Edirne

Edirne (pop. 86,900), formerly Adrianople, ancient city in northwest Turkey near the Greek and Bulgarian borders where the Maritsa, Arda, and Tunca rivers converge. It is a regional trade and agricultural center producing peynir (white cheese), cotton, and grains. The architect Sinan built its Selimiye Mosque in the 1500s. Originally called Uskudama, it was renamed Hadri-anopolis (c.A.D. 125) by the Roman emperor Hadrian, became the Ottoman Empire capital (1413–58), and was occupied by Russians, Bulgarians, and Greeks before being restored to Turkey (1922).

See also: Turkey.