Alexandroupoli, located in northeastern Greece, is the capital city of Evros Prefecture. It is an important port and commercial centre of Greece with a population of approximately residents. Alexandroupoli

Alexandroupoli is one of the newest cities in Greece, as it was only a fishing village until the late 19th century.At that time it was known as Dedeagach (Turkish: Dedeağaç). According to the legend, the name was based on a wise old Turkish man or dede who lived under an (oak ) tree (in Turkish ağaç) and was eventually buried beside it.After World War I the whole region of Western Thrace was united with Greece and the town was named Neapoli (New Town).The King of Greece, Alexander I,visited it in 1920 and the authorities decided to rename the city Alexandroupoli, in the King’s honour.

The need to build a lighthouse became apparent when a small port-where the port of Alexandroupoli stands today- started to be constructed in the 1850s.The Lighthouse of Alexandroupoli was constructed by a French company and started working in Illuminating a 24 nautical miles distance, the lighthouse is 18 meters high from ground level and 27 meters from average sea level. The harbourThe lighthouseThe monument of Domna Visvizi Here, in the lighthouse square, is the monument of Domna Visvizi, a rich Thracian woman who used her money and ships to contribute to the revolution of Greece in 1821.

The town’s history goes back to the 19 th century, when the area was still part of the Ottoman Empire. Fishermen from nearby Maronia and Makri settled in and the small fishing village, known as Dedeagach, developed into a town during the construction of a railway line connecting Constantinople with Thessaloniki.Trade began to boom as Russian and English ships moored in the harbour.Greeks, Armenians, Turks, Bulgarians, Jews and Franks gathered in the hospitable town. Dedeagach was captured by the Russians during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878.Russian forces settled in reconstructing it with wide streets running parallel to each other.The town-planning and the Lighthouse have had a lasting effect on Alexandroupoli. In 1885 the town was forcefully annexed to Bulgaria.The Balkan Wars ( ) brought the decline of the town as lots of people were forced to leave.Finally,the defeat of Bulgaria by the Allies in World War I (1914–1918) brought another change of hands.Western Thrace was withdrawn from Bulgaria and was annexed to Greece.The change of guard between the French,who temporarily managed the town, and the Greek officials occurred on 14 th May 1920.

This is the Town Hall Another governmental building The Hellenic bank The post office La maison d’ Antoinette An ecclesiastical building A square Churches

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