TURKEY BURSA - NATURAL BEAUTIES AND CULTURAL VALUES

NATURAL BEAUTIES AND CULTURAL VALUES

PLANE TREES

The centuries old giant plane trees have a special place in the eye catching natural beauty of Bursa. The most important ones, attracting many domestic and foreign visitors every year, are the Koguk Cinar, which has a circumference of 18.20 metres and is believed to be 700 years old, and the Inkaya Cinar , which has a circumference of 9.45 metres and is 600 years old. During the reign Ottoman Sultans the salaries ( ulufe) of the  janissaries were distributed under the shade of the Koguk Cinar, so it used to be called Ulufel Cinar. With their magnificence they are living witness of Ottoman history.

CUMALIKIZIK: A LIVING OTTOMAN VILLAGE

There are seven kizik villages, which have unique culture and historic architecture, set among the fantastic natural landscape of the lower northern slopes of Uludag ( Mount Olympus) at a 15-20 minute drive away from the centre of Bursa. The term kizik refers to the narrow valleys in which the villages are confined. The most attractive of them is Cumalikizik Village.

 It is an Ottoman foundation village which is 700 years old. In the village you can find some of the best examples of Ottoman civic architecture.  With its narrow, irregular streets where the two and three storey house is huddled together, the village is like an open air museum.

The streets – in some places it is too narrow for 2 people to pass each other –are cobbled it flagstones and there is shallow gully along the centre of the street to carry water away. The ground floors of the houses are rubble stone masonry embedded with timber beams. While modern comforts do already have a foothold in the village, local customs and traditions still survive.

KULTUR PARK

The park, situated to the north of Cekirge Street and to the north west of the Bursa Ataturk Stadium has the largest green area within the city. In the park there are several places for refreshments such as restaurants , tea gardens and picnic areas as well as an artificial lake, archaeological museum, amusement park, open air theatre and a conservatory.

 KUREKLIDERE WATERFALLS

The waterfalls are situated near the Hamamlikizik Village, within the forest and have 4 cascades falling from a height of 80 metres. There is a nature trail along the Kureklidere stream as well as a trout farm which also has a restaurant.

ULUDAG NATIONAL PARK AND SKI CENTRE

ULUDAG ( Mount Olympus) is 36 kilometres south of Bursa in the North Anatolian mountain range and with its 2543 metre heigh it is the tallest mountain in the region. Uludag is one of the most important winter sports centres in Turkey with skiing taking place for four months of the year.

The centre provides facilities for Alpine and Nordic disciplines as well as ski touring and heli-skiing and because of its proximity to the main Turkish cities, its good transport infrastructure and superb accommodation; it is a popular holiday choice.

With its natural beuty , rich fauna  and flora protected by National Park status, Uludag also has several designated trekking routes and camping facilities, which make the centre useable throughout the year.

SOGANLI BOTANICAL GARDENS

Soganli Botanical Gardens have brought the rich flora of the Bursa region into a parkland setting, whereby visitors may enjoy hundreds of trees, shrub and flowers. The park is used for scientific studies as well as plant observation and the nature trail is used for fitness training and leisure activities.

HIGH PLTEAUS

The high plateaus of Burs with their greenery and pristine air are the principal places for eco-tourism in Bursa. Mountaineers, nature lovers, bird watches, trekkers, mountain bikers and grass skiing enthusiasts will ind excellent facilities in the high plateus such as Sarilan Yayalasi, Kirazli Yayla, Cobankaya Yaylasi and Passa Cayiri.