Kastamonu, Harmony of Stone and Wood

Black Sea Region

Located in the Black Sea Region, Sinop is a city bordering on Çorum, Çankırı, Karabük, and Bartın. Kastamonu, an old settlement, BC. It became the homeland of Gaslar in the 18th century. Later, Hittites, Phrygians, Cimmerians, Lydians, Persians, Patnos, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations are one of our provinces with a lot of historical and cultural richness.

Nasullah Kadı Complex

We start touring the city from Nasullah Kadı Complex in the city center. The construction of the complex is dated to 1506. Kastamonu ‘this structure is between the symbols Kastamonu governor built by Lord Nasrullah. The fountain at the entrance of the mosque and the Münire (Bayraklı) and Tevfikiye madrasas were later added and expanded. The Münire Madrasa has now been transformed into a bazaar where touristic local products are sold.

You can buy many products of Kastamonu handicrafts from the small shops here. The pulpit of Nasrullah Mosque offers the best examples of woodwork unique to Kastamonu. The woodwork in the pulpit and the root painted ornaments and calligraphy on the wall are worth seeing. If you drink water from the mosque’s fountain, you are guaranteed to come to Kastamonu again and again. There is such a belief. We also drink water from the fountain in order to come back to this city, which smells of history. M. Akif Ersoy stayed here for about 2 months during the War of Independence. He gave his sermons to encourage the people to participate in the War of Independence. KastamonuOur city is one of the provinces that gave the most martyrs in the War of Independence. In particular, the district of Araç is in the first place on the basis of the districts that gave the most martyrs in the First World War compared to the population.

In Kastamonu, there are many complexes, mosques, tombs, bridges, inns, and baths belonging to the Seljuk, Candaroğlu, and Ottoman periods. For this reason, it is the center of attraction of local and foreign tourists in terms of faith tourism. Apart from Nasullah Kadı Complex, Yılanlı Complex, İsmailbey Complex (Lower Imaret), Şeyh Şaban-ı Veli Complex, Yakup Ağa Mosque (Yukarı İmaret) and Atabey Mosque, Hepkebirler Mosque, İsfendiyarbey Mosque, Ferhatpaşa Mosque, many tombs, martyrdoms and monuments.

Leaving the Nasullah Kadı Complex, we come to Cumhuriyet Square bypassing the bridge that was built by Nasullah Kadı, which provides the passage between Nasullah Kadı Square and Kuyudibi. This bridge belongs to the 15th century on the Karaçomak stream and is one of the symbols of Kastamonu.

Cumhuriyet Square, a large square surrounded by historical buildings, just opposite the Governorship Building welcomes you with all its glory. Şerife Bacı and Atatürk Monument in the middle of the square are the most important symbols of Kastamonu. We sit in the park around this beautiful monument erected in memory of Şerife Bacı, our heroic soldiers and great leader M. Kemal Atatürk, the heroic Turkish woman Şerife Bacı, who froze to death while carrying bullets to the front during the War of Independence and observe the surrounding historical buildings and the clock tower.

I should also mention the historical Kastamonu Abdurrahman Paşa High School in a corner of the Park. It bears the high school PREVIEW be Turkey’s first high school. Most of the people who graduated from here have reached very important positions.

19th century. with the end of the 20th century. The historical Kastamonu houses built at the beginning of the city ​​add distinct beauty to the city and witness the cultural heritage. Kastamonu houses consist of rooms opening to the hall, designed in accordance with the form of a large family where 3 generations can live together. Solar is a commonplace shared by all family members. The rooms opening to the halls are a separate section for each family. There are closets and bathrooms inside the rooms. The basic part of the houses is stone, the upper part is wooden, and the ground part is used as a barn and woodshed. There are 358 traditional Turkish houses taken under protection in the center of Kastamonu.

Then we come to the clock tower on a hill that dominates the city behind the Governor’s Office. This clock tower, dating to 1885, was built entirely of cut stone by Abdurrahman Pasha. We drink our tea from the tower and watch the city.

The Archeology Museum in the city center is worth seeing. The archaeological artifacts belonging to the Hittite, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman principalities and the items Atatürk used when he came to Kastamonu are exhibited. When M. Kemal Atatürk came to Kastamonu in 1925, he made his speech about the Hat and Dress Revolution.

Livapaşa Mansion

Livapaşa Mansion (Ethnography Museum), also located in the city center, is one of the places worth seeing. Built in the 1870s, this mansion is one of the examples of civil architecture that reflects the cultural characteristics of the period. The building has 2 entrances as haremlik and selamlik. On the upper floor of the mansion, there are sections such as the headroom, the bride’s room, and the guest room. Here, the lifestyle of the period is animated by mummy sculptures. Kastamonu handicrafts (weapons, clothes, coppersmiths, saddlery) are exhibited on the middle floor.

Do not come back to Kastamonu and eat “well kebab”, but this kebab cooked with lamb should be eaten in the season of lamb. Do not go back without eating meat bread, dipping, halukça and also the famous shrinking halva, buying garlic from Taşköprü, and buying table cloth from local stone-printed Kastamonu woven fabrics and needle lace.

We come to Kastamonu Castle, located on the hill in the southwest of the city. A large part of the castle has been destroyed. The basic part of the inner castle is Byzantine, and the upper part is from the Candaroğulları period. Watching and photographing the city from the castle from a bird’s eye view gives us a different pleasure.

There are rock tombs from the Ancient Age on the hill where the castle is located. These tombs, carved on a natural rock block at a height of 8 meters from the ground, were built by Paphlagonians in the early 7th century BC. The tomb has three separate entrances. There are three separate burial chambers inside. There are eight rock tombs in this area. There are a goddess and two sphinxes at the main entrance of the Rock Tombs.

Highland tourism is developing in Kastamonu. The vehicle is a very good address for those interested in Daday, Azdavay, Küre, and Tosya nature tourism.

Ilgaz National Park

Ilgaz National Park is also suitable for tourism in 4 seasons due to its natural beauties. It is a very good address for both nature tourism and ski tourism in winter. Tourism investments are increasing here every day. The snow thickness between 40 cm and 1.5 m in winter and the ski slopes are also attractive for skiers. You can go daily from the city center. There are facilities for staying on the mountain.

Ilgaz National Park on the Küre Mountains covers an area of ​​37 thousand hectares. The canyon, waterfalls, and caves in the park and the natural and virgin forests of international importance attract you with their wildlife. It offers a fascinating beauty with the rich colors of nature, especially in the autumn months. The color riot of green, yellow, red, and earth tones creates a magnificent view. The riot of colors found here in the autumn months is very rare in the world. The Valla, Çatak, Aydos canyons, and Ilıca Waterfalls in the region should definitely be seen. Kastamonu ‘also found in the city’s most beautiful spot to stayKastamonu hotelsWhy Golkoy Yasam Resort and Kastamonu Kadıoğlu Konak good options.