Axioupoli
Axioupoli (Greek: Αξιούπολη) is a small town in the
Kilkis Prefecture,
Greece. Its old name 'oemitsa(Greek Μποϊμίτσα, Slavic Bóëmtsa) is slavic origin meaning
strong. The town was renamed Axioupoli on
January 1,
1927 after the river
Axios which it resides by. Its
municipality is the Peonia Province of
Kilkis in
Central Macedonia,
Greece. As of 2001 its population is numbered at 3,500.
History
Founded in
1760 by
Christian settlers from adjoining areas, they chose it as their new home due to its proximity to the
Axios River. The town was under Turkish occupation until the early
20th Century. Construction of its first church,
Saint Dimitrios (Greek Αγίου "ημητρίου), started in
1843 after Christians were given the right to build churches and schools by the
Ottomans.
Saint Dimitrios was completed in
1859. The first school in town was build in
1894. On
October 22,
1912 it was free from Turkish occupation. During the population exchange of the early
20th Century the town was settled by refugees from all over the
Balkans and
Anatolian regions, given it a unique feel. Its residence played a big part in helping win the
Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas and with the battle of
Skra-di-Legen.
Because of its location it has had geopolitical significance, being one of the last place from which the
Germans left after
WWII ended. The main railway between
Thessaloniki and
Europe went through the town's center, making Axioupoli a center of information during the
Balkan Wars,
WWI and
WWII. In
1913 the first
customs office between
Greece and
Serbia was opened in Axioupoli.
In
WWI the
French Army, was stationed there to control one of the main supply routes. They help build numerious projects in town and with in the region to help with their supply transportation. They build an additional railroad from the center of Axioupoli to
Skra (Skora) and the rairoad bridge which crosses over the
Axios river and leads into
Paris. These projects help change the town as one of
Greece's industrialized centers.
On
April 8,
1944 the
Germans took control of the town which gave them access to the railroads, bridges and control over the supply routes for the
Axis. They occupied the town 'til the end, leaving on
October 31,
1944. During the occupation
ELAS staged many sabotaged missions against the
Axis in the region while residents helped hide
Greek fighters from the Germans.
Location
The town is located 547 Kilometers South-southeast of
Athens the capital of
Greece; 62 Kilometers Southeast from the regional capital
Thessaloniki; 33.9 Kilometers East from the
prefectural capital
Kilkis, 3.5 Kilometers East from the small town of
Polykastro a small town located in
Kilkis Prefecture and West of the
Axios River.
Sightseeing
You can visit the Natural History Museum Axioupoli[
1], one of the best in
Hellas, the Library, Kotzadere, the Statue of Liberty in the main square and the Metatalio Lake, the big Plane tree which tradition has it being there since
Alexander the Great Era.
Education
Axioupoli has a complete system of State schools including two Nursery schools, two Primary, two Elementary, one Secondary and one High School. There is also a Technical school (TEE). Apart from these you can find three Foreign Language Schools (Hassapi-Sidera, Sphera and Pasiata) and a Computer School (Hassapi-Sidera).
*
Offical Site*
Falling Rain Genomics site
