The Pazarkule-Kastanies Border Crossing between Turkey and Greece is an alternative to the much busier crossing at Kapikule further north. This is the only area of the Greek – Turkish border where Turkey is further west than the river Maritsa which for the most part forms the border between Bulgaria and Greece and then Greece and Turkey. This border is a major route for migration and there have been many clashes with Greek police preventing entry.
This is a fortified border, and whilst the on the Greek side the attitude towards photography was relaxed, on the Turkish side it was prohibited. An added point of interest was a disused railway bridge that crossed the border. Unfortunately on both sides there was military zone and it was not possible to get close.
During my road trip through the Balkans I took the opportunity both to cross a new border between 2 countries for me and to visit Erdine a major Turkish city very close to this crossing. As with all the best laid plans I know I could not drive my EU registered hire car into Turkey but all the information on the internet was that it was possible to walk across this border. That however was NOT the case (told on both sides) the option however suggested by Greek border control was to hitch across. Easier on from Bulgaria where the first car said yes and took me into the centre of Erdine. On the return trip the next day I took a taxi to the Turkish control point at Pazarkule and had to ask a few cars before a couple of Greek guys allowed me to share their car. Speaking German here was a definite plus. There are a couple of car parks close to the Greek border post to leave a car.
Greek Border Control
The Border
Travelling in a car meant it was not easy to get clear photos of the border, I was pleased with the shot of the border marker below. The barbed wire indicates the measures put in place to prevent migration. Immediately by the border is a Greek military base.
Turkish Border Control
From Turkey into Greece
Although photography was not allowed, this was a fascinating place to observe whilst I waited for someone to let me go with them across the border. In the morning the queues were long with it taking over an hour to get through. The Turkish border facilities were in the process of being completely rebuilt in August 2022 with modern buildings and better access roads and facilities.
From Greece into Turkey
Disused Railway Bridge
A close distance from the road crossing is a railway bridge across the river Maraş which is the border between Greece and Turkey. I would very much liked to have got close, and perhaps could have if I had walked along the river bank, however the whole area on both sides was a military zone, with signs and soldiers. In this instance I decided not to risk any local difficulty.
Date of Visit : 2/3 August 2022
Barry's Borderpoints 