Chech ( bg, Чеч, el, Τσέτσι) or Chechko ( bg, Чечко) is a

geographical Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...

and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in

southeastern Europe Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe (SEE) is a geographical subregion of Europe, consisting primarily of the Balkans. Sovereign states and territories that are included in the region are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia (al ...

in modern-day

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Mac ...

and

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wit ...

. It consists of about 60 settlements and was traditionally mostly

Pomak Pomaks ( bg, Помаци, Pomatsi; el, Πομάκοι, Pomáki; tr, Pomaklar) are Bulgarian-speaking Muslims inhabiting northwestern Turkey, Bulgaria and northeastern Greece. The c. 220,000 strong ethno-confessional minority in Bulgaria is ...

with an

Orthodox Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to: Religion * Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pa ...

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

and

Bulgarian Bulgarian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Bulgaria * Bulgarians, a South Slavic ethnic group * Bulgarian language, a Slavic language * Bulgarian alphabet * A citizen of Bulgaria, see Demographics of Bulgaria * Bul ...

minorities. The Chech region is situated on the border of the much larger regions of

Macedonia Macedonia most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a traditional geographic reg ...

and

Thrace Thrace (; el, Θράκη, Thráki; bg, Тракия, Trakiya; tr, Trakya) or Thrake is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe, now split among Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, which is bounded by the Balkan Mountains to ...

. It covers the western

Rhodope Mountains The Rhodopes (; bg, Родопи, ; el, Ροδόπη, ''Rodopi''; tr, Rodoplar) 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 i ...

and the northern slopes of

Falakro Falakro Oros (Greek: Φαλακρό όρος, translated in English as: "Bald mountain"; bg, Боздаг, ''Bozdag''; Turkish: ''Bozdağ'', translated in English as: "Gray mountain") is a mountain in the Drama regional unit, eastern Greek Ma ...

( bg, Боздаг, ''Bozdag''). It is divided in two: ''Drama Chech'' and ''Nevrokopi Chech''. The first one and partially the second one is in

. According to

Vasil Kanchov Vasil Kanchov ( bg, Васил Кънчов, Vasil Kanchov) (26 July 1862 – 6 February 1902) was a Bulgarian geographer, ethnographer and politician. Biography Vasil Kanchov was born in Vratsa. Upon graduating from High school in Lom ...

the eastern border of Chech is the

Dospat River The Dospat (; , ) is a river in the Western Rhodope Mountains, the most important tributary of the Mesta. It takes its source from Bulgaria, from the 1643-metre-high Rozov vrah ("Rose Peak") and flows southeast until Dospat Dam, after which it ma ...

and the western one is the river of Dabnitsa. Thus the Chech comprises the municipalities: Satovcha, Dospat and the villages in the valleys of the

and Bistritsa river. The villages in the Greek Chech are part of Kato Nevrokopi municipality and Sidironero community. The

population of the Greek part of Chech was exchanged with

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

during the

Greek-Turkish population exchange The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey ( el, Ἡ Ἀνταλλαγή, I Antallagí, ota, مبادله, Mübâdele, tr, Mübadele) stemmed from the "Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations" signed at ...

in 1923 and replaced with

Orthodox Christians Orthodoxy (from Greek: ) is adherence to correct or accepted creeds, especially in religion. Orthodoxy within Christianity refers to acceptance of the doctrines defined by various creeds and ecumenical councils in Antiquity, but different Churc ...

from Turkey. Many of the Chech villages in Greece are now abandoned.

Settlements of Nevrokopski Chech

The major settlements of the northern part of Chech are enlisted by

in two of his works.

Settlements in Bulgaria

Satovcha Municipality Satovcha Municipality is a municipality in southwestern Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkan ...

Bogolin Bogolin ( bg, Боголин) is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Bogolin is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains a few kilometers away from the ...

, Dolen,

Fargovo Fargovo ( bg, Фъргово) is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Fargovo is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It belongs to the Chech regi ...

Godeshevo Godeshevo ( bg, Годешево) is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Godeshevo is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It belongs to the Chech ...

Kochan Kochan ( bg, Кочан) is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Kochan is located in mountainous region in southwestern Bulgaria some 10 km from the ...

Kribul Kribul ( bg, Крибул, old version: ''Krabul'') is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Kribul Hill on Trinity Peninsula in Antarctica is named after the village. Geography ...

, Osina,

Pletena Pletena ( bg, Плетена) is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Pletena is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It belongs to the Chech regio ...

Satovcha Satovcha ( bg, Сатовча, old version: ''Satovitsa'', ''Svatovitsa'') is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is the administrative center of the Satovcha Municipality in Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Satovcha is located ...

Slashten Slashten ( bg, Слащен) is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Slashten is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It belongs to the Chech r ...

Tuhovishta Tuhovishta (variation of the name Tuvishta or Duhovishta) is a village in Southwest Bulgaria, part of Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography Tuhovishta Village is located in the southwestern Rhodope Mountains and is part of ...

Vaklinovo Vaklinovo ( bg, Ваклиново, until 1960 - ''Marulevo'') is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Vaklinovo is located in the Western Rhodope M ...

Valkosel Valkosel ( bg, Вълкосел ) is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Valkosel is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It belongs to the Chech ...

Zhizhevo Zhizhevo ( bg, Жижево, old variants: ''Zhizhovo'', ''Darzhilovo'') is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Geography The village of Zhizhevo is located in the Western Rh ...

Dospat Municipality The Dospat Municipality is a municipality in southwestern Bulgaria and is one of the municipalities in the Smolyan Province. Geography It covers the southwestern Rhodope Mountains. 8 settlements belong to the municipality with a total of 8217 ...

Brashten Brashten ( bg, Бръщен) is a village in southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the municipality of Dospat, Smolyan Province. Geography The village of Brashten is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It is situated in the Chech reg ...

Ljubcha Lyubcha ( bg, Любча) is a village in southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the municipality of Dospat, Smolyan Province. Geography The village of Lyubcha is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It is situated in the Chech region. ...

and

Tsrancha Tsrancha ( bg, Црънча ) is a village in southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the municipality of Dospat, Smolyan Province. Geography The village of Tsrancha is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It is situated in the Chech r ...

Garmen Municipality Garmen Municipality ( bg, Община Гърмен) is situated in the southeastern part of Blagoevgrad Province in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is a rural municipality, composed of 16 villages. The administrative center is the village of Garmen, bu ...

Dolno Dryanovo Dolno Dryanovo is a village in Garmen Municipality, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria. It is situated in the Dabrash part of the Rhodope Mountains 7 kilometers east-southeast of Garmen and 82 kilometers southeast of Blagoevgrad on the third class ...

, Hvostiane, Krushevo,

Oreshe Oreshe is a mountainous village in Garmen Municipality, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria. It is situated in the Dabrash part of the Rhodope Mountains, 7 kilometers northeast of Garmen and 79 kilometers southeast of Blagoevgrad. The vi ...

Hadzhidimovo Municipality Hadzhidimovo Municipality ( bg, Община Хаджидимово, ) is situated in the southeastern part of Blagoevgrad Province in southwestern Bulgaria. The administrative center is the town of Hadzhidimovo, located in the northern part of th ...

: Ablanitsa,

Beslen Beslen ( bg, Беслен) is a village in Hadzhidimovo Municipality, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria. It is situated just 2 km from the border with Greece. Geography The village is situated on the Beslen ridge of the Rhodope Mountains in the m ...

Blatska Blatska is a village in Hadzhidimovo Municipality, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria. It is situated in the valley of the Mesta river, close to the border with Greece. History There is an ancient and medieval fortress named "Hysar" east of the ...

Teplen Teplen is a village in Hadzhidimovo Municipality, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern fl ...

Settlements in Greece

* Drama municipality: ''Kastanohoma (Zarnovitsa), Mirsinero (Pepelash)'' * Nevrokopi municipality: ''Agios Petros (Peruh), Agriokerasea (Izbishta), Ahladomilea (Debren), Delta (Vitovo), Diplohori (Dablen), Eklisaki (Manastir), Erimoklisia (Kolyarba), Katahloron (Rakishten), Kremasta (Lozna), Kritaristra (Kashitsa), Lakouda (Gorna Lakavitsa), Mavrohori (Tisovo), Melisomandra (Maloshijtsa), Mesovuni (Siderovo), Milopetra (Mazhdel), '' Mikroklisura (Dolna Lakavitsa), Mikromilia (Ustitsa),

Perasma Perasma ( el, Πέρασμα, before 1926: Κουτσκοβαίνη - ''Koutskovaini''; Bulgarian and Macedonian Slavic: Кучковени, ''Kučkoveni'') is a village and a former municipality in Florina regional unit, West Macedonia, Gre ...

(Stranen)'', Pochan, Poliliton (Sarchan, Staredzik), ''

Potami Potami is a small village near Nicosia Nicosia ( ; el, Λευκωσία, Lefkosía ; tr, Lefkoşa ; hy, Նիկոսիա, romanized: ''Nikosia''; Cypriot Arabic: Nikusiya) is the largest city, capital, and seat of government of Cyprus. ...

(Borovo),'' Psihron (Kosten), Shurdilovo, Virsan (Vrashten), Vrahohori (Boren)'' * Sidironero community: ''Dobryadzil, Evrenes (Pulovo), Kainchen (Antilalos), '' Kalikarpo (Lovchishta)'', Kesariano (Ruskovo), Klista (Kolyush), Kokino (Barhovo), Limon (Rashovo), Magnisio (Grazhdel), '' Oropedio (Vladikovo), Papades (Popovo selo),'' Plakostroto (Glum), ''

Sidironero Sidironero ( gr, Σιδηρόνερο, before 1927: Οσενίτσα - ''Osenitsa'', bg, Осеница, ) is a village and a former community in the Drama regional unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform i ...

, (Osenitsa), Skaloti (Liban),'' Stavrodromi (Orhovo), Voskotopi (Verdzhenitsa, Drazhenitsa), Vounohori (Pribojna), Vrahotopos (Kalchovo)'' ''Italics'' indicates not inhabited settlement at the 2001 census.

Notes

{{Authority control Drama (regional unit) Historical regions in Bulgaria Historical regions in Greece

Settlements of Nevrokopski Chech

Settlements in Bulgaria

Settlements in Greece

See also

Notes