Serres () is one of the regional units of Greece, in the

geographic region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

of Macedonia. It is part of the

Region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

Central Macedonia Central Macedonia ( ; , ) is one of the thirteen Regions of Greece, administrative regions of Greece, consisting the central part of the Geographic regions of Greece, geographical and historical region of Macedonia (Greece), Macedonia. With a ...

. Its capital is the city of Serres. The total population reaches just over 150,000.

Geography

The mountains are Orvelos to the north, Menoikio to the east, Pangaio to the southeast, Kerdylio to the southwest, Vertiskos to the west, parts of Krousi to the west and portions of the Kerkini lies to the northwest. The regional unit borders on

Thessaloniki Thessaloniki (; ), also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, Salonika, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece (with slightly over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area) and the capital cit ...

to the southwest, Kilkis to the west,

North Macedonia North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the n ...

with the Novo Selo Municipality to the northwest, the Blagoevgrad Province of

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

to the north,

Drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

to the northeast and Kavala to the east. The Strymonian Gulf lies to the south along with the Strymonas delta. Lake Kerkini was a lake located in the southern portion which is now drained. 41% of the regional unit are arable and most of the lands are near the Strymonas river which flows from Bulgaria and empties into the Strymonian Gulf. Another river is the Angitis in the eastern part of the regional unit, with the ravine and caves near Alistrati. The regional unit has many archaeological and historical features including Serres, Amphipolis, several monasteries, and Metaxa near the border with Bulgaria. The regional unit is also a tourist attraction including Lailia, rich in forests, a skiing resort in the central portion, lake Kerkini which is a reservoir supplying water to the farmlands. Fishing is common within Ano Poroia especially during the summer months and famous Alistrati's caves and the nearby Aggitis ravine. The southern part around the Strymonas valley has a Mediterranean climate, the rest is predominantly continental with cold winters in higher elevations.

History

In modern times, Serres, like the rest of Macedonia was contested territory between

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

and the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

. After its liberation from the Turks by the

Bulgarians Bulgarians (, ) are a nation and South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Bulgaria and its neighbouring region, who share a common Bulgarian ancestry, culture, history and language. They form the majority of the population in Bulgaria, ...

in the

First Balkan War The First Balkan War lasted from October 1912 to May 1913 and involved actions of the Balkan League (the Kingdoms of Kingdom of Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Greece, Greece and Kingdom of Montenegro, Montenegro) agai ...

, Serres became a part of Greece at the end of the Second Balkan War. During the National Schism, it was occupied by Bulgaria again only to form part of Greece at the end of the war. During the

Second World War 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 ...

Bulgaria occupied Serres and launched a campaign of Bulgarisation. It was liberated in 1944. A substantial portion of the population of the regional unit are descendants of refugees which came from Eastern

Thrace Thrace (, ; ; ; ) is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe roughly corresponding to the province of Thrace in the Roman Empire. Bounded by the Balkan Mountains to the north, the Aegean Sea to the south, and the Black Se ...

which is now Northwestern Turkey, Asia Minor and from Pontus during the Greco-Turkish War. Kerk 04

Administration

The regional unit Serres is subdivided into 7 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox): *

Amfipoli Amphipolis (; ) was an important Ancient Greece, ancient Greek Polis, polis (city), and later a Roman city, whose large remains can still be seen. It gave its name to the modern municipality of Amphipolis (municipality), Amphipoli, in the Ser ...

(2) * Emmanouil Pappas (4) * Irakleia (5) * Nea Zichni (6) * Serres (1) * Sintiki (7) * Visaltia (3)

Prefecture

As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the Serres regional unit was created out of the former Serres Prefecture (). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.

Provinces

Before the abolishment of the provinces of Greece in 2006, the Serres prefecture was subdivided into the following provinces:

Transport

The main roads of Serres regional unit are: * A2 motorway (Egnatia Odos, Igoumenitsa - Thessaloniki - Amfipoli - Alexandroupoli) * A25 motorway (Thessaloniki - Serres - Sidirokastro - Bulgaria) * Greek National Road 2 (Florina - Thessaloniki - Amfipoli - Alexandroupoli) * Greek National Road 12 (Thessaloniki - Serres - Drama - Kavala) * Greek National Road 59 (Amfipoli - Nea Zichni) * Greek National Road 63 (Serres - Sidirokastro - Bulgaria) * Greek National Road 65 (Thessaloniki - Kilkis - Sidirokastro) The Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli railway passes through Serres and Sidirokastro.

Persons

* Constantine Karamanlis (8 March 1907 in Proti - 23 April 1998), a former Greek prime minister and president * Emmanouel Pappas, hero of the Greek Independence Struggle * Glykeria, famous Greek singer (of Asia Minor Hellenic ancestry) * Ioannis Melissanidis, a Greek gymnast athlete * Nansy Stergiopoulou, of the all girl band Hi-5, family originally from Serres.

Sporting teams

The Panserraikos F.C. association football club, based in Serres, plays in the Football League 2.

References

External links

Serres Prefecture Official WebsiteSerres General Hospital Official Website Alistrati's caveAn up-to-date portal with information regarding the Serres Prefecture
{{Authority control Prefectures of Greece 1915 establishments in Greece Regional units of Central Macedonia