Thrace is divided into three departments: Evros, Rodopi and Xanthi. The capital of Thrace is Xanthi.
The island of Samothrace belongs to Macedonia but is often mentioned in one word with the Aegean Islands and that is why I have posted Samothrace on this site in that group.
This part of Greece is not yet discovered by the tourist flow. Thrace is strongly influenced by Turkish culture in different places (such as Xanthi). The population of this region lives (often) in separate neighborhoods/villages such as Turkish, Pomaks and Greek.
But is also an area with fertile valleys (cotton and tobacco -growing), unspoiled nature, mountain ranges, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
The main attractions of Thrace are:
The island of Samothrace belongs to Macedonia but is often mentioned in one word with the Aegean Islands and that is why I have posted Samothrace on this site in that group.
This part of Greece is not yet discovered by the tourist flow. Thrace is strongly influenced by Turkish culture in different places (such as Xanthi). The population of this region lives (often) in separate neighborhoods/villages such as Turkish, Pomaks and Greek.
But is also an area with fertile valleys (cotton and tobacco -growing), unspoiled nature, mountain ranges, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
The main attractions of Thrace are:
- Xanthi: modern university town with a lovely Turkishold town. Trading center of the tobacco. The weekly market on Saturday morniging, where farmers / traders out of the region to sell their products.
- Porto Lagos: church of Agios Nikolaos on a small island connected to the mainland by a narrow pier 50 meters long in the Vistonida lake.
- Komotini: city with Greek and Turkish influences.
- Toxotes: starting point for a walk along / above the Nestos river that meanders through the beautiful area. Along the road from Toxotes to the mountain village of Stavroupoli is a spectacular viewpoint of the Nestos.
- Near Stavroupoli: nearby the starting point for a walk through beautiful countryside to the Livaditis waterfalls.
- Rodopi mountains: home of the Pomaks, a colorful Muslim population who speak a dialect of Bulgarian.
- Evros delta: wetlands with different bird species.
- Dadia Forest: beautiful nature and hiking place. Possibility of studying many raptors / vultures (including the bearded vulture).
- Soufli: silk museum.
- Alexandroupolis: the easternmost town on the Greek mainland.