Discover Thrace and Macedonia: Lecture on unknown beauties!

Discover Thrace and Macedonia: Lecture on unknown beauties!

On November 8th at 7:30 p.m. the well-known speaker Lothar Hoppen will give an exciting insight into the less explored parts of Greece, especially Thrace and Macedonia, at the Treff am See in Böblingen. The lecture, organized by the German-Greek Society Böblingen/Sindelfingen e.V., promises to take viewers on a digital journey through this culturally rich region.

The presentation will cover a variety of topics including the fascinating wildlife and agriculture of Thrace and Macedonia. Particularly highlighted are the silkworms in Souflí, water buffalo at Lake Vistonida and the old olive grove at Makri. Visits to fire walkers and the traditional Muslim Pomak villages are also discussed. This region is considered one of the oldest cultural landscapes in the Balkans.

The historical significance of the Via Egnatia

Central to the history of Macedonia and Thrace is the Via Egnatia, an ancient Roman military and trade route. This 1,120 kilometer route was founded in the 2nd century BC. Built in the 1st century BC and connected important Roman colonies from the Adriatic to the Bosporus. The road began in Dyrrachium (today Durrës) and led over the Genusus River to Thessaloniki and on to Byzantium, today's Istanbul. It was never just a transport route, but also an economic, cultural and military hub in the Roman and later Byzantine times.

The Via Egnatia was about six meters wide and paved with large polygonal stone slabs or covered with a layer of sand. Historical sources, such as Strabo's Geographica, provide valuable information about the construction and use of the road. Important figures such as the Apostle Paul used the Via Egnatia on his missionary journeys, while Julius Caesar and Pompey also marched along this route during the Civil War.

Visitor Information

Admission to this informative evening is 6 euros, for members of the organizing society it is only 2 euros. The event takes place on the fourth floor of Treff am See, Poststraße 38.

Today, interest in the region is enjoying a renaissance, with new stories and discoveries coming to light every day. Lothar Hoppen's lecture offers a valuable opportunity to experience and explore still unknown facets of the ancient cultural landscapes of Thrace and Macedonia. At a time when travel is limited, discovering such cultural treasures remains highly important to deepen our understanding of history and the present.