Odrin

Odrin is the Bulgarian name for the city of Edirne, a city in the northwestern corner of Turkey and the seat of Edirne Province in the region of East Thrace. It lies on the Meriç (Maritsa) River near the borders with Greece and Bulgaria, making it a historic crossroad between Europe and Asia.

The city has a long history. Known in antiquity as Adrianople, it became an important Byzantine and later Ottoman center. From 1369 to 1453 Edirne served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire before the capital was moved to Constantinople after the conquest of 1453. Throughout the late medieval and early modern periods, Edirne was a major political, military, and cultural hub in the region. In the 20th century, following the Balkan Wars and the establishment of modern Turkey, Edirne developed as a provincial and economic center close to European borders.

Odrin/Edirne is home to several notable monuments reflecting its Ottoman architectural heritage. The Selimiye Mosque, designed by the renowned architect Mimar Sinan and completed in the 1570s, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other important landmarks include the Üç Şerefeli Mosque and the Eski Cami (Old Mosque). The city is also associated with the traditional Kırkpınar oil wrestling festival, one of the oldest continuous sporting events in the world, held annually near the city center.

Demographically, the city has a population in the low to mid hundreds of thousands and is predominantly Turkish. Trakya University is a major higher-education institution serving the region. The economy centers on agriculture, textiles, and light industry, complemented by cross-border trade with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne remains a regional transport and cultural hub in Northwestern Turkey.