Komotini

Komotini is a city in northeastern Greece, serving as the capital of the Rhodope regional unit in East Macedonia and Thrace. It is located inland near the border with Turkey and functions as a regional center for administration, commerce, and higher education. The population includes a Greek majority and a significant Muslim minority, largely of Turkish origin, reflecting its Ottoman-era past.

Historically, the area has Thracian and later Ottoman urban roots. The city was known as Gümülcine during Ottoman rule and became part of Greece following the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913. The 20th century brought demographic changes and the recognition of minority rights under the Treaty of Lausanne. Remnants of Ottoman architecture, such as mosques and a historic bazaar, survive alongside Greek Orthodox churches.

Komotini hosts a major campus of the Democritus University of Thrace, making it a regional university town. The university offers programs across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and engineering, contributing to research, education, and cultural life in the city.

Economically, Komotini centers on services, retail, education, and light manufacturing, with the university and public administration playing important roles. Culturally, the city reflects its diverse population through festivals, marketplaces, and a mix of architectural styles that testify to its Ottoman and Greek heritage.