Rhodope ( el, Ροδόπη, ''Rodópi'' ) is one of the
regional units of Greece
The 74 regional units of Greece ( el, περιφερειακές ενότητες, ; sing. , ) are the country's Seventy-four second-level administrative units. They are divisions of the country's 13 regions, and are further divided into municipa ...
. It is part of the
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
of
East Macedonia and Thrace
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace ( el, Ανατολική Μακεδονία και Θράκη, translit=Anatolikí Makedonía ke Thráki, ) is one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It consists of the northeastern parts of the coun ...
. Its name is derived from the
Rhodope Mountains
The Rhodopes (; bg, Родопи, ; el, Ροδόπη, ''Rodopi''; tr, Rodoplar) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, and the largest by area in Bulgaria, with over 83% of its area in the southern part of the country and the remainder in ...
, which cover the northern part of its territory. Together with the regional units
Evros and
Xanthi
Xanthi ( el, Ξάνθη, ''Xánthi'', ) is a city in the region of Western Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi (regional unit), Xanthi regional unit of the modern regions of Greece, region of East Macedonia and Thrace.
A ...
, it forms the geographical region of
Western Thrace
Western Thrace or West Thrace ( el, υτικήΘράκη, '' ytikíThráki'' ; tr, Batı Trakya; bg, Западна/Беломорска Тракия, ''Zapadna/Belomorska Trakiya''), also known as Greek Thrace, is a Geography, geograp ...
. The capital of the prefecture is the city of
Komotini
Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...
. The second largest town is
Sapes
Sapes ( el, Σάπες) is a town and a former municipality in the Rhodope regional unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Maroneia-Sapes, of which it is the seat and a munici ...
. Most of the
Muslims of Thrace, the only officially recognized minority in Greece, are settled in this area, where they form around half of the regional unit's population.
Geography
Rhodope borders on the regional unit
Xanthi
Xanthi ( el, Ξάνθη, ''Xánthi'', ) is a city in the region of Western Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi (regional unit), Xanthi regional unit of the modern regions of Greece, region of East Macedonia and Thrace.
A ...
to the west and
Evros to the east, and on
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
's
Kardzhali Province
Kardzhali Province ( bg, Област Кърджали, Oblast Kărdžali, tr, Kırcaali ili) is a province of southern Bulgaria, neighbouring Greece with the Greek regional units of Xanthi, Rhodope, and Evros to the south and east. It is 320 ...
to the north. The
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea ; tr, Ege Denizi (Greek language, Greek: Αιγαίο Πέλαγος: "Egéo Pélagos", Turkish language, Turkish: "Ege Denizi" or "Adalar Denizi") is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It ...
lies to the south. The eastern
Rhodope Mountains
The Rhodopes (; bg, Родопи, ; el, Ροδόπη, ''Rodopi''; tr, Rodoplar) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, and the largest by area in Bulgaria, with over 83% of its area in the southern part of the country and the remainder in ...
cover the northern part of the regional unit. Apart from the mountainous areas, the territory consists mainly of farmland, forests and grasslands.
The southern and the central part have a mainly Mediterranean climate, and the northern part a mainly continental climate with cold winters.
Administration
The regional unit Rhodope is subdivided into 4 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):
*
Arriana
Arriana ( el, Αρριανά) is a municipality in the Rhodope regional unit, Greece. The seat of the municipality is in Fillyra.
Municipality
The municipality Arriana was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following ...
(2)
*
Iasmos
Iasmos ( el, Ίασμος; tr, Yassıköy; ) is a town and a municipality in the Rhodope regional unit of Thrace, Greece. It is built on the side of the Rhodope Mountains. Although references about the village date back to the 16th Century, it i ...
(3)
*
Komotini
Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...
(1)
*
Maroneia-Sapes
Maroneia-Sapes ( el, Μαρώνεια-Σάπες) is a municipality in the Rhodope regional unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Sapes. The municipality has an area of 641.751 km2.
Municipality
The mu ...
(4)
In 2015 this regional unit has three seats in the
Hellenic Parliament
The Hellenic Parliament ( el, Ελληνικό Κοινοβούλιο, Elliniko Kinovoulio; formally titled el, Βουλή των Ελλήνων, Voulí ton Ellínon, Boule (ancient Greece), Boule of the Greeks, Hellenes, label=none), also kno ...
.
Prefecture
Rhodope was established as a
prefecture
A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...
in 1930 ( el, Νομός Ροδόπης), when the former
Thrace Prefecture was divided into the Rhodope and Evros prefectures.
In 1944
Xanthi Prefecture
Xanthi (, el, Περιφερειακή ενότητα Ξάνθης, Turkish: İskeçe) 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 ...
was created from the western part of Rhodope Prefecture. Since the 1990s Rhodope cooperated with Evros in the
Rhodope-Evros Super-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.
[
The Rhodope regional unit had 104,380 in accordance with the 2021 census results, a decline from 112,039 inhabitants in the 2011 census results. The capital of the Regional unit is ]Komotini
Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...
which has an estimated urban population of 55,000. It is the largest settlement in the regional unit. It also serves as the capital of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace ( el, Ανατολική Μακεδονία και Θράκη, translit=Anatolikí Makedonía ke Thráki, ) is one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It consists of the northeastern parts of the coun ...
administrative region.
Provinces
*Province of Komotini
Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...
- Komotini
*Province of Sapes
Sapes ( el, Σάπες) is a town and a former municipality in the Rhodope regional unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Maroneia-Sapes, of which it is the seat and a munici ...
- Sapes
''Note:'' Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
.
Sites of interest
* The ancient city Anastasioupolis-Peritheorion with the medieval towers south-east of Amaxades
Amaxades ( el, Αμαξάδες, Bulgarian: Арабаджи, tr, Arabacıköy) is a village and a former community in the Rhodope regional unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Repu ...
* The Imaret of Komotini, one of the oldest Ottoman monuments in Thrace
Thrace (; el, Θράκη, Thráki; bg, Тракия, Trakiya; tr, Trakya) or Thrake is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe, now split among Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, which is bounded by the Balkan Mountains to t ...
from 1360 - 1380
* The Papikio mountain with the ruins of early Christian monasteries
* The trip route from Arriana
Arriana ( el, Αρριανά) is a municipality in the Rhodope regional unit, Greece. The seat of the municipality is in Fillyra.
Municipality
The municipality Arriana was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following ...
to the east, as far as the borders with Evros, within the forest
* The suburban forest of Nymphaea, north of Komotini
Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...
* The ancient Maronia
* The "Thracian Meteora" - scenic landscape with wild nature and wild horses north of Iasmos
Iasmos ( el, Ίασμος; tr, Yassıköy; ) is a town and a municipality in the Rhodope regional unit of Thrace, Greece. It is built on the side of the Rhodope Mountains. Although references about the village date back to the 16th Century, it i ...
* The circumcenter temple of 11th - 13th century of Maximianoupolis - Mosynoupolis few km west of Komotini
Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...
* Archaeological Museum of Komotini
The Archaeological Museum of Komotini is a museum on Symenonidi Street in Komotini in Greece. The museum was designed by Aris Konstantinidis, an architect, and was commissioned in 1976. The exhibits on display are from the Neolithic to the Byzantin ...
* Folklore Museum of Komotini
The Folklore Museum of Komotini ( el, Λαογραφικό Μουσείο Κομοτηνής, Laografikó Mouseío Komotinís) is a museum in Komotini in Greece. It was founded in 1962 and since 1989 it is housed in the Peidis Mansion, itself a re ...
* Byzantine Museum of Komotini
* Carathéodory Museum, dedicated to Constantin Carathéodory
Constantin Carathéodory ( el, Κωνσταντίνος Καραθεοδωρή, Konstantinos Karatheodori; 13 September 1873 – 2 February 1950) was a Greek mathematician who spent most of his professional career in Germany. He made significant ...
, in Komotini
Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...
* Thracian, Ethnological, Historical and Cultural museum, in Komotini
Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...
Beaches and resorts
# Petrota
Petrota ( el, Πετρωτά) is a village at the northernmost point of Greece, part of the municipal unit Trigono.
It was created around 1530 by Greeks that moved there from Epirus and Malta. In 1961 its population was 1,510. In the 1970s ...
beach
# Synaxi beach
# Marmaritsa
# Agios Charalampos' beach
# Kangeles, near Maronia
# Platanitis
# Alkyona
# Proskynites' beach or Kryoneri
# Profitis Ilias
# Imeros' beach
# Karousmilou
# Molyvoti
# Chrysophora islet
# Glyfada
Glyfada ( el, Γλυφάδα, ) is a suburb in South Athens located in the Athens Riviera along the Athens coast. It is situated in the southern parts of the Athens' Urban Area. The area stretches from the foot of the Hymettus mountain to the Sar ...
's beach
# Paralia Mesis (with Blue flag 2014)
# Arogi's beaches (1 of them with Blue flag 2014)
# Fanari beaches (2 of them with Blue flag 2014)
Gallery
File:20110612 Thrakika Meteora Iasmos Panorama 1.jpg, ''Thracian Meteora''.
File:20100926 Kompsatos Bridge Polyanthos Rhodope Thrace Greece Panorama.jpg, The bridge of Kompsatos river of 17th century.
File:20100913 Ancient Theater Marwneia Rhodope Greece panoramic 2.jpg, The ancient theatre of Maronia.
File:20100919 Marmaritsa beach Maronia Rhodope Thrace Greece panorama.jpg, Marmaritsa beach and the active rift of Maronia - Makri.
File:20100215 Fanari Rhodope Thrace Greece 3.jpg, Sandy beach in Fanari.
File:20111002 Kaggeles beach Rodhope West Thrace Greece Panorama.jpg, Kangeles beach.
File:20090423 Komotini Greece church mhtropolh koimhsews ths theotokou.jpg, The post-Byzantine church of ''Dormition of the Mother of God'' in Komotini
Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...
''(1800)''.
File:20120105 exterior Imaret Komotini Western Thrace Greece 1.jpg, The Imaret of Komotini.
File:20100418 Maximianoupolis Mosynopolis Rhodope Thrace Greece 2.jpg, The circumcenter temple of Maximianoupolis - Mosynoupolis.
File:20091215 Organi Mosque Rhodope Thrace Greece.jpg, Organi
Organi ( el, Οργάνη, tr, Hemetli) is a village and a former community in the Rhodope regional unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Arriana
Arriana ( el, Αρριαν ...
village in mountainous Rhodope.
File:20100410 Gratini Rhodope Thrace Greece 1.jpg, Gratini
Gratini ( el, Γρατινή) is a village of Rhodope regional unit in northern Greece, some 13 km north of Komotini. It is part of the municipal unit of Komotini.
History
The village first appears in the late Byzantine era, as the town of G ...
village.
File:20120519 north view Anastasioupolis Perithorio Amaksades Rhodope West Thrace Greece.jpg, Tower in Anastasioupolis - Peritheorion.
File:BASA-2072K-1-337-328-National costume from Komotini region.jpg, A traditional female costume of the Bulgarian community of Rodopi.
Transport
* GR-2/ E90, Egnatia Highway, old and new, W, Cen., E, SE
* GR-53
See also
*List of settlements in the Rhodope regional unit
This is a list of notable settlements in the Rhodope regional unit, Greece:
* Aigeiros
* Amaxades
* Aratos
* Arisvi
* Arriana
* Fillyra
* Gratini
* Iasmos
* Imeros Rodopis
* Kalchas, Rhodope
* Kechros
* Kizari
* Komotini
* Maroneia
* Neo ...
References
External links
Rhodope Internet Portal
{{Prefectures and provinces of Greece
*
Regional units of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
1930 establishments in Greece
Prefectures of Greece