FERES :  A TOWN HEIR OF THE BYZANTINE VIRA AND THE IMPERIAL MONASTERY OF PANAGIA KOSMOSOTEIRA

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The modern town is located in the North-Eastern part of Greece, near the Delta of the river Evros. The river Evros had been the navigable route which linked the Balkans with the Aegean sea and at the same time the Egnatia Road connected the East with the West.

Its geographical location obviously was of great military and commercial importance. The ruins from the ancient port of Doriskos and the Byzantine monuments in Feres are the evidence which confirms the role of the area in the cultural development of Thrace through the centuries.

Feres has been built on the Kernel of the Byzantine town called Vira. In 1152 a member of the royal family -Isaakios Komnenos- built here a magnificent monastery, dedicated to the honour of Blessed Virgin Mary. He considered planned it as his last residence and mausoleum.

The monastery had cells for 100 monks, a hospital, a home for the aged, a library and an aqueduct. Later on, he established the town of Vira.

The Byzantine Church of the town is distinguished for its unique architecture while the interior decoration is an impressive sample of the eminent Christian art. In the South-Eastern side of the Church there is a famous ceramic which represents a single-headed eagle; a rare imperial symbol of Komneni Dynasty. This monument is a living/vivid symbol of the cultural prosperity in Thrace.

In 1204 Vira becomes feud of the Franks for more than half a century. In 1357 the area is occupied by the Ottomans and the Church  is converted into a Mosque. The town lost its political and military importance, but it kept on being the commercial and administrative centre of the region situated in the west part of the river Evros.

EVROS - DELTA

Located in the North-Eastern part of Greece, linking the Aegean with the Black sea and Europe with Asia, the river Evros forms an ecosystem with international importance -according to the Ramsar Convention- known as the Evros Delta. Delta's geographical position and climate contributed into creating a vital place of hospitality for a great variety of animals. There have been 46 kinds of fish, 7 kinds of amphibians, 21 kinds of reptiles. Also there are 304 kinds of birds out of the 423 kinds found in Greece. Lakes, lacy coasts, peninsulas, many branches of Evros river form a unique environment suitable for the survival of rare species of fauna and types of flora all over Europe.

TODO

The Municipal Tourist Centre offers not only the information you need, but also the guidance to the Evros Delta and to the cultural monuments of the region. Furthermore, it is worth visiting the Customs of Kipi on the boarder line to Turkey, the almost deserted village of Koila with its prehistoric interesting findings and the green hill of St. Paraskevi in Feres. The visitors will have the chance to taste the wonderfull local food in the taverns of the tow and to shop local souvenirs.

During August and September many cultural festivals take place, while the Carnival festival revives the traditional Thracian culture, forty days before Easter.

For further information about our excursion suggestions please call us on the telephone numbers +32555024310 or +32555022211 or contact us by e-mail at [email protected]