Xanthi Prefecture
Encyclopedia
Xanthi is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace
. The capital is Xanthi
. Together with the regional units Rhodope and Evros, it forms the geographical region of Western Thrace
.
n provinces of Smolyan
and Kardzhali
to the north, and the Aegean Sea
to the south. The regional unit of Kavala lies to the west, Drama to the northwest and Rhodope to the east. The Rhodope Mountains
cover the northern part of the regional unit. The highest point is Koula, at 1,827m.
The coastal area has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, whereas the northern mountainous part has a colder continental climate.
in 1944 , when it was split off from the Rhodope Prefecture
. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the prefecture was transformed into a regional unit within the East Macedonia and Thrace region, with no change in its boundaries. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
have been excavated. Subterranean Macedon
ian tombs from the 2nd century BC have been discovered in Komnina.
There is a Byzantine castle near the old town of Xanthi. During the 19th century, local tobacco production and commerce developed rapidly. The manors of the old city Xanthi, many of which are still intact, testify to the prosperity of the tobacco merchants during this period.
East Macedonia and Thrace
East Macedonia and Thrace is one of the thirteen regions of Greece. It consists of the northeastern parts of the country, comprising the eastern part of the region of Macedonia along with the region of Thrace, and the islands of Thasos and Samothrace....
. The capital is Xanthi
Xanthi
Xanthi ; is a city in Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi peripheral unit of the periphery of East Macedonia and Thrace.-History:...
. Together with the regional units Rhodope and Evros, it forms the geographical region of Western Thrace
Western Thrace
Western Thrace or simply Thrace is a geographic and historical region of Greece, located between the Nestos and Evros rivers in the northeast of the country. Together with the regions of Macedonia and Epirus, it is often referred to informally as northern Greece...
.
Geography
Xanthi borders the BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n provinces of Smolyan
Smolyan Province
-Religion:The Smolyan province along with the Kardzhali Province is a province where the predominant religion is not Orthodox Christianity but Islam. However, unlike Kardzhali where the majority of the population is Turkish, the Muslim population of the Smolyan province is made up almost entirely...
and Kardzhali
Kardzhali Province
Kardzhali Province is a province of southern Bulgaria, neighbouring Greece with the Greek prefectures of Xanthi, Rhodope and Evros to the south and east. Kardzhali Province area is 3209.1 km². Its main city is Kardzhali.-History:...
to the north, and the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
to the south. The regional unit of Kavala lies to the west, Drama to the northwest and Rhodope to the east. The Rhodope Mountains
Rhodope Mountains
The Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over 83% of its area in southern Bulgaria and the remainder in Greece. Its highest peak, Golyam Perelik , is the seventh highest Bulgarian mountain...
cover the northern part of the regional unit. The highest point is Koula, at 1,827m.
The coastal area has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, whereas the northern mountainous part has a colder continental climate.
Administration
The regional unit Xanthi is subdivided into 4 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):- AbderaAbdera, ThraceAbdera was a city-state on the coast of Thrace 17 km east-northeast of the mouth of the Nestos, and almost opposite Thasos. The site now lies in the Xanthi peripheral unit of modern Greece. The municipality of Abdera, or Ávdira , has 18,573 inhabitants...
(Avdira, 2) - Myki (3)
- TopeirosTopeirosTopeiros is a municipality in the Xanthi peripheral unit, Greece. Population 12,199 . The seat of the municipality is in Evlalo....
(4) - XanthiXanthiXanthi ; is a city in Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi peripheral unit of the periphery of East Macedonia and Thrace.-History:...
(1)
Prefecture
Xanthi was established as a prefecturePrefectures of Greece
During the first administrative division of independent Greece in 1833–1836 and then again from 1845 until their abolition with the Kallikratis reform in 2010, the prefectures were the country's main administrative unit...
in 1944 , when it was split off from the Rhodope Prefecture
Rhodope Prefecture
Rhodope is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace. Its name is derived from the Rhodope Mountains, which cover the northern part of its territory. Together with the regional units Evros and Xanthi, it forms the geographical region of Western...
. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the prefecture was transformed into a regional unit within the East Macedonia and Thrace region, with no change in its boundaries. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Abdera Abdera, Thrace Abdera was a city-state on the coast of Thrace 17 km east-northeast of the mouth of the Nestos, and almost opposite Thasos. The site now lies in the Xanthi peripheral unit of modern Greece. The municipality of Abdera, or Ávdira , has 18,573 inhabitants... (Avdira) |
Abdera Abdera, Thrace Abdera was a city-state on the coast of Thrace 17 km east-northeast of the mouth of the Nestos, and almost opposite Thasos. The site now lies in the Xanthi peripheral unit of modern Greece. The municipality of Abdera, or Ávdira , has 18,573 inhabitants... |
Genisea |
| Vistonida Vistonida Vistonida is a former municipality in the Xanthi peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. It was named after Lake Vistonida. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Abdera, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 10,147 . The seat of the municipality... |
||
| Selero Selero Selero is a village and a former community in the Xanthi peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Abdera, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,509 .... |
||
| Myki | Myki | Sminthi |
| Thermes Thermes Thermes is a former community in the Xanthi peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Myki, of which it is a municipal unit. It consists of the villages Ano Thermes, Kato Thermes, Meses Thermes, Medousa, Kidaris,... |
||
| Kotyli Kotyli Kotyli is a former community in the Xanthi peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Myki, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,331 . The community consists of the settlements Kotyli, Aimoni, Dimari and Pachni.... |
||
| Satres Satres Satres is a former community in the Xanthi peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Myki, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 779... |
||
| Topeiros Topeiros Topeiros is a municipality in the Xanthi peripheral unit, Greece. Population 12,199 . The seat of the municipality is in Evlalo.... |
Topeiros Topeiros Topeiros is a municipality in the Xanthi peripheral unit, Greece. Population 12,199 . The seat of the municipality is in Evlalo.... |
Evlalo |
| Xanthi Xanthi Xanthi ; is a city in Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi peripheral unit of the periphery of East Macedonia and Thrace.-History:... |
Xanthi Xanthi Xanthi ; is a city in Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi peripheral unit of the periphery of East Macedonia and Thrace.-History:... |
Xanthi |
| Stavroupoli Stavroupoli, Xanthi Stavroupoli is a village and a former municipality in the Xanthi peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Xanthi, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,090... |
Transport
- GR-2Greek National Road 2The National Road 2 in Greece is a single carriageway with at-grade intersections in the regions of Macedonia and Thrace. It is often confused with the A2 Egnatia Odos, which is a motorway/freeway and is similarly numbered as .Parts of the road belong to european route E86....
/E90European route E90European route E 90 is an A-Class West-East European route, extending from Lisbon in Portugal in the west to the Turkish-Iraqi border in the east.-Itinerary:...
, Via EgnatiaVia EgnatiaThe Via Egnatia was a road constructed by the Romans in the 2nd century BC. It crossed the Roman provinces of Illyricum, Macedonia, and Thrace, running through territory that is now part of modern Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Greece, and European Turkey.Starting at Dyrrachium on the...
, old and new, SW, Cen., S, SE - GR-12Greek National Road 12The Greek National Road 12 is a highway or route that links the towns and cities of Thessaloniki, Lachanas, Serres Drama and Xanthi. It also serves traffic heading towards the north, to the Greek/Bulgarian border...
/E90, W, Cen. - GR-55Greek National Road 55Greek National Road 55 is a national highway of Greece....
Culture
The remains of the ancient city of AbderaAbdera, Thrace
Abdera was a city-state on the coast of Thrace 17 km east-northeast of the mouth of the Nestos, and almost opposite Thasos. The site now lies in the Xanthi peripheral unit of modern Greece. The municipality of Abdera, or Ávdira , has 18,573 inhabitants...
have been excavated. Subterranean Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
ian tombs from the 2nd century BC have been discovered in Komnina.
There is a Byzantine castle near the old town of Xanthi. During the 19th century, local tobacco production and commerce developed rapidly. The manors of the old city Xanthi, many of which are still intact, testify to the prosperity of the tobacco merchants during this period.
See also
- List of settlements in the Xanthi prefecture
- Slavic toponyms of places in Xanthi Prefecture