Üsküp, Kırklareli


Üsküp is a belde in Kırklareli Province, Turkey

Geography

Üsküp is in the central district of the province. It is situated to the east of Kırklaeli at a distance of.The population of Üsküp is 2315 as of 2011.

History

Üsküp is an old settlement and the name of the town may refer to Scythians, but more likely is a Turkish bastardization of the Greek word "Skopos." In 1368, during the reign of Murat I the settlement was annexed to Ottoman Empire. Turkish traveller Evliya Çelebi in the 17th century describes Üsküp as a relatively populated place famous for wine production. Probably most of the population was composed of Ethnic Greeks. But after the Turkish War of Independence according to the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey agreement The Greeks were replaced by the Turks from Greece. The same year the settlement was declared a seat of township. Many of the Greek residents transferred to Greece founded the village of Neos Skopos near Serres, Greece.

Economy

The town is still known for vineyards and wine production. The best Papaskarasi grapes are produced here. The decomposed granite soils in Üsküp gives different aromas to grapes here. Other crops are vegetables and fruits. There are also some small factories around the town.