struggle for Macedonia. He was born in the village of Rulja in Florina Prefecture in 1863...
(1863–1905) - Vasil ChekalarovVasil ChekalarovVasil Hristov Chekalarov or Vasil Tcakalarov was a Bulgarian revolutionary and one of the leaders of Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organisation in Aegean Macedonia. H. N...
(1874–1913) - BulgarianBulgariansThe Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
revolutionary