Despite its proximity to European countries, the region of Eastern Thrace is one of the most unknown by international travelers: it is not as visited as other Turkish destinations, although it has places of great interest. And that is precisely what we tell you in this article, which unravels the main ones one by one.
What is Eastern Thrace
The region we are talking about in this article is Eastern Thrace, also known as Turkish Thrace. It is, roughly speaking, the part of Turkey that is located on European soil, so it would also encompass the area of Istanbul located on the western shore of the Bosphorus Strait.
Thrace is actually a historical region that encompasses some territories of Bulgaria and Greece, hence the Turkish part is referred to as the eastern part, although it represents the western end of the country. The provinces it covers are Edirne, Kirklareli and Tekirdag in their entirety, as well as parts of Istanbul and Çanakkale.
Edirne, historical capital
If one city were to be singled out for its monumental interest, Edirne would undoubtedly be the one to start with. It is a historic capital for Turkey, as it became the capital of the Ottoman Empire at a key moment: in the period immediately prior to the conquest of Constantinople (1365-1453). It was here that the Ottoman sultans attempted (and succeeded) to take the city, later called Istanbul when it acquired the new status of capital.
Therefore, the century from the mid-fourteenth to the mid-fifteenth century was for Edirne an extraordinary moment of splendor, when great temples, palaces and infrastructure were built. Curiously, the main monument is somewhat later: the Selim (or Selimiye) Mosque, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. It is of the sixteenth century and was designed by the great architect Mimar Sinan, commissioned by Sultan Selim II.
Gallipoli and Dardanelles
Eastern Thrace is home to the Gallipoli peninsula, which is the western part of the Dardanelles Strait. And if you like contemporary history, both names are likely to ring a bell because of the famous battles that took place here in the context of the First World War. The campaign, in 1915-1916, pitted Allied troops (French, British, Australians, New Zealanders, Indians) against the Turks, leaving a bloody toll of some 130,000 dead. They were in the majority on the Turkish side, but the army led by Mustafa Kemal (the later Atatürk) achieved victory through resistance.
Today the battlefields are centers of memory, visitable by their memorials and museum spaces. The Turkish public does it, with patriotic pride, but also citizens of the allied powers (many of them, descendants of the victims), moved by the desire to pay homage to them.
An oenology route
In the heart of Eastern Thrace you can trace a route through vineyards and wineries to explore the ancient winemaking tradition of the region (Homer already nicknamed its sweet black wine as “the honey” of the area). A privileged climate and fertile soil provide unbeatable natural conditions for this crop, which has been maintained in the region despite the Islamic ban on alcohol consumption.
Curious cultural expressions
Finally, it can be said that Eastern Thrace is also home to amazing cultural and folkloric expressions, often celebrated in annual festivals worth knowing. For example, the oil wrestling championships (Edirne, in June), in which the contenders face each other in open fields and with their half-naked bodies smeared in this substance. Also surprising will be Kakava, the Muslim Gypsy festival (Edirne and Kırklareli, May), with performances of Roma singing and dancing.
