Chech (Bulgarian: Чеч) or Chechko (Bulgarian: Чечко) is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe in our days Bulgaria and Greece. Most of its population inhabits about 60 villages and is almost completely Pomak.^[1]

The Chech region is situated in the much larger region of Macedonia and covers the western Rhodope Mountains and the northern slopes of Falakro with most of its territory in our days Greece. It is divided in two: Drama Chech and Nevrokopi Chech. The first one and partially the second one is in Greece.^[1]

According to Vasil Kanchov the eastern border of Chech is the Dospat River and the western one is the river of Dabnitsa.^[2] Thus the Chech comprises the municipalities: Satovcha, Dospat and the villages in the valleys of the Dospat River and Bistritsa river. Then all villages in the Bulgarian Chech are populated by pomaks except the villages of Satovcha and Dolen which are partially inhabited by Bulgarian Christians. The villages in the Greek Chech are organized in the Kato Nevrokopi municipality and in the Sidironero community. The Pomaki population of the Greek Chech was expelled into Turkey, Western Thrace and Bulgaria in the 20s and their homes and land were given to Greek refugees from Turkey.^[1]

Contents 1 Settlements of Nevrokopski Chech 1.1 Settlements in Bulgaria 1.2 Settlements in Greece 2 See also 3 Notes

[edit] Settlements of Nevrokopski Chech

The major settlements of the northern part of Chech are enlisted by Vasil Kanchov in two of his works.^[3][4]

[edit] Settlements in Bulgaria

• Satovcha Municipality: Bogolin, Dolen, Fargovo, Godeshevo, Kochan, Kribul, Osina, Pletena, Satovcha, Slashten, Tuhovishta, Vaklinovo, Valkosel, Zhizhevo
• Dospat Municipality: Brashten, Ljubcha and Tsrancha
• Garmen Municipality: Dolno Drianovo, Hvostiane, Krushevo, Oreshe
• Hadzhidimovo Municipality: Ablanitsa, Beslen, Blatska, Teplen

[edit] Settlements in Greece

• Drama municipality: Kastanohoma (Zarnovitsa), Mirsinero (Pepelash)
• Nevrokopi municipality: Agios Petros (Peruh), Agriokerasea (Izbishta), Ahladomilea (Debren), Delta (Vitovo), Diplohori (Dablen), Eklisaki (Manastir), Erimoklisia (Kolyarba), Katahloron (Rakishten), Kremasta (Lozna), Kritaristra (Kashitsa), Lakouda (Gorna Lakavitsa), Mavrohori (Tisovo), Melisomandra (Maloshijtsa), Mesovuni (Siderovo), Milopetra (Mazhdel), Mikroklisura (Dolna Lakavitsa), Mikromilia (Ustitsa), Perasma (Stranen) Pochan, Poliliton (Sarchan, Staredzik), Potami (Borovo), Psihron (Kosten), Shurdilovo, Virsan (Vrashten), Vrahohori (Boren)
• Sidironero community: Dobryadzil, Evrenes (Pulovo), Kainchen, Kalikarpo (Lovchishta), Kesariano (Ruskovo), Klista (Kolyush), Kokino (Barhovo), Limon (Rashovo), Magnisio (Grazhdel), Oropdeio (Vladikovo), Papades (Popovo selo), Plakostrato (Glum), Sidironero, (Osenitsa), Skaloti (Liban), Stavrodromi (Orhovo), Voskotopi (Verdzhenitsa, Drazhenitsa), Vounohori (Pribojna), Vrahotopos (Kalchovo)

Italics indicates not inhabited settlement as of the 2001 census.

[edit] See also

• Veda Slovena

[edit] Notes

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