Area: 6.098 km²

Altitude: 41

Population: 136.070

Traffic Code: 22

Post Codes: 22xxx

Distances from Edirne to its neighbours and some important centres:

Edirne – Istanbul: 235 km Edirne – Ankara: 688 km Edirne – Çanakkale: 230 km

Edirne – İzmir: 534 km Edirne – Tekirdağ: 160 km Edirne – Kırklareli: 62 km

Edirne – Kapıkule: 18 km Edirne – Pazarkule: 13 km Edirne – İpsala: 110 km

Edirne – Hamzabeyli: 42 km

How to go?

Motorway: Both TEM highway and D-100 road connect Edirne to Istanbul and to Anatolia. Also D-100 road connects Edirne to Çanakkale and then to Aegean Region. In addition, both motorway and railway networks enable connection to Bulgaria and Europe by Kapıkule Gate. The motorway passing through the Pazarkule and İpsala Gates goes to Greece. At the same time, there is a railway connection from Uzunköprü to Greece. A number of private bus companies offer services to almost every destination in the country from Edirne. Also bus transport is available to Bulgaria from Istanbul, Çorlu and Lüleburgaz towns and these buses to Bulgaria embark at the central bus garage of Edirne.

Geographical Location:

Edirne is located in Thrace part of Marmara Region and Ergene sub division between 40 30' and 42º 00' north latitudes and between 26º 00' and 27º 00' east longitudes. The city lies on a river basin, where wide flat places and low hills take place generally. The city is surrounded by Aegean Sea to the south, Bulgaria to the north, Greece to the west and Tekirdağ, Kırklareli and Çanakkale cities to the east. Istıranca Mountains in the north; Koru Mountains, Aegean Sea-Saroz Bay in the south; Meriç River and lowland of Meriç in the west and the lowland of Ergene River in the east are attractions located in Edirne.

Climate:

Strong continental is the major climate in Edirne as well as various climates can occur occasionally. Winter is distinctly expressed. However, summer is hot and dry. The average annual temperature is 13,4 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature has been reported in July with 42.2 degree Celsius while the lowest has been reported in January with –22,2 degree Celsius. The average annual rain is 585.9 mm³. Snow covers the city for about 20 days in winter. The annual rainy days calculated as about 107 days.

Flora:

Edirne is covered with forests, especially around Meriç and Tunca Rivers. Sarayiçi- Hen Forest located in the northwest of the city and Söğütlük/City Forest on the way to Karaagac in the south is thickly woody. Also, poplar and willow groves in the northern part are included in the flora of the city. Typical tree types in the city are poplar, pine, cedar tree, oak tree and other leafed trees. Keşan is a town of the province, where the largest timberlands take place. Enez, Lalapaşa and Uzunköprü follow this town for the ownership of timberland. The total timberland in the city centre of Edirne is 2534 hectares. Eğribük and Gölbaba wetlands are endemic floras. In addition, agricultural lands, meadows and grasslands form the city flora as surrounding the settlement pattern of the city. Also, there are alluvial plains and large farms producing vegetables and fruits in Karaağaç.

Historicity of Edirne:

Edirne is a city where different cultures and religions lived through the history. Therefore, Edirne owns an important place not only for Turkish-Islamic world but also for whole world history.

Edirne remained as the main capital of Ottoman Empire for 92 years and later the city considered as the second capital until the early 18th Century. The city can be qualified as a city museum.

The first archaeological excavations started in 1936 upon request of Ataturk. Monochromatic (black or brown) ceramics, having got geometric shapes on their tops, dating back to bronze age were found during the excavations around Alpullu Sugar Factory by Ord. Prof. Arif Müfit Mansel. Also grave goods, dating back to1st and 2nd AD century were found at the excavation in Sinanlı Village.

There was 20 years delay in doing excavations and researches. However, Ord. Prof. Dr. Şevket Aziz Aksu charged by The Institution of Turkish History conducted prehistoric researches again around Edirne. They found stone hatchets, millstones and hand-made ceramics, dating back to 4000-3000 AD in these researches. In the same year, dolmens and menhirs relating to Megalithic culture of Edirne were discovered. Following the 1960-1961 researches, fossil animals of Paleontological period were found. Fossils can be seen in Edirne Archaeology and Ethnography Museum.

The Era of Antiquity:

Edirne is founded on a productive savannah, where Arda (Arpessos) and Tunca (Tonzos) rivers join to Meriç (Hebros) River. The name of the city is mentioned as “Orestia” or “Orestias” in historical documents of Edirne. Researches, carried out in the northwest part called Çardakaltı (Odrisia), indicate that the history of the city dates as far back to 5000-4000 BC, Late Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age (Ord. Prof. Dr. S. A. Kansu- 1960).

The city was important with its position of being convenient for transportation even in the antiquity. It is the last station of the way from Middle Europe to The Bosphorus. Aka Civilization coming from north in 1400-1200 BC affected the city. However, people living in the city didn’t adopt the Greek culture even though they had economic and cultural relations with Greek colonies, lately founded in the costal region. Persian Civilization captured Thrace after the expedition to Iskip by King Dareios I in 513 BC. When the sovereignty of Persian collapsed in Middle 5th Century BC, Edirne remained inside the territory of a large state that was founded by Odrysians who are one of the biggest Thracian tribes and the territory of this state spreads from Meriç River to Varna. But the city didn’t have a special role in the history because of it didn’t reach to a particular structure of a city in Thracian period (Ord. Prof. Dr. A. M. Ansel- 1965). King Philip II ruled the city under the sovereignty of Macedonia in the 4th Century BC. Galatians attacked the city in 280-279 BC. Later Romans ruled the Thrace after their collapse of The Macedonia Kingdom in 168 BC. When the Roman Emperor Hadrianus reconstructed the city in 123-127 AD, the history of antiquity referred it as “Hadrianopolis”.

The 2nd Century AD was the magnificent era of the city. The area of 360.000 square metres was turn with city walls as a typical Roman quarter (Castrum). City walls were composed of cylindrical towers on each corner and double smaller towers between them and also surrounded with fosses. The castle, being repaired several times could remain until the middle 19th Century. Edirne became the capital of Haemimontus that is one of the six provinces of Thracian state, which was divided into shires by Diocletianus in 279 AD. Contatinus moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium and called the Empire as Constantinopolis when he became the unique sovereign of The Empire after he won the fight with Licinius in the 4th Century AD. Therefore, Hadrianapolis became important with its position of being on the way connecting the capital of The Empire to Middle Europe.

Medieval Period:

Edirne was treated by Balkan states all the time during the period of Byzantium. Huns and Goths invaded Thrace in middle 4th Century AD. It suffered loss from invasions of firstly Huns and then Slavs and Bulgarians during the 5th century AD. Eurasian Avars surrounded the city in 586 AD and also it faced to difficult wars between Byzantine and Bulgarians. The Bulgarian Czar Simeon who wanted to own the Byzantium crown captured the city in 913 AD. Also Pechenegs tried to conquer the city in 1018 AD. Even if they managed to surround the city, Byzantium had control over it again. While the city was fighting with invasions, on the other hand, internal conflicts continued in Byzantium.

In the course of the conflict between Palaiologoses, the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire and Latin Kantakouzenoses; Umur Bey from Aydinoğlu (the Anatolian Turkish Seignior) as a fellow of Kantakouzenos killed the Christian feudal lord of Edirne in 1342-1343. In this period of time, Turks started to conquer provinces in Anatolia gradually. After the conquest of Bursa, Ottomans got ready to pass to Rumelia.

Edirne in Ottoman Period:

Both Orhan Bey and Süleyman Pasha interested with Edirne. However, Süleyman Pasha was died. Eventually Murat I conquered the city. The feudal lord of the city run away to Enez (Ainos) by a float on Tunca River, leaving his palace at night after he understood that he wouldn’t have opposed to forces directed by Lala Şahin Pasha and followed by Hacı İlbey and Evrenos Bey. Consequently Edirne captured by Ottomans in 1361. The name of the city was documented firstly as Edrenos, Edrene and lately as Edirne.

After this Edirne had a primary role for the conquest of Rumelia and became an important military base. Sırpsındığı Victory came true 25 km away from the city to the north. Later Yıldırım Beyazıd started his journey from Edirne to surround Istanbul. After the death of Yıldırım Beyazıd, Musa Çelebi started Istanbul and Pravadi expeditions from this city and minted for his name in Edirne. The city became more important in the period of Murat II. He established Uzunköprü town (Cisri Ergene) and a bridge on cross way to Gallipoli from Thrace. Even if he left Edirne, leaving his crown to his son Mehmet in 1444, he had to come back to the throne again because of Varna expedition and the rebellion of Janissaries. He organized the wedding of his son Mehmet and Sitti Hatun who is the daughter of Süleyman Bey in Edirne. When he died in February 1451, Mehmet II came to the throne again. Mehmet II got ready for the conquest of Istanbul here in winter months of 1452-1453. While the try of guns for invasion, none of windowpane in Edirne was left unbroken. The conquest of Istanbul on May 29th, 1453 was a milestone in the history of Edirne. The city remained as a capital of Ottomans for a while. The magnificent circumcision feast of Prince Beyazid and Prince Mustafa held in the garden of Edirne Palace and lasted for a month. Edirne kept its importance in the periods of Beyazıd II, Selim I and the Süleyman Magnificent after Istanbul became the capital of The Empire. Selimiye Mosque, the unique monument was built in the period of Selim II. Glossy era of the city continued in the period of Mehmet IV in the 17th Century. In this period of time, palaces and manor houses were built in the city. In addition, circumcision feast of princes and the magnificent wedding of Queen Hatice were held in the city.

However, 17th Century was the recession period of Edirne. The fire destroying 60 wards in 1745 and the earthquake destroying many buildings in 1752 were the beginning of the recession days.

The first invasion in last two years happened when Russia raided into the city without fighting on August 2nd, 1829. The siege of Russia was defeated owing to peacemaking of Prusia ambassador. Edirne and its beautiful palaces were destroyed by the second siege of Russia, starting on January 20th, 1878 and lasting on March 13th, 1879.

Origins of the name “Edirne”:

It is known that Odrysians, ancestors of Thracians founded a city in an area where Meriç and Tunca rivers meet each other and where Edirne is located today. After Odrysians, Macedonians ruled the city. In this period, the name of the city was probably changed from Odris or Odrisia to Orestia/Orestas. Roman Emperor Hadrianus gave city status to Orestia town and named it in his name because of its strategic position (117-138) in the 2nd Century AD. So the city was mentioned with several names like Hadrianopolis, Hadrianupolis, Adrianupolis and Adrianapolis in Roman period.

The name of Adrianapolis changed to Adrianople/Adrianopel as time passed. In the early time of Ottomans, it is named as Edrinus/Edrune/Edrinabolu/Endriye. In the history written by Aşıkpaşa in 1476, the name of the city was mentioned as Edrene. Eventually the city was named as Edirne in the early 16th Century.

The city, which was founded in the meeting point of Aropessos (Arda), Tonzos (Tunca) and Hebro (Meric) mentioned as “Uscumada” by Historians Ammianus Marcellinus and Eutropios. The Byzantine historian Steltanos documented the name of the city as “Goneis” and other historians documented its name as “Orestia” or “Orestias”. However, it is presumed that the place called Uscumada didn’t take place within the borders of the city. It was probably the village of Bulgaria that was called Uskudar.

City Carnivals:

Kırkpınar: Historical Kırkpınar Oily Wrestling and Cultural Activities organize in an area of Sarayiçi, where remains of Ottoman Palace and woodland situated in, between the last days of June and the beginning of July and lasts for 7 days. Kırkpınar Oily Wrestling Feast is one of the oldest sport festivals in the world. Many sportsmen attend to the wrestling from all over Turkey. Wrestlers wear wrestler's tights and they put olive oil on their body. Different age groups are categorized in this sport activity. The feast was performed by attendance of many guests coming from Turkey and other countries, politicians, press members, folk dance groups and singers.

Kakava: The Kakava Carnival and Hıdırellez Festival are one of the carnivals to welcome the spring and organize in every 5th and 6th days of May. Usually Gypsies perform The Kakava Carnival on 5th of May and the other citizens just watch them. Also they chose a gypsy chief at the carnival. Musicians and dance groups present their performances. In the end of the carnival, they make a fire in every ward that they live. They believe that jumping over the fire three times brings luck to them. At night some people write their wishes on papers and hide them under ground. They go to the river, wash their faces with river water and some people swim in the river to be purified, have wealth and fertility in the following day. They hang a willow branch on their way back to their houses. The carnival is over with this event.

Sight Seeing:

Sarayici: The area, which was used as Palace after the conquest of Edirne by Ottoman Empire, takes place between tributaries of Tunca River. Almost all over the region is covered with trees. Also The Hen Forest is situated in Sarayiçi. The area is connected to the city by Kanuni Süleyman Bridge in its east and Fatih Bridge in its west. The area is used as a picnic place and also as a centre for culture and arts activities in Kırkpınar Oily Wrestling Festival attracting domestic and foreign visitors in every year.

Söğütlük: It is 2 km far to the city, located in the south on the way to Karaağaç. It is located next to Meriç River coast and also picnic areas, nightclub, restaurant, children’s play ground, cafes, walking paths and sport areas are situated in.

Eğribük ve Gölbaba: Eğribük river basin takes its name from bends of Tunca River on the lowland. Tunca River enters to Turkey from the border of Bulgaria in the north. The characteristic of being flooding lowland is seen in the rainy season of spring. Cultivated agricultural fields are flooded in this season. In the end, Tunca River calms down and comes back to its riverbed. However, it leaves rich alluviums to the region. The earth comes to the life again and becomes green again.

Tunca River passes Gölbaba on the lowland. The river and Gölbaba join together and cover the lowland in periods of flooding. The lake also keeps some water in the middle throuhout the year by raising on underground waters and 4 fountains. The lake is mostly consist of reeds in its structure and its dimention is about 3x3 km. The area covered by the lake changes in relation with seasons and the amount of rain.

Local Gastronomy:

The food that is special to Edirne are Tava Ciğer (fired liver), Ciğer Sarma (minced liver wrapped into lamb's fat), Edirne Meatballs, Elbesan (lamb pieces, cooked in the oven with yogurt sauce), Mamzana (mashed grilled aubergines with yogurt and garlic sauce), Pancake, Satır Kebab (a kind of kebab made with beef meat that chopped in large pieces by a special knife called ‘satır’), Marzipan and Edirne White Cheese. You can find some recipes below.

Tava Ciğer (Fired Liver): The most famous food that is unique to Edirne is Tava Ciğer. Its guests do not leave the city without eating this food. The secret of its unique aroma is the oil used for firing. The skin of the liver is pealed and the meat is cut into thin pieces. Then it is separated from its nerves and arteries and mixed into flour. Later they are fired with vegetable oil just for one minute at high temperature mixing continuously with a ladle. And then they are taken into a platter. As soon as all livers are cooked, they are salted and can be served. As much important as its cook’s talent, another special feature of its taste comes from the speciality of the beef liver made by beefs breeding on productive grasslands. Edirne Tava Ciğer is mostly served with Italian pepper that dried up before and fired.

Ciğer Sarma (minced liver wrapped into lamb's fat): Beef livers and heart are boiled into plenty of water in a saucepan. After boiling, drain its water. When they get cold, chop them into pieces and put a side. On the other hand, melt some butter in a saucepan and stew some courgette peanuts in it. When they are cooked, add some salt and black pepper. Boil 3 classes of water in another saucepan and put the mixture of livers, heart, currant and rice into boiling water. Cook it at low temperature and then put a side to brew for 20 minutes. Later, add some spearmint and mix them. Sink the lamb cover into hot water, left it for a while and then take it out. Divide it into 10 pieces. Then share the mixture of livers and seasoned courgette peanuts into each pieces of cover. Put them on an oven tray. Pour a glass of water on to the mixture and cook it in preheated oven until the meat is roasted. Serve it hot.

Elbesan Tava (lamb pieces, cooked in the oven with yogurt sauce): Melt some butter in a frying pan. When the oil gets hot, fry both sides of lamb pieces for 3 minutes. Add some largely chopped onion and salt in it and cook for 1-1.5 hours at low temperature. Mix some yogurt and flour in a saucepan, add a half glasses of broth of meat and cook for 10 minutes at low temperature. Gradually add the mixture of egg yolks into this mixture. This sauce is poured into meats when the sauce is hot and then the meat with the mixture of sauce is cooked in the oven for 5-10 minutes until it is roasted. It is served hot.

Crafts:

Crafts in Edirne are very developed. Woodwork and broom making are survived skilled trade activities in the city. Sweet-smelling soap making is another traditional skilled trade.

Edirnekari: It means that craft of Edirne. It is a kind of decoration style that developed in Edirne as a result of reflections on crafts by highly creative art activities in the city of The Palace. It is applied on different materials since the 14th Century. Painting on coffer, cupboard, frame and that kind of woodworks are the performances of this art today.

Ceramic Works: The Ottoman capital Edirne was one of the important centres for ceramic and Turkish tile. The decoration style that Sultanas stood out for it, incomparable tiles of Palaces and Monuments keep an important place for cultural heritage of the city.