Didymoteicho
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| Didymoteicho Διδυμότειχο |
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 A church in Didymoteicho |
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| Location | |
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| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 31 m (102 ft) |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Periphery: | East Macedonia and Thrace |
| Prefecture: | Evros |
| Mayor: | Christos Tokamanis |
| Population statistics (as of 2001[1]) | |
| City Proper | |
| - Population: | 18,998 |
| - Area:[2] | 354.134 km² (137 sq mi) |
| - Density: | 54 /km² (139 /sq mi) |
| Codes | |
| Postal: | 683 00 |
| Area: | 25530 |
| Auto: | OP |
| Website | |
| www.didymoteicho.gr | |
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Didymoteicho (also spelled Didimoteixo, Didimoticho), (Greek, Modern: Διδυμότειχο, Ancient/Katharevousa: Διδυμότειχον, meaning twin walls from didymos twin and teichos wall) is a town located in the eastern part of the prefecture of Evros, Greece. It is the seat of the municipality and the province of the same name. It is located around 12 km from Turkey and the western banks of the Evros. It is the easternmost municipality on the mainland of Greece (in its town of Pythio). In the west, much of the land is mountainous and forested, while farmlands are located in the central and the northern part. It is on the railway line Thessaloniki-Istanbul and the Greek road 51 (Alexandroupoli - Orestiada - Edirne in Turkey and Svilengrad in Bulgaria). The town (pop. 8,799 in 2001) sits on a plain and located south east of Svilengrad, south of Edirne, Turkey and Orestiada, west of Uzunköprü, about 20 km north of Soufli and about 90 km north of Alexandroupoli. The Municipality of Didymóteicho has a land area of 354.134 km² and a popuation of 18,998 inhabitants. Its largest other towns are Lagós (pop. 1,403), Koufóvouno (958), Sofikó (926), Ellinochóri (756), and Karotí (723).
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[edit] Geography
Forests dominate the banks and parts of the plain. Much of the area is used for farming. The main produce is cattle, fruits and vegetables and some flowers. The hills dominate further west.
[edit] History
[edit] Ottoman Era
- Further information: Ottoman Greece
The town was sacked by the Romans in 204. In medieval times it was an important market town. Near the City was the 1352 Battle of Didymoteicho. Under Turkish rule it was known as Dimetoka or Demotika. The Ottoman sultan Bayezid II was born there. After the Poltava campaign King Charles XII of Sweden lived in the town (1713-1714). During the Ottoman period, the town was a major center for the Bektashi Sufi order.
The city's remains from Roman times, known as "Kale", are located near the Ancient Roman city of Plotinopoulis on the Evros River. Plotinopoulis was founded by the Emperor Trajan as he marched up the Evros River valley on his way to subjugating the Dacians in what is now Romania, and was named after Trajan's wife Pompeia Plotina. In the 1980s, a solid gold bust of the head of Trajan was found on the site of Plotinopoulis and is now in the museum at Komotini.
[edit] Modern Era
After the 1920s, Didymoteicho became entirely a part of Greece. The Second World War devastated Didymoteicho. In December 2001, illegal immigrants entered Didymoteicho, they were later arrested by the police. On July 17, 2004, the Olympic flame reached Didymoteicho and was lit in the castle.
The town was considerably affected by the Evros river flooding of February 17 to 22, 2005. Flood warnings were reported at that time. It devastated much of the town on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 and continued for several days. On Friday, March 4, flood waters began to ebb slowly. Over 5,000 mm of rainfall caused the river to overflow its banks. Buildings, properties and stores were flooded, leaving people stranded. It was the worst flood in nearly 50 years. The railway line south of Didymoteicho and near the station was also flooded and was closed. Serious flooding was also experienced in March 2006 throughout the city and the general Evros area.
[edit] Landmarks
- A 14th-century Mosque, situated by the city square. It was built in 1395 or 1397 under Sultan Bayezid I.
- Castle, situated in the northwestern part of town
- Didymoteicho Folklife Museum
- International Centre of Young Artists of Eastern Europe, Website
- Central Square Kentriki Plateia, next to the town hall
- Military Museum, [1], (English) (Greek)
- Municipal Theatre, on Georgios Street
- The ancient city of Plutionpolis is near Didymoteicho.
- The song Didymoteicho blues by Giorgos Dalaras was sung in Didymoteicho.
[edit] Communities
[edit] Nearest places
- Pythio, north
- Petrades, east
- Kiani,west
[edit] Historical population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | - | - |
| 1991 | 19,450 | - |
| 2001 | 18,998 | -452/-2.32% |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ PDF (875 KB) 2001 Census (Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ). www.statistics.gr. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
- ^ (Greek) Basic Characteristics. Ministry of the Interior. www.ypes.gr. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
[edit] External links
| North: Orestiada | |||
| West: Metaxades |
Didymoteicho | East: Turkey | |
| Southwest: Lavara | Southeast: Turkey |
| Municipal districts of the municipality of Didymoteicho |
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| Asvestades | Asimenio, Evros | Didymoteicho (Neoi Psathades | Zoodochos Pigi) | Ellinochori (Thyrea | Lagos) | Isaakio | Karoti | Koufovouno | Kyani | Mani (Evgeniko | Sitaria) | Petrades | Poimeniko or Pimeniko | Prangio | Pythio (Rigi | Stathmos Pythio) | Sitochori | Sofiko |
| Greece | Eastern Macedonia and Thrace | Thrace | Evros Prefecture | Didymoteicho | Didymoteicho |
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