The Aegean Pass (, ''Belomorski prohod'') or Elidzhe (Елидже) is a

mountain pass A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since mountain ranges can present formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both Human migration, human and animal migration t ...

between the central and eastern

Rhodope Mountains The Rhodopes (; , ; , ''Rodopi''; ) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, and the largest by area in Bulgaria, with over 83% of its area in the southern part of the country and the remainder in Greece. Golyam Perelik is its highest peak ...

. It connects

Smolyan Province Smolyan Province (, ''Oblast Smolyan''; former name Smolyan okrug) is a province in Southern-central Bulgaria, located in the Rhodope Mountains, neighbouring Greece to the south. It is named after its administrative and industrial centre — the ...

in south central Bulgaria with Xanthi regional unit of

Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Eastern Macedonia and Thrace ( ; , ) is one of the thirteen Regions of Greece, administrative regions of Greece. It consists of the northeastern parts of the country, comprising the eastern part of the Geographic regions of Greece, region of ...

in northeastern Greece. As one of three passes between the Rhodope highlands and the Aegean coast of

Western Thrace Western Thrace or West Thrace (, '' ytikíThráki'' ), also known as Greek Thrace or Aegean Thrace, is a geographical and historical region of Greece, between the Nestos and Evros rivers in the northeast of the country; East Thrace, which lie ...

, it links the upper valleys of the Chepinska reka to the north and the Kompsatos to the south. The highest point of the pass is at above sea level on the Bulgarian-Greek border. Until the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the Aegean Pass was actively used for commerce. It was closed in 1944, as Bulgaria and Greece ended up on different sides of the

Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain was the political and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. On the east side of the Iron Curtain were countries connected to the So ...

. In the 2020s, the roads from Rudozem and Dimario on either side of the pass were rebuilt to a modern standard and a new border checkpoint was established. In December 2024, plans were announced to reopen the Aegean Pass for vehicular traffic without border controls via the Rudozem–

Xanthi Xanthi is a city in the region of Western Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi regional unit of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace. Amphitheatrically built on the foot of Rhodope mountain chain, the city is divided ...

border crossing on 1 January 2025, coinciding with Bulgaria's full entry into the

Schengen Area The Schengen Area ( , ) encompasses European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their common borders. As an element within the wider area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ) policy of the European Union (EU), it ...

. As of January 2025, construction delays on the Greek side have postponed the opening of the road for vehicular traffic, but the pass is accessible on foot like any other point on the Bulgaria–Greece

open border An open border is a border that enables Freedom of movement, free movement of people and often of goods between jurisdictions with no restrictions on movement and is lacking a border control. A border may be an open border due to intentional leg ...

. The opening of the pass for traffic is expected to bolster tourism in the region, providing quick access between the

Pamporovo Pamporovo (, ''pronunciation'': /pam'porovo/) is a popular ski resort in Smolyan Province, southern Bulgaria. It is set amongst Norway spruce forests and is primarily visited during the winter for skiing and snowboarding. It is also a popular t ...

ski resort near Smolyan and the Aegean beaches of Xanthi.

References

{{reflist Bulgaria–Greece border crossings Landforms of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Landforms of Smolyan Province Mountain passes of Bulgaria Mountain passes of Greece Rhodope Mountains Transport infrastructure completed in 2024 Landforms of Xanthi (regional unit)