Description of the attraction
Alexandroupoli is a port city on the northeastern coast of Greece. It is the capital of the Evros (Thrace) nome and is located in close proximity to the borders with Turkey and Bulgaria. Today Alexandroupoli is not only an important commercial and cultural center of the region, but also a fairly popular resort with a well-developed infrastructure.
A favorite vacation spot for locals and guests of the city, undoubtedly, is the picturesque embankment with many excellent restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs. The so-called "Turkish lighthouse" is also located here - the main attraction, as well as the symbol of Alexandroupolis. The lighthouse is a massive cylindrical stone tower with a wide base, and its height is 18 m (the height of the lighthouse above sea level is 27 m). In ideal weather conditions, the lighthouse is visible from a distance of approximately 23-24 nautical miles. After overcoming 98 steps, you can climb to the top of the lighthouse and admire the beautiful panoramic views.
In the second half of the 19th century, Alexandroupoli, which was then called Dedeagach and was just a small fishing village, began to develop rapidly. After the start of the construction of the port, and also taking into account the relative proximity of the rather narrow strait of the Dardanelles, it became obvious that a lighthouse should be built in Alexandroupoli. The work was supervised by a French company specializing in similar projects. It is not known exactly how long the construction took, but on June 1, 1880, the lighthouse was put into operation. Initially, the lighthouse ran on acetylene, and later began to use petroleum. Since 1974, the lighthouse has been powered by electricity. In 2002, a complete replacement of electrical equipment was made with a new one that meets modern standards.
