Area: 13.652 km²

 

Population: 641.057 (1990)

 

Traffic Code: 26

 

Eskişehir was founded in 1000 BC by Frigs at the banks of the Porsuk River. The city is located at a major crossroad of Turkey. World wide famous historical personalities like Yunus Emre and Nasrettin Hoca (Hodja) was from Eskişehir. Eskişehir is also famous by meerschaum craftsmanship and hot spring waters which cures various diseases.

 

Besides the cultural riches, Eskişehir is planning to become a tourism attraction center with its natural riches, food varieties and shopping possibilities.

 

Districts : Alpu, Beylikova, Çifteler, Günyüzü, Han, İnönü, Mahmudiye, Mihalgazi, Mihalıççık, Seyitgazi and Sivrihisar.

 

 

Highway The bus station is approximately 2 kilometers away from the city center. Reaching the bus station is possible via all public buses from every quarter of the city. The special services of bus companies are also available. Coach Station Tel: (+90-222) 227 88 00 - 227 88 01

 

Railway Reaching Eskişehir via railroad is possible. Railway Station Tel:: (+90-222) 225 55 55

 

 

 

Frig Valley The ancient city is in the borders of Yazılıkaya Village of Han district which is 90 km. away from Eskişehir. At the executed excavations, foundations and structure ruins proving the existence of three different periods of Frig Kingdom, Lydia Kingdom and Persian Empire were discovered. On the other hand, the findings related to the existence of a city over an acropolis around the Midas Monument were determined.

 

The Midas (Yazılıkaya) (Written rock) It was founded on a rocky platform and mankind settled to this area in the Early Bronze Age and was the religious center of Phrygian civilization. The remnants of embossed designs on rocks produced by the Hittite culture with their own styles was observed in the ancient city. Yazılıkaya had developed as a city of Phrygian civilization after the Hittites, and 33 ruins related to the Phrygian culture like city walls, settlement areas, embossed designs on rocks, mausoleums carved in rocks, water cisterns, sacrificial altars, tombs carved in rocks, memorials with steps, niches and ancient roads. Although these ruins were corroded because of the natural conditions, they were able to withstand the destruction of nature and reach to modern days. Most of the Phrygian structures were destroyed by Romans and Byzantines because of religious matters, and rocky shelters and rock tombs were constructed instead of these structures. The Phrygian rock monuments were embroidered as the frontal side of a temple on the rock surface and were devoted to the mother goddess Cybele, who was the only deity of the Phrygian civilization. Lion was the sacred animal of the Phrygian religion.

 

At the forest covered part of the valley in the region located between the Çukurca Village and Kümbet Village, there are monuments, occult monuments, open air and nature shrines and various other ruins around 25.

 

Pessinus This is a city dedicated to the mother goddess Cybele inside the borders of Ballıhisar Village of Sivrihisar District. Pessinus, which is also known as the city of temples had preserved the importance and holiness during the period of Romans. The ruins of stadium, theatre, temple, water channel and remains of the necropolis belonging to the city are still standing. The archeological excavations had been in progress in the ancient city since 1967. The discovered art works obtained from the excavation are exhibited in the museum at Ballıhisar.

 

Doryleaum The tumulus is located at the northern neighborhood of the city and to the east of the Muttalip Village and it was determined that the tumulus had inhabited the periods of Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine. The works belonging to the periods of Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine discovered at the excavation at the tumulus and its skirts are exhibited in the Archeology Museum.

 

Karacaşehir This ancient city is located at the southwest of Karacaşehir Village which is 6 kilometers away from Eskişehir. This ancient city was initially constructed by the Romans and later by the Byzantine and was reinforced by Ottomans and is called as the Castle city. The defense walls of the city have totally collapsed in time and only small fragments of the towers at the east and west entrance gates are standing. The ruins of the headquarter buildings, cistern, streets and the houses are visible inside the castle.

 

MidasMonument The monument is located at the northeast skirt of the Yazılıkaya platform, at the eastern side. This monument is called as Yazılıkaya and Midas Monument by various persons. The ancient city took its name from this monument. This monument is the major structure of the city and is the most magnificent of the rocky monuments of Phrygia. This monument is one of the most important and unique art works of the region and the world.

 

 

The most important mausoleums of Eskişehir are the Şeyh Şahabattin Mausoleum which is located at the west of the Kurşunlu Mosque and the Şeyh Edebalı Mausoleum which belong to the father - in -law of Osman Bey, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

 

Yunus Emre Külliyesi and Mausoleum It is located in the Yunus Emre Borough (Sarıköy) of Eskişehir Mihalıcçık District. The Eskişehir - Ankara railroad passes nearby. Yunus Emre is a bard who calls the nations of the world to love, unity and peace. The live philosophy of Yunus Emre was summarized by the words "gelin tanış olalım, işi kolay kılalım, sevelim sevilelim, bu dünya kimseye kalmaz." " come on, let us meet, lets facilitate the job, lets love and be loved, the world remains for no one" which was written as an epitaph.

 

Seyit Battal Külliyesi It is located at the eastern skirts of Üçler Hill at a height of 150 meters in Seyitgazi District. This külliye is constructed as a dedication to Seyyit Battal Gazi (1207 - 1209).

 

 

The house of Nasrettin Hoca Nasrettin Hoca, who is the founder of the jokes which hold an important place in the world humor literature was born in Hurt Village of Sivrihisar District in 1208. The commemoration festivals and folk literature seminars in the name of Nasrettin Hoca have been arranged in Hortu Village in Sivrihisar District of Eskişehir every year.

 

 

 

 

Place: Eskişehir

 

Characteristics: A 10.5 hectares area consist of smooth and plump Scots pines that are 200 - 400 years old and between the length of 38-45 meters.

 

Foundation Date: 03.11.2000

 

 

Türkmenbaba Mount, Aliken, Balıkdamı, Sarıyar Dam and Hamam Mount Bird Areas are in Eskişehir.

 

 

 

City: Kütahya, Eskişehir

Provinces: Eskişehir Merkez, Kütahya Merkez, Seyitgazi

Surface Area : 17500

Altitude : 1200 - 1826 m

Protection: partially

Bird Species: The biggest population of Kara akbaba (10 pairs) known within Turkey lives in the region. At the same time, important numbers of kara leylek (5 pairs), sakallı akbaba (1 pairs) and küçük kartal (5 pairs) reproduce within the important bird areas.

 

Main Characteristics: forest, mountain

 

 

City: Eskişehir

Provinces: Pairseler, Sivrihisar

Surface Area : 11500

Altitude : 875 - 909 m

Protection: N/A

 

Bird Species: It is estimated that 20 pairs of species are reproducing within the area, maximum individual number registered is 45.

 

Main Characteristics: plateau, agricultural area

 

 

City: Eskişehir

Provinces: Sivrihisar

Surface Area : 1470

Altitude: 799 m

Protection: Yes

 

Bird Species: It gains important bird areas status with çayır delicesi (15 pairs) and küçük kerkenez (10 pairs in Ahiler) populations as well as immigrant storks (max.17.915). region has an importance during immigration for water birds, including angıt (max. 302).

 

Main Characteristics: sweet water lake, swamp

 

 

 

 

Location: Eskişehir, Mihalıççık District, Yalınkaya Village

Following the branch of Eskişehir Mihalıççık road in the direction of Büyüdüz - Sasa - Yalınkaya, Yalımkaya village is reached. To reach the cave, an hour of walking inside the deep canyon of Domya creek from Yalınkaya is necessary.

 

Properties: The total length of the cave is 665 meters and is has two main entrances. The cave is formed of three layers connected to each other. The floor of the cave contains sand, pebbles and rubbles and because of the humidity of the lower layer, there are numerous damlataş formations. These damlataş are at the shapes of stalactite, stalagmite , pillar, wall and drapery damlataşı and their formation is still in process. The damlataş pools are mostly in colors of black and brown. The upper layers contains fossils. These layers are poor of damlataş.

 

The atmosphere of the cave is cold and moistured. The upper layer has a temperature of 13ºC, 80 percent humidity, the lower layer has temperature of 10ºC ve90 percent humidity.

 

The cave contains Flintstones chipping, ceramic and brick pieces and human bones displaying that this cave was in use at the prehistoric and historic periods.

 

 

Location: Eskişehir, Günyüzü District, Kayakent Sub district

The cave is located at the southeast part of the Sivrihisar Mountain extending between the Sivrihisar - Günyüzü road and Sakarya river. Reaching to the Kayakent sub district is possible via Ankara-Eskişehir or Ankara -Polatlı - Yunak highways. The cave is close to the Kayakent Subdistrict.

 

Properties: The total length of the cave is 420 meters and the depth of the final point in respect to the cave entrance is at -90 meters. The second chamber is reached via a narrow gallery having small downward descends branching from the right side of the cave entrance. There are different damlataş formations inside the chamber covered with large blocks. This saloon gives opening into two different saloons having the same formations.

 

The cave is mostly dry except the periods at which water drips from the ceiling. There are cisterns and pools constructed to collect these dripping water. The average temperature inside the cave is 20ºC and the humidity is 70 percent.

 

This cave displays similar properties with Yelini Cave and remains and shapes showing that this cave had been used by humans for a long time are also present in this cave.

 

 

Location: Eskişehir, Günyüzü District, Kayakent Subdistrict

This cave is located at the south of the Yelinüstü Cave and is at the southeast of Sivrihisar Mountains extending between Sivrihisar and Günyüzü Sakurada river. Reaching to the cave is possible via Ankara-Eskişehir or Ankara - Polatlı -Yunak highways.

 

Properties: The total length of the cave is 271 meters and the deepest point in respect to the cave entrance is at -26 meters. the cave had been divided into many saloons and chambers by the large blocks fallen from the ceiling and damlataş and is covered with extremely beautiful looking damlataş. Generally, the temperature inside the cave decreases while humidity increases as advanced from entrance to the end. The cave has temperature of 25.5ºC and humidity of 45 percent at the entrance and temperature of 16.1ºC ve79.5 percent of humidity at the final saloon.

 

This cave displays similar properties with Yelinüstü Cave and remains and shapes showing that this cave had been used by humans for a long time are also present in this cave. In front side of the cave and at the slopes and fields, flint stones, chipping, axes and spearheads were found. At the entrance part, various tools, bones, pottery pieces were found. There are cisterns and pools with depths exceeding 2 meters made of bricks were present at the saloon.

 

 

 

 

Location: The resort is around 33km north of Eskisehir, southeast of Bursa in Central Anatolia.

 

Transport: Eskisehir is easily accessible by road or air, and the Sakar resort is off the road to Mihalgazi.

 

Water temperature: 56°C

 

pH value: 7.6

 

Physical and chemical properties: Hyperthermal, hypertonic mineral waters. Bicarbonate, sodium, magnesium, calcium, sulphate, nitrate.

 

Recommended: Applications Bathing

 

Helps to heal: Diabetes, obesity, gout, certain blood disorders, excess sugar and fat, prevents kidney stones.

 

Accommodation: Municipality Facilities - 400 beds. Aytac Tourist Facilities - 40 beds.

 

 

In this camp of Turkish Air Institution Training Center, every kind of air sports could be executed in the world standards accompanied by the instructors and teachers.

 

 

There are facilities of Turkish Aviation Organization within İnönü Province which is 15 km west of Eskişehir. North facing slopes of the province, are establishing very appropriate flight conditions with especially north winds during summer months. Courses organized by Turkish Aviation Organization are performed here.

 

 

As Eskişehir is located in the Central Anatolian Region, the dominant climate is terrestrial climate. The summer seasons passes hot and dry and the winter seasons passes cold and precipitant.

 

 

The first settlement in Eskişehir (Doryleaum) is based on the date 3500 B.C. The city had been under the reign of Hittites, Phrygians, Persians, Romans, Byzantine , Seljuks and Ottomans.

 

 

Göceli Tarhana (soup with dried yogurt), harşıl, çerkez sofrası (Circadian meal), çiğ börek (raw pastry), katlama böreği (folded pastry) could be counted among the local traditional cuisine.

 

 

Works crafted from meerschaum as pipes and jewelry are the most beautiful and significant souvenirs of the region.

 

 

- Visiting and seeing Yazılıkaya (Midas Monument)

 

- Visiting the Sakarıılıca Thermal Tourism center,

 

- Tasting the most famous local food of the city, çiğbörek

 

- Buying works crafted from Meerschaum

 

 

 

Sites

 

Archaeological Sites: 165

Urban Sites: 1

Natural Sites: 10

Historical Sites: -

 

Other Sites

 

Archaeological and Natural Sites: 20

Archaeological and Historical Sites: 1

Historical and Urban Sites: 1

Archaeological and Urban: 1

Total: 199 Cultural (at Single Construction Scale) and Natural Heritages: 473

 

TOTAL: 672

 

 

Provincial Cultural Directorate

Tel: (222) 230 13 68

Fax: (222) 230 63 01

 

State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate

Porsuk Bulvarı, Köprübaşı ESKİŞEHİR

Tel: (0 222) 230 13 78

Fax: (0 222) 230 63 01

 

Governorship : (+90-222) 230 17 53

Municipality : (+90-222) 631 25 44

Hospitals : (+90-222) 237 48 00

Police : (+90-222) 230 27 73

Gendarme : (+90-222) 621 20 03

Provincial Directorate : (+90-222) 230 17 52 - 230 38 65

Tourism Information Office : (+90-222) 230 38 65

Provincial Culture Directorate : (+90-222) 230 13 68