Neoclassical and eclectic buildings of Old Xanthi
This route is about 3 km, about 80 minutes and of moderate difficulty. It starts from Antikas Square and ends at the border of the old town with the modern city to the west. Through this route, the visitor has the opportunity to get to know the practice of neoclassicism and eclecticism, as expressed in about 50 buildings of old Xanthi.

Neoclassicism appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries and is strongly influenced by the principles governing the architecture of classical antiquity. The buildings are distinguished for the simplicity of their geometric forms, the Doric detail, the simplicity, the absolute symmetry, the dividing lines of the vertical spreads and the pilasters with false capitals at the corners.

Eclecticism, on the other hand, is the architectural style of the 19th and 20th centuries, in which a variety of elements from various eras and styles are selected and used, in a single building. The eclectic buildings in Xanthi are influenced by neoclassicism (e.g. absolute symmetry, verticality), while individual elements are influenced by Art Deco (e.g. strong decorative mood), central Europe (e.g. turret roof configuration or turret development), English Baroque (e.g. the use of red brick) and Romanesque style (e.g. arched openings and curved arches).

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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