Bolu

Area: 11.051 km²

Population: 270.654 (2000)

Traffic Code: 14

Bolu province is the city where the shades of green and blue embraces each other, sleeping and waking together, where the wind still whispers one of the most dramatic legends at the peaks of the high mountains, where numerous civilizations was founded and developed, leaving plenty of creations and artwork behind.

If you want to see the beauties of Bolu, which were kneaded by the nature, mankind and history together and listen to the folk songs of Köroğlu which are sang by the mountains, all you need to do is endure a bus journey. Reaching Bolu Province is quite easy, as the city is located nearly at the middle point of the highway, which connects the two major cities, Ankara and Istanbul.

Districts: Dörtdivan, Gerede, Göynük, Kıbrısçık, Mengen, Mudurnu, Seben and Yeniçağa are the district of Bolu province.

How to Get

The TEM highway, which connects Ankara and Istanbul and the D - 100 highway passes through Bolu. Therefore, reaching the city by the means of highway from every location of the country is quite easy. The historical and touristic locations around the city could be reached by buses and shared taxis. The Bolu bus station is 1 km. away from the city center.

Telephone of the Bus Station: (+90 - 374) 215 37 13

Museums and Ancient Cities

Bolu Museum: The museum is located inside the Culture Center and the works exhibited in the museum are obtained from various dated excavations executed at the region. Among these works are the head piece of a statue, which is suspected to belong to the Roman King Antonius, coins from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman period, statues, inscriptions and ethnographic house hold objects.

Telephone of the Museum: (+90 - 374) 215 16 91

Bolu (Bithynium - Claudiopolis): According to the archeological data, the first settlement period of the Bolu plain extends up to the BC 3rd thousands. The settlement of the Bithynium - Claudiopolis city, located on the hills inside the city center extends to BC 7th century according to the findings from Hisartepe excavation in 1978. Ruins of Antinous Temple and a structure which is assumed to be the theatre, coins, pots, bottles, statues and tomb steles belonging to various periods are discovered in the excavations executed until today. These works and remnants are exhibited in the Bolu Museum.

Seben Rock Houses: ( Old Settlement Region) There are rock houses having more than one floors carved in the surface of the rocks of the deep valleys which are in the vicinity of Çeltik Creek, Hoçaş, Kaşbıyıklar and Yuva villages of Seben District.

Castles

Gerede Asar Castle: The castle is located to the southeast of Örencik Village of Gerede District. There are abundant Byzantine period ceramic remnants scattered on the field surrounding the castle indicating that the castle is from the Byzantine Period. Also there is a cave entrance above the castle facing north.

Religious Monuments

The mosques of Bolu province are Büyük Mosque (Yıldırım Beyazıt Mosque), Kadı Mosque, Saraçhane Mosque, İmaret Mosque, Ilıca Mosque, Süleyman Paşa Mosque, Yıldırım Mosque, Kanunî Mosque, Yukarı Tekke Mosque and Eskiçağa Yıldırım Mosque.

Mausoleums

The mausoleums of Bolu province are Tokaî Hayreddin Mausoleum, Akşemseddin Mausoleum, Ömer Sekkin Mausoleum, Aşağı Tekke Mausoleum, Ümmi Kemal Mausoleum, Kasım Dede Mausoleum and Babahızır Mausoleum.

Inns And Baths

Yukarı Taşhan (Upper Stone Inn): The Yukarı Taşhan is located at the Bolu central Büyük Mosque quarter and was constructed by Abdullah Ağa in 1804.
Orta Hamam (Central Bath): This bath was constructed by the order of Yıldırım Beyazıt in 1389. The bath was constructed in the style of double bath and the interior sections are highly decorated. It is located at the city center.

Tabaklar Bath: The bath was constructed by the order of Tavil Mehmet Paşa in the 16th Century. The bath has two separate sections and the interior is covered with marbles.

Sultan Bath: This bath was constructed by the order of Sokullu Mehmet Paşa in the 16th Century. The bath was constructed in the style of double bath.. It is located at the city center.

Süleyman Paşa Bath: The bath is located in Göynük District. It was constructed by the order of Gazi Süleyman Paşa in 1335.

Yıldırım Beyazıt Bath: The bath is located in Mudurnu District and is adjacent to the Mosque having the same name. It is the most beautiful bath among the other baths constructed in the same period. The bath was constructed in 1382. It is one of the most original samples of early period Ottoman baths.

The bath attracts attention with its corolla entrance gate and dome crossings.

Yıldırım Bath: The bath is located in the Eski Çağa Village of Yeniçağa District. The bath was constructed in the name of Yıldırım Beyazıt in 1388 and is an important architectural creation.

Aşağı Bath (Lower Bath): The bath is located in the Kitirler quarter of Gerede District. It was constructed from the rubble stone by the end of 14th century.

Göynük Houses

The Göynük District had been announced as “Urban Protected Area “. The district accommodates a rich number of old Turkish Houses. The houses in this district are mostly constructed by the beginning of the 20th century. In the sitting rooms of the some houses, the ceiling is adorned by various patterns. There are courtyards called “Hayat” (living) in front of the houses.

Mudurnu Houses

The Mudurnu District is also announced as Rural Protected Area and accommodates a rich number of old Turkish Houses. The houses of Mudurnu display similar properties with the houses of Göynük in the scope of civil architecture and these houses representing the history and culture of the district are under protection.

Preserved Areas

Yedigöller National Park

Hazelnut Nature Reserve

Akdoğan (Midwife Pine) Nature Reserve

Kökez Nature Reserve

Sülüklügöl Nature Reserves

Abant Lake Nature Park