Families of Old Xanthi
This route is about 2 km, lasting about 60 minutes and of moderate difficulty. In it you will meet the families of old Xanthi, who in various ways contributed to the history of Xanthi, but also to the form that the old town has today. Touring the residences of old families of Xanthi, rather unknown aspects of their family stories will unfold and important personalities of the city will be pulled out of oblivion.

Some of the most important families of the Greek Orthodox community are: Chasirtzoglou, Stalios, Sigalas, Valixoglou, Michaloglou, Metaxas, Leontaridis, Blatsios, Angelos, Alexiou, Kalevras, Kougioumtzoglou, Kaloudis, Adamides, Christidis, Karadimoglou, Alatas. Also important were the families of Ottoman commanders, such as Hamdi Bey, Muzaffer Bey, Hilmi Pasha and Memet Pasha, as well as the Jewish families of Aaron Moses and the Cohens.

Through this route, the population composition of the city will be revealed, the religions combination that existed and exists until today, the economic and social stratification in direct correlation with the type and form of residence and the type of professions developed. Many names, marking streets in old Xanthi, will come alive and will be understood through this route.

01. Mansion of M. Chasirtzoglou

Brief documentation:

The building was built during the 1890s by Menandros Chasirtzoglou (1861-1934), who belonged to one of the oldest and largest families in the city. M. Chasirtzoglou was involved in the tobacco trade and was a senior official of the Ottoman state. He served for many years as a municipal elder, ecclesiastical commissioner, as well as consul of Austria-Hungary in Xanthi. The consulate of Austria-Hungary (one of 4 that existed in the old Xanthi) was housed in his residence.

It is a majestic, two-storey residence, which draws influences from the architectural standards of eclecticism. The building combines particularly harmoniously the stonework of local gray granite with wooden masonry. The arched entrance of the mansion and the window frames are also made of granite, while the ground floor windows, and the lintel of the main entrance are covered with elaborate ironwork.

On the back side of the building there is a large courtyard. At a later stage, the buildings next to the mansion were built, which were used as auxiliary spaces. Inside the building there is a bath (hammam).


Category of thematic interest:  ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST


History:

The building was built during the 1890s by Menandros Chasirtzoglou (1861-1934), who belonged to one of the oldest and largest families in the city. He was involved in the tobacco trade and was a senior official of the Ottoman state. He served for many years as a municipal elder, ecclesiastical commissioner, as well as consul of Austria-Hungary in Xanthi. The consulate of Austria-Hungary was housed in his residence. In 1983 the descendants of the family sold the house to Dr. T. Asimidis. In 1993 the building was purchased by the Municipality of Xanthi. In the following years, various municipal services were housed there, such as the Municipal Development Company of Xanthi (DEAX), the Cultural Center and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality.


Elements of architecture:

It is a majestic, two-storey residence, which draws influences from the architectural standards of eclecticism. The building combines particularly harmoniously the stonework of local granite with wooden masonry. The arched entrance of the mansion and the window frames are also made of granite, while the ground floor windows and the lintel of the main entrance is covered with elaborate ironwork. On the back side of the building there is a large courtyard.


Description of other elements:

At a later stage, the buildings next to the mansion were built, which were used as auxiliary spaces. Inside the building there is a bath (hammam).


Purpose - Use: Residence


Characterization: Preservable, Institution of the Ministry of Education, Category "B", Decision 5385, Government Gazette 1097/D/1995


Dating (period): 1890s


Year of construction: 1890s


Monument location: 41.14526334614395, 24.887548416740803


Bibliographic references:

•    Dimitris Mavridis, Houses of Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou – DEAX, Xanthi 2009

•    Dimitris Mavridis, Angelophylaktos Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou, Xanthi 2007


 Address: Matsini 8


Visitable: No

 

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