Evzonoi

Evzonoi (Greek: Εύζωνοι, pronounced [ˈevzoni], before 1927: Ματσίκοβο - Matsikovo,^[2] Greek pronunciation: [maˈt͡sikovo], Macedonian: Мачуково, Bulgarian: Мачуково, Machukovo^[3]) is a town in Kilkis regional unit in Central Macedonia, Greece. The main border crossing between Greece and North Macedonia is located here. The village across the border from Evzonoi is Bogorodica, in Gevgelija municipality. The Greek A1 motorway from Athens, which is part of the European route E75, ends here.

Evzonoi Εύζωνοι
Community
Pre-Schengen Greek border checkpoint exit stamp from Evzonoi
Evzonoi
Coordinates: 41°6′N 22°33′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Central Macedonia
Regional unit	Kilkis
Municipality	Paionia
Municipal unit	Polykastro
Population  (2021)[1]
• Community	765
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

Between 13 and 14 September 1916, during the Salonika Campaign, the King's Liverpool Regiment and Lancashire Fusiliers stormed and took the village which was held by German forces. But the village was too exposed to the enemy's artillery fire, and the British were forced to retreat.^[4]

The area has been affected by the Syrian refugee crisis — at nearby Idomeni, where a railway line makes the border crossing, a refugee transit camp for refugees was set up in 2015. Upon the closure of the border, a large population began to build up, some of whom lived in tents at Evzoni's petrol station.^[5]

The border crossing to North Macedonia

References

1. "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
2. Name changes of settlements in Greece
3. Кънчов, Васил. „Македония. Етнография и статистика“. София, 1900, стр. 151.
4. Living in the Birdcage, Salonika 1916
5. "UNHCR Tracks: A Refugee Triathlon". Retrieved 2017-08-24.