Komotini

F9f8

Komotini (Greek Κομοτηνή ( f sg ), Turkish Gümülcine, Bulgarian Гюмюрджина / Gjumjurdschina ) is the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia and Thrace. It lies on the southern edge of the Rhodope Mountains. It is the seat of an Orthodox bishop and since 1973 the Democritus University of Thrace.

Near the town are the ruins of the medieval fortress Mosinopol, in which the Via Egnatia, and a turn towards the north to the fort Stanimaka and Via Militaris crossed.

The local club Panthrakikos plays in the Greek football league. Komotini is friends with the Turkish city of Yalova.

Population

With the end of World War Komotini was Greek. As a result, the Bulgarian population was displaced (→ Thracian Bulgarians ). Some of the displaced settled in Sozopol and other places in the region of Burgas.

Approximately half of the population are ethnic Turks and Pomaks Komotinis with Greek nationality (see also Turks in Western Thrace ). They were the exception in the Treaty of Lausanne agreed population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923, as well as Greeks of Istanbul, from GOKCEADA (Greek Imbros ) and Bozcaada ( Tenedos in Greek ). Unlike the Greeks in Turkey, their number has remained constant since 1923, or grown.

Komotini is also influenced by students, since the local university is a popular place to study.

Personalities

• Sadik Ahmet, Greek-Turkish politician and surgeon
• Hamza Hamzaoğlu, Turkish football player and coach
• Mehmet Müezzinoğlu ( born 1955 ), Turkish politicians