Ottoman Footprints
Marmara Region Bursa

Bursa has been hosting the architectural and spatial features of the Byzantian, Ottoman and Republic periods untill today, has a cultural and historical background that is diffucult to encounter elsewhere.

The fifth largest city in Turkey, Bursa, is situated in the Southern Marmara region. As it became the first capital of the Ottoman Empire after being captured from the Byzantines in 1326, it is one of the places where Ottoman influence is predominant. Famous for the natural beauty of its green environs and its healing waters, Bursa is a great centre for tourism, winter and summer alike. Moreover, it has a rare cultural and historical heritage to be seen today in the architecture and spatial dimensions constructed during the Byzantine, Ottoman and Republican eras.

Bursa has 27 archaeological as well as 1 natural and 3 civic sites under protection, as well as 2042 monuments similarly preserved, and is also known as Green Bursa on account of its green surroundings, natural springs and health spas. Although nothing remains from former Roman and Byzantine times, Bursa developed greatly, by comparison with other cities, during the first two centuries of Ottoman rule and the many architectural gems which adorn it today, together with the theological schools, famous in their day, make it a centre for academic study.

The city is built on the slopes of Uludağ (Mount Olympus) and is known to have been one of the first places to be used as a retreat by Christian monks. Today İznik, which is a township of Bursa, is accepted as one of the most.

Important historical centres of Christianity after Jerusalem and the Vatican. The Bithynian Olympus of historical times, known to the Ottomans as Keşiş Mountain and today as Uludağ, has become the main centre for winter sports in Turkey on account of its geomorphology, its natural flora and general suitability for all winter sports.

Uludağ is 2534 metres above sea-level, and with accommodation for 7500 visitors occupies an important place in the field of winter tourism in Turkey. Among its high peaks Zirvetepe, Kuşaklıkaya and Şahinkaya may be cited. The lakes of Kilimligöl, Karagöl and Aynalıgöl are situated among glacial rocks at a height of about 2000 metres.

The various changes in vegetation according to the climatic differences from the base slopes to the highest peaks testifies to the richness of the biological dimension of the mountain. At the same time it is one of the few places where the rare Apollo butterfly can be found. Its flora includes more than a hundred varieties of plant, including about 30 which are only to be found in this area. So, as well as being a centre for winter sports, this speciality is a reason why Uludağ is also an important centre for plant-lovers and and botanists. Every year the skiing season which lasts from November to March when snow is plentiful, gives place to a festival of flowers from April to August.13 ski-lifts and 15 pistes which can be flattened by snow track are to be found on Uludağ. It is also possible to ski where one pleases in the wide area surrounding these. In summer trekking, outdoor sports and camping take place İn the attractive areas around Kirazlı Yayla (summer pastures) and Sarı Alan.

The largest lake in the Marmara region is the lake at İznik. Possessing the cleanest waters in the area, İznik ( Nicea) is an ideal place for water sports, rod-fishing, trekking and camping, as well as being a place where traces of the first Christians are to be found. As well as preserving remains from Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman times, İznik also shows signs of inhabitation from the Pre-historic and Archaic eras.

On display in the İznik Museum are around 2000 objects discovered during archeological excavations, as well as 300 coins, 500 pieces of İznik pottery and ceramics, and 150 ethnographic items. As one goes towards the southern shores of the Marmara, the eye is struck by wonderful views of the sea. Along the coast are to be found the towns of Yalova, Mudanya, Bandırma, Erdek, Gönen, Kyzikos, and the island of Marmara, while inland there is the Bird Sanctuary of Lake Manyas. All of these offer attractive holiday alternatives in the way of fresh air full of oxygen, a wonderful climate and clean sea. With its mild climate, the extensive coastline of the peninsula of Erdek, stretching out into the Sea of Marmara, and the forests of Kapıdağ, where bicycling paths and walking trails can be found, offers a pleasant holiday to walkers and cyclists. 9 kilometres from Erdek can be found the former Kyzikos, known today as Balkız. Remains from the ancient theatre and ruins there are on display in various museums.

The largest of the islands in the Sea of Marmara is Marmara Island which is especially full of activity in the summer months. This provides an agreeable alternative with its sea, natural surroundings, historic remains and island tours. Half of the island is covered with forest and the villages of Aba, Kole, Manastır and Mestanda are particularly attractive. Mudanya, where the olive trees embrace the blue of the sea, is situated at the foot of the Mudanya mountains. Mudanya is a place where one can find excellent examples of traditional houses. Mudanya preserves its traditional town structure which shows Byzantine influence. A Byzantine church and one dedicated to Takyari as well as its traditional stone houses and historical atmosphere make Mudanya an attractive place to visit. The area is also an important centre for tourism on account of the thermal baths at Gönen and the Thermal Spa at Yalova. Bursa, which has preserved its spatial features and special architectural beauty to this day, possesses a cultural and historical heritage which is hard to match.