P e t r a d e s
The eastermost place of mainland Greece
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The village of Petrades is located in the northeast of Greece. It is the eastermost village on the greek land and before Romania’s accesion to the EU in the year 2006 it was even the eastermost point in the European Union. Petrades is situated next to the river Evros, the second largest river in Balkan. It is also situated on a slope, in such a way a inundation is imposible. The charakteristical soil conditions is a combination of stone with green. With a drawbridge Petrades is connected with Turkey. The road goes straight to Konstantinoupolis. In history the bridge acquired famousness, because the Orian-Express regularly uses the bridge on his way to the east.(up)
The village of Petrades is one of the eldest in the area. The population is generally local. This fact constitutes a rarity in the nearer area. The population of them is generally created by refugees and their villages was created after the greek-turkish population-exchange in the year 1922. According to the prevalent opinion, the village has been created by stonecutters, they were from the county Ipeiros. During the turkish reign the stonecutters were travelling in Greece offering their services and their knowledge about the excavation and the build of the stone. The name Petrades attests about the origin of the village (stonecutters). From testimonies of old local people that been reported, dates that been recorded on one of the walls of the village-church and other historical archives, it is quite possible that the people came in the village in the begin of the 19th century. Their main occupation was the excavation , elaboration and selling of the stone, which was still a main build material before 1940. By business of the stone the village gets prosperity and distinguished it from the other farming villages in the near area. (up) The Second World War and the following civil war destroyed Greece almost complete. The village of Petrades did not have any different fortune. The farming land was not a lot and the stone was not popular anymore. The young people left with only one choice: the immigration. In the decades of 50's and 60's the mines of Belgium and the factories of Germany offered to the people work and hopes. In our days a big part of the village population still lives in different cities of Germany and especialy in the area of Stuttgart. Also people live and work in Belgium, Holland and France. It is worth to mention the people who live in Stuttart, because they built the most dynamic part of the immigration. In 1984 they established the society of petrades immigrants and helped a lot to keep the spirit and the connection with the village alive with different gatherings and events in Germany. (up) In 15 and 16 of August every year it is been organized in the village a festival with live music, a lot of food and of course plenty of drinks. Groups dance greek traditional dances and the participation of the people is very big. The petrades festival is one of the most famous ones and it is a good opportunity for the immigrants to meet their local friends. It is also an element of civilazation and continuity of the inheritance of Petrades. (up) From Athens 985 km |
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Petrades - picture from Google Earth
The river Evros
Train station of Pythio
Forrest with spruces close to the village. In the back of the horizon is Turkey to see.
An icon from the village church.
Inside of the church
Women with traditional liveries.
Traditional dancing chorus
Dance on the village square.
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