Λαογραφικό και Ιστορικό Μουσείο Ξάνθης
The museum of the Philoprodi Union of Xanthi in the two-storey Kougioumtzoglou Mansion of 1860, with collections on the history and folklore of the city.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In 1955 the Philoprodi Union of Xanthi (FEX) founded within its ranks a Folklore Office, to rescue the intangible cultural heritage of the city. After an appeal by the then head of the office, Katina Veikou-Seramet, personal testimonies, documents, publications and objects were gathered, and in 1975 the Historical and Folklore Museum of Xanthi was founded. Today the material exceeds 10,000 items of evidence, and the Office operates as the research centre of the museum.
Since 1975 the museum has been housed in the Kougioumtzoglou Mansion, in the centre of the old town, a few metres below Metropolis Square. The building was constructed in 1860 as a rare example of a double house with two independent entrances, two floors and a semi-basement, while in the back courtyard there are two small hammams with small domes. In 1968 Evangelia Varda-Anagnostopoulou bequeathed one of the houses to the Centre of Letters and Fine Arts of the Municipality of Xanthi to become a museum, and in 1976 FEX bought the second. The wall paintings, ceiling paintings and carved wooden ceilings make it the most richly decorated, fully restored building in Northern Greece.
The visit begins with a reference to the recent history of the city and continues with exhibitions such as “Xanthi 1860–1940”, “Kathmernes kai skoles” (“Everyday and Holidays”) on the farming and livestock life of Thrace, and “Entrepreneurship in Xanthi at the beginning of the 20th century”. The permanent collection includes everyday objects, books, documents and photographs, costumes and embroideries, jewellery and works of art.
Highlights
- Kougioumtzoglou Mansion of 1860 with wall paintings and carved wooden ceilings
- Exhibition “Xanthi 1860–1940”
- Exhibition “Everyday and Holidays” on farming and livestock life
- Costumes, embroideries and jewellery from the late 19th century
- Digital Archive of Xanthi with more than 4,000 entries
- Virtual tour on the website
Permanent exhibition
- Μόνιμη συλλογή και εκθέσεις: η ιστορία και η λαογραφία της Ξάνθης – Exhibitions on Xanthi from 1860 to 1940, on farming and livestock life in Thrace and on entrepreneurship at the start of the 20th century, with costumes, documents and everyday objects.
- Founded
- 1975
- Operated by
- Φιλοπρόοδη Ένωση Ξάνθης (ΦΕΞ)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Students, people with disabilities, large families and unemployed people. |
| Children & teens | €2Pupil ticket €2. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3 |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Educational programmes for school groups and children.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum has a shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Educational programmes for schools are offered, such as “The Buildings Tell…”, “If I Were a Museum…”, a visit to the museum and “A Night in the Museum”. |
