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European and Byzantine art in 19th century Xanthi
The route is about 1 km long, lasts about 60 minutes and is of moderate difficulty. In it, the visitor with artistic interests and quests will have the opportunity to get acquainted with European and Byzantine art, as expressed in buildings of old Xanthi in the 19th century.

Starting from the Michaloglou Mansions in the district of Agios Vlasios and ending at the church of Pammegistoi Taxiarchs, one will visit the churches of old Xanthi, representative samples of the post-Byzantine period, while in the buildings of secular architecture one will admire ceiling paintings and frescoes, of the so-called Belle Époque (1871-1914).

In the old churches it is worth observing the portable icons that carry strong western iconographic influences, which are mixed with traditional Byzantine standards and follow theological concepts after the conquest. They are created either by workshops active in Thrace or northern Greece (e.g. the workshop of Ainos), or by the Mount Athos workshop (e.g. the painters Nikiforos and his student Ioasaf), or by individual painters (e.g. Nikolaos from Hasköy in Constantinople, Thassios M. Evangelidis, Patrinos Takis Prionas).

It is also worth noting the crucifix in the Church of Agios Georgios, a work of Fotis Kontoglou (1959), the embroidered icon of Archangel Michael in the Church of the Taxiarchs, the marble relief candlestand in the Church of Agios Vlasios.

On the other hand, in the rich neoclassical residences one can see works of Bavarian or German painters, such as the frescoes in the Houses of Kougioumtzoglou, Stavropoulos and Michaloglou or the goddesses from the twelve Gods, which adorn the staircase of the Metaxas House. Of interest are the ceiling paintings with decorative and floral motifs in the Daniel Mansion and the Moses Mansion, while a unique example of neoclassical sculpture in the city is the statue in the courtyard of the Church of Agios Georgios.

17. Kougioumtzoglou Mansion – Folklore and Historical Museum of F.E.X.

Brief documentation:

The original owner of this double building was the wealthy tobacco merchant Vasilios Kougioumtzoglou. He built it around 1870 for his two sons, Pantelis and Dimitrios, so it consists of two identical sections. The right part of the building was donated in 1971 by Anna Kougioumtzoglou-Kaloudi, daughter of Pantelis Kougioumtzoglou, to the Municipality of Xanthi. The left part was bought by the Progressive Union of Xanthi (F.E.X.) from the descendants of Dimitrios Kougioumtzoglou. Since 1974 it has housed the Folklore Museum of F.E.X.
It is a large two-storey building with a semi-basement, which is distinguished for its absolute symmetry in appearance. It follows eclecticism, i.e. the architecture that dominated Central Europe at that time. Its main features are the many openings and the exterior decoration of the main façade, which is made with solid red bricks, but also with the local stone of Mandra. The openings on the ground floor end in triangular pediments, while the corresponding ones on the first floor in semicircular arches. The gabled roofs of the building form triangular pediments, in the middle of which hexagonal skylights open.
The typical cast ironwork, made in local workshops of the time, protect the windows on the elevated ground floor, create the balconies of the first floor and protect the small garden in front of the building. The rich interior decoration, different in each room, includes frescoes of the 1880s, works of Bavarian artists with landscapes, floral decoration and female allegorical figures.
In the courtyard of the building there are two small individual hammams, namely the men's and women's bath of the house.
The building, after its maintenance, houses, until today, the Folklore and Historical Museum of Xanthi. It contains rich exhibits from life in a city mansion as well as artifacts and tools from the rural economy of the area and the life of the working class.

Category of thematic interest:  ARCHITECTURAL/HISTORICAL/CULTURAL/FOLKLORE INTEREST

History:

The original owner of this double building was the wealthy tobacco merchant Vasilios Kougioumtzoglou. He built it around 1870 for his two sons, Pantelis and Dimitrios, so it consists of two identical sections. The right part of the building was donated in 1971 by Anna Kougioumtzoglou-Kaloudi, daughter of Pantelis Kougioumtzoglou, to the House of Letters and Fine Arts of the Municipality of Xanthi. The left part was bought by the Progressive Union of Xanthi (F.E.X.) from the descendants of Dimitrios Kougioumtzoglou. Since 1974 it has housed the Folklore Museum of F.E.X. The building was restored in 2000.

Elements of architecture:

It is a large two-storey and twin building (built in a row) with a semi-basement, a representative sample of a residence of the late Ottoman period in Xanthi. This twin building is distinguished for its absolute symmetry in appearance and for the eclecticism, i.e. the architecture that dominated Central Europe at that time. Its main features are the many openings and the exterior decoration of the main façade.
All this decoration is done with solid red bricks, but also with the easy-to-work, local stone, the sandstone of Mandra. The openings on the ground floor end in triangular pediments, while the corresponding ones on the first floor in semicircular arches. The reverse is done at the doors on the ground floor and on the first floor. The gabled roofs of the twin building form triangular pediments, in the middle of which hexagonal skylights are opened, which serve to illuminate and ventilate the attic.
The typical cast ironworks, made in local workshops of the time, protect the windows on the elevated ground floor and create the balconies of the first floor. In front of the building, a small garden is created, which is also protected by cast iron rail.

Description of other elements:

It is a very large and unique building. The rich interior decoration, different in each room, includes frescoes of the 1880s, works of Bavarian artists with landscapes, floral decoration and female allegorical figures.
In the courtyard of the building there are two independent, small, one-roomed, vaulted rooms that function as two small individual hammams, namely the male and female bathroom of the house. The building, after its maintenance, houses, until today, the Folklore and Historical Museum of Xanthi. It contains rich exhibits from life in a city mansion as well as artifacts and tools from the rural economy of the area and the life of the working class.

Purpose - Use: Residence, Cultural space

Characterization: Preserved, Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/11/63051, Government Gazette 73/86

Dating (period): Last quarter of the 19th century

Year of construction: Around 1870

Monument location: 41.14355, 24.88776

Bibliographic references:

•    Katsari-Vafiadis, J. Ed. 2023. "History and recording of the neoclassical buildings of the traditional settlement". Xanthi: Municipality of Xanthi, p. 42

 Address: Antikas 7

Visitable: Yes

Construction Manager: Probably a Russian architect

 

25. Moses Mansion 25. Moses Mansion
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