KÜTAHYA

GENERAL INFO

Kütahya has been the center of population for five thousand years and it also takes place in the oldest physıcal and political maps known in Anatolia. It is located crossroad Upper Sakarya,South Marmara and West Inner Anatolia part.

Kütahya is an important centre of agriculture with its industrial plant variations, fruit growing, stock-breeding; commercial and industrial centre with its coal, marble, silver, porcelain, ceramic, tile, thermic power station,factory of glass,sugar,fertilizer; and also historical and tourism centre with virgin nature, living folkloric values,splendid culture heritage.

Kütahya is the place where both the Ottoman Empire lived for 623 years and the Turkish Republic which will live forever were founded.

Kütahya which is the host of Ottoman civilization that is known for centuries coming out of Domaniç Plateu,and the Big Victory Won in Dumlupınar on August 30 is one of the gazi cities.

The principal historical buildings and natural beauties are : chimney rock, rock churches in Frig Valley;Zeus Temple, the first bourse of the world,Mosaic Bath and stadium- theatre in Aizonoi Ancient City; Kütahya Castle,Mevlevihane,Archeology,Tiles and Kossuth's HouseMuseums, large town houses in Germiyan Street, Mount Murat, Sarıalan and Gölcük plateaus. Kütahya is a centre of thermal.

Instead of being noticed,we would like to attrack your your attention to our natural and tourism riches with this issue.

GEOGRAPHIC POSITION OF KÜTAHYA

Kütahya is stated in junction of Upper Sakarya and South Marmara part ,in the Inner Anatolia part of Aegean Region.

The centre town, which extends between Southwest edge of an alluvial plain watered by Brook Felent that`s arms of River Porsuk and slopes of Mount Yellice takes prevince`s name. Mounts Turkmen,Murat, Saphane, Egrigoz, and Ak with Plains Kutahya, Orencik , Simav, Tavsanli, Altintas assort surface figures of the region.Kayabogazi and Porsuk, Ardinaz poured to Marmara and River Gediz that reaches Aegean Sea forms surface water.

Kutahya has a transfer featured climate between continental climate of inner Anatolia with Aegean and temperate climate of Marmara.While summers pass hot and dry, cold and rainy winters in eastern parts of our province, in western parts effect of milder maritime climate is sovereign.

53 % of the province whose superficies is 11 875 square kilometer is covered with forest.Scotch fir, alnus, juniper, beech tree, oak tree, chestnut tree and plane trees form a rich cover.

Kutahya has 13 towns, 77 municipalities, 544 villages including the centre.According to census of the year 2000 population is 714 375, and the population of the centre is 168 045.

HISTORY OF KÜTAHYA

After pulting up the Hittite,Frig,Lidya, Roman and Byzantium civilisations in its known history ,Kutahya,which is in the innerwest part of Aegean Region ,met the Turkish civilisations in the last quater of 11th century as well , as in the whole Anatolia.

Kutahya was founded in B.C 1500 in the era of Hittiten and according to the antique resources it was the birthplace of Ezop,the father of tales , and in those ages its name was KKotiaieon. The name KUTAHYA was given by Turks resembling the old one.

Immigratıng to Anatolia towards the end of B.C 12th century , Frıgs who demolıshed Hıttıte Empıre settled in the regıon: In B.C 62 ,Kutahya passed to Romans due to Pompeıus who was the political rival and son in law of Caesar. Beginning from A.D 2nd century it was an important Chrıstıanıty centre.

Kütahya which was governedby Byzantıum between the years 395-1074 and by Seljukıan between the years 1074-1260 (by this time it passed to Byzantium twice) was the capıtal of Germiyanoğlu State between the years 1260-1429. In 1381, ıt was gıven as dowry for the daughter of Germiyanoğlu Süleyman , Devlet Hatun who married Yıldırım Beyazıt.Shahzadah Beyazıt governed Kütahya between the years 1381-89. Kütahya,whıch was taken back from Ottoman State in the Kosova War I ,was again given back to Ottoman State on the last request of Yakup II in 1429 when he dıed.

Kütahya which was the centre of Anatolia Principality between the years 1451-1833was governed by the sons of Kanuni the Magnificient ,Shahzadah Beyazıt and Sultan Selim II (1542-1566).Kütahya was the centre of Hüdavendigar Province between the years 1833-1867 and an independant livain 1915.

With the foundatıon of Kütahya National Combat Organization on September 20,1919; the national struggle started and the organization was inspected by Atatürk on August 6, 1920. In the cıty ,whıch was occupıed on July 17,1921;the Greek War Council gathered on July 28 ,1921 and on August 15 the Greek King came and presided over the council.

After the Head Commander Square War in Dumlupınar where the biggest victory of our National Independence War was won, our natıonal army entered Kütahya at 6 p.m on August 30,1922.

HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF KÜTAHYA

Kütahya, a capital city of Germiyanoğulları for 157 years and famous for its tile since Seljukian ,has a lot of historical remains that display the continuity of the parallelism with Anatolia history.

This city seems to be an open air museum by protecting the heritage of its civilizations.

This isthe most beautiful and the biggest mosque in Kütahya. Its construction started in the Yıldırım Bayezid Period (1381-1384) -and finished in the Mehmet 2 (Mehmet the Conqueror) period in 1401. During the Rhodes campaign of Süleyman the Magnificent, it was restored by the architect Sinan. The mosque reached its last stage of development in the Sultan Abdülhamid Khan 2 period in 1893, and in the last big restoration the mosque was designed asvaulted. In the restoration that started in 1888 and finished in 1893, the walls were knocked down to their bases and they were rebuilt with rubble stone. It has a rectangular plan and no courtyard, and the main part is covered with two vaults supported with six columns and half vaults oneach side. It is worth seeing the Mecca designed panel which is on the right hand side of the niche, covered with half vaulted and 4 columned muezzin quarters. Dönenler Mosque (Mevlevihane) This structure, opposite the Ulu Mosque, was built in the 14th century asthe 'Semahane' of mevlevihane. This was the first mevlevihane in Kütahya and is one of the most authentic examples of early Anatolian- Turkish architecture. It experienced two restorations but only the Semahane and Dervish rooms were able to survive to this day. Today it is used as a mosque and it has a quadrilateral plan and octagonal rim. Next to this mosque there is a small mosque which was built under the order of Hazer Dinari - known as Kütahya's Seljuks period conqueror. When the grandson of the Mevlana, Ergun Çelebi was buried here, it became the tomb of Mevlevihane. Menzilhane This was built at the end of Republic Street on an area known as 'Kapanaltı', and later 'Tahılpazan'. Its wide-low gate, rubble-stoned round arch, and inscription are interesting. Tavşanlı Ulu Mosque There is no inscription on this structure, although the architectural techniques employed demonstrate early Ottoman work. There is a large middle vault on cornered and four legged arches, and eight small half vaults on the sides. Çinili Mosque (Mosque of Yakupoğlu) This mosque was built in 1973 by the artist Ahmet Yakupoğlu, in the Maltepe Quarter in the south-eastern section of the city. It is as if it were blown in from Middle-Asian Turkish architecture in its style. This two-storied structure has a single vault and is decorated inside by chisel work. The outside is decorated with specially produced blue Kütahya tiles. Decorated with Turkish motives and with its architectural style, this mosque is a unique example in Kütahya. Mosque of Simav Agha It was built in 1789 by Nasuh Agha - an Ottoman feudal lord to whom Emet and Tavşanlı belonged. Being a good example of stone art the mosque was restored in line with its original style. Yeşil Mosque It was built in 1905 by Fuat Pasha, a mutasarrıf of Kütahya. Its chalet styled minaret balcony is the only example of its kind in Kütahya. The mosque has a square plan and a single vault. Inside it is decorated with high reliefs and chisel work motifs. Hıdırlık Small Mosque This is a work from the Seljuk period, and is located on Hıdırlık Hill, which is on the eastern side of Hisar Hill. It is understood from its inscription that the small mosque was built by Hazer Dinari- an emir of the Ottomans in 1243-1244. The vaulted structure has a square plan and a quadrilateral niche on its southern side. In 1980 it was restored by Ahmet Yakupoğlu, and in 2004 by various foundations. Muvakkithane (a place where the time for namaz is calculated by looking at the sun) It is found in the Balıklı quarter in front of the old mufti building. It was built in 1831-1832 by Halil Kamil Agha, who was a mütesellim of Kütahya. It has a vertical rectangular plan and is made of rubble stone and covered with a tiled roof. This muvakkithane was built in order to show the time and prayer times, but now is used for business purposes. Tomb of Sheik Buhari (Gümüşecik Tomb) This 14th century structure belonged to 6azi Hasan Pasha, and in the 19th century was restored by Dilaver Pasha- a city director of Kütahya. It has a square plan and its pendanted vault is set on a row of stone without a rim. Tomb of Ana Sultan It is in a small forest, 25 km away from the highway between Kütahya-Afyonkarahisar. Its Baldaken styled arches arequite low. The tomb was restored by Ahmet Yakupoğlu in 1980. Dedebali Tomb Dedebali is also known as "Hace-ül Haram" and "Mülayim dede". He was a wise man who played animportant role in promoting the unity of Anatolian Turks and in defusing sedition and disorder against the Ottomans. He was famous for his benevolence and was embraced by the public. After his death in 1394 he was buried at Mülayim Hill in Tavşanlı. Surrounding his tomb there is a pool.

Ulu Mosque Dönenler Mosque Çinili Mosque Tomb of Hayme Ana Tomb of Sunullah Gaybi

Tomb of Hayme Ana Hayme Ana was the grandmother of Osmangazi- founder of the Ottoman Empire, and the mother of Ertuğrul Gazi. Her tomb is in the village of Çarşamba, 15 km away from Domaniç.  Ertuğrul Gazi who was from the Kayı clan and the head of the Karakeçili tribe, settled in Söğüt and Domaniç in 1281. Every year he used to set up camp and spend five months on this plateau. His mother died during one of these camping periods and he buried her there. An Ottoman Sultan, Abdülhamit 2 found Mother Hayme's grave and built this tomb for her. Every year in the village of Çarşamba on the first Monday of September she is commemorated. Tomb of Sunullah Gaybi It is on the corner of the Musalla Graveyard in the Gaybi Efendi quarter. This tomb was built in the 17th century and is covered with a tiled roof. Sunullah Gaybi is the grandson of Pir Ahmed Besiri, the Sheik of Kalburcu. He was an experienced Sufist, who fought against ignorance and bigotry, and spoke perfect Turkish. His main works are Gaybidivani, Sohbetname, Biatname, Ruhul Akaidname, Makasidi Ayniye and Huda Rabbim. "Happy is someone who stays in Kütahya for a month, if you can stay two months, all the better. Kütahya is a flawless beauty. Could you harm such a flawless beauty? Oh God, save this city. Paradise is either beneath or above Kütahya, Let’s sacrifice Labor, Keşmir, Tebriz for Kütahya" (Sultan Veled) Tomb of Paşam Sultan Its walls can be seen on the street from the Ulu Mosque to İshak Fakih and the entrance is in Kurşunlu Mosque Street. The tomb is also called "Seyyid Nureddin". It has two parts which one canreach through "L" shaped staircase. Restorations and changes are still ongoing. Tomb of Kara Ahmed Bey Kara Ahmed Bey, the grandfather of Evliya Çelebi, was a famous traveller, writer and folklorist. His tomb is on the right hand side of the road that goes to Ahmet Yakupoğlu Park from the slope of the State Hospital. The tomb was built in 1995, to complement the Ottoman Minaret. In his writings Evliya Çelebi talks about his visit to Kutahya in 1678 and states that the grave of his grandfather Kara Ahmed Bey was next to houses inthe Zeryen Quarter.

TOURISM IN KUTAHYA

TOURISM VARIATION
Kütahya which is located on graben system and its faults in Ege Zone is one of the richest city for geothermal sources in our country . These sources have superior thermal value and they are also important for health tourism.
Kütahya as a centre of civilization since the time of Hittite, a capital city of Germiyanoğulları ,a centre of Anatolia Beyler Beyliği, Hüdavendigar province,a birth place of Ottoman Empire,host of Big Victory Won is a centre of history and culture.
Kütahya has been famous for the art of making tiles since Seljukian, it is also exceptional region with living folkloric values.
ILICA HARLEK HOT SPRINGS
Hot springs center, situated 25 kms away from Kütahya, is helpful to cure rheumatism, sciatica, kidney and gall bladder diseases. Hot springs temperature is 43 0C.
YONCALI HOT SPRINGS
Yoncalı hot springs, situated 16 kms away from Kütahya, are on the 6 thermal tourism centers of Kütahya. Being of 360C, the hot springs spread healthiness. It has been argued that these springs have the highest radioactivity in the world.
GEDİZ, MOUNT MURAT THERMAL SPRING
These hot springs, being 30 kms away of Gediz, are to the West of Muratdağı. This hot springs center where at 1450 meters 410C water boils together with cold water is yet another thermal tourism center of Kütahya.
GEDIZ HOT SPRING THERMAL
It is in the south of Kütahya and 18 km from Gediz.
The water is 40-85 centigrate and in the group of hypotonic water. It contains sulfate, bicarbonate, sodium and magnesium and cures rheumatism, stomach,intestine illneeses,liver and gall bladder illnesses.
In the thermal spring centre ,there are 40 aparts for 4 people,52 aparts for 3 people, 22 wooden huts,10 reinforced concrete huts,1 sauna,1 mud bath,2 Turkish baths, and 2 swimming pools.
Greenhousing has started in the thermal spring centre recently.

YESIL and KAYNARCA THERMAL
Thermal which is in the west of Kütahya is in Emet town centre.
The water is 43-56 centigrate and in the group of hypotonic water.It contains sulfate bicarbonate,calcium and magnesium and it cures stomach,intestine, liver, gall-bladder,women illness and pain illness.
In thermal centre;there are 36 aparts for 4 people , 3 Turkishs baths,3 covered and 1 open air swimming pools, 1 Ottoman bath, special baths,sauna bath, sport centre, caravan camping and botany park.
EYNAL HOT SPRINGS
Thermal which is in the southwest of Kütahya is 4 km from Simav.
The water is 70-90 centigrate .Including calcium, sodium, bicarbonate and sulfate,thermal water cures rheumatism,neuralgia,calcification,kidney,women illnesses,psoriasis.
In thermal centre, there are a hotel with 37 rooms 82 beds, a hotel with 30 rooms, 70 beds;65 aparts with 260 beds ;60 aparts with 180 beds,special baths with 15 rooms and 35 beds, two Turkish baths and 1 covered pool.
Greenhousing has started in the thermal spring centre recently.Town centre is used geothermal to heat.Also geothermal resources effective for buıilding power house.
LIVING HANDICRAFTS OF KÜTAHYA
Technological developments that make life easier destroy handicrafts .While machine takes people's place, artificial product takes natural product's place. Today we use steel saucepan instead of copper-saucepan; automatic work-bench instead of carding machine; plastic rope instead of hemp rope.
Giving names to bazaar, handicrafts like weaving carpets,coppersmith, blacksmith's trade, work of maker of felt are forgetten.The most popular handicraft in Kütahya is art of tile making. Art of tile making has been an art of public since 14 century. Raw materials are used in tile making. White dough is kneaded and is given shapes in pattern work-bench.
THE FOUNTAINS OF KÜTAHYA
The streets of Kütahya greet the visitors with a fountain at every corner.The city is full of surface water as it owns a high plateau alltitude and a rich forest wealth.
Tile ornaments that come from the Seljukians in the architecture of Kütahya are also reflected on the fountains.
On the Tiled Fountain the dark blue middle wall panel is decorated with an inscription and the leaves spread on the both wall panel sides that are white floored.
The Freedom Fountain is made of marble. In the middle of the frontal that has threee parts, there is a sultanate heraldry with a sultan's signature and star relieves with five arms in the middle of trough and both sides.There is a deep and locked circle vault under the frontal that ends with an inscription with two lines.
The Salihler Fountain is ornamented with bands and Seljukian star wall panels. The inscription of the fountain whose frontal is ornamented with joining motifs is covered with tiles.
THE DISHES OF KÜTAHYA
Pastry and mest have an important place at the suburb dısh. Soup and desert share the first row. The preperatıons for winter starts after harvest ın the country. Pıckles, tomato, sauce, cheese, dried yoghurt and dough for soup are made one after another, Boiled and rounded wheat, noodles, fried meat and jam follow them those.
In the city centre these preparations are not as feverısh as in the country because of the facility of reaching the greenhouse products and using deep freezes.
Flat bread, pancake, fresh buttered şibit, flaky pastry and mantı, cimcik are the mast favourites of pastry.
Cupıc meat, stew, meat stew with onions, fried meat meat balls, ılıbada, cabbage stuff, tomato, patoto, pepper, eggplant stuffs are dıshes with meat as the other parts of the country.
Soup has a special place for Kütahya; Kızılcık Tarhanas, miyane saup, ağmac, Tekke and sıkıcık soups and Tutmaç are the favorites meals both in winter and in fasting month.
Pumpkin desert whıch is stuffed with special food desert with thin dough, güllaç, home made dough desert , halvas (semdina, flour, sesame helvas) are the favorite deserts.
CLOTHING IN KÜTAHYA
In Kütahya that is located in a transition point amongst inner Anatolia ,Mamara and Aegean Regins ,especially woman clothing is very different and rich, and this richness cannot be seen anywhere else in Anatolia
In spite of the authenticity of woman clothing in man clothing the Aegean Region swashbuckling character is dominant.
TRADITIONAL MAN CLOTHING
The palace effects can be seen on man clothing .They generally wear Kellepoş ,Fez, Kerchief, on the head; Mintan on the body; above Mintan Gazeki, Camedan; Şal Kuşak and Silahlık on the belt, under it Elifi Don, Potur; socks , tozluk , rawhide, kerchief , boots on feet.
Oil can with embroidery, watch with chain, tobacco can, pistol, cigarette holder, rosary and amulet are used as accesories.
TRADITIONAL WOMAN CLOTHING
There is a palace taste and delicacy seen in woman clothing in Kütahya that was the capital of Germiyanlı and was the Pasha Sanjak.It is both difficult and incorrect to make a generalization.
In the rural parts of Kütahya there is a dominant clothing character that begins from Bursa Keleş and ends in Teke: white kerchief, inner drawers, inner shirt, inner dress , baggy trousers, triskirt, apron, jacket, socks and rawhid sandals are used with golden, silver accesories on the head and neck.
In the centre the clothings, golden, silver, spangle, pearl bead embroidered , are used with pinked kerchieves, diamond necklaces, pearl strings, earrings, brooches, silver belts, rings with big diamonds and golden bracelets.
While women wear bino fez,bride's fez, pinked kerchief , Tefebaşı(Fermene, Entari,Çintiyan), red shirt, bride's veil, socks, slippers on special days , the daily clothing is modern.
Baggy trousers are Pullu, Aynalı, Süpürgeli Pullu, Eğrimli, Çatkılı,Dallı.Sewing and wearing these clothes need a specialization.
FOLK DANCES IN KÜTAHYA
Location features of Kütahya can be seen in rural and central folk dances.
In woman folk dances' musical instruments are earthenware and tambourine.In man folk dances musical instruments are in variation: a folk instrument with three double strings, earthenware , violin, clarinet, drum and pipe.
Some woman folk dances are Ebeler, Şimdallı, Vur Davulcu, Yasemen Dalı, Çömüdüm.
Some man dances are Gar mı Yağdı, Ahmet Bey , Sinanoğlu, Çatalçam, Ah Hamamcı , Mustafa Kaşların Kara, Kazım, Gumarı, Gediz Pazarı, Yağmur Yağar.

KUTAHYA ECONOMY

Kütahya is an important centre of agriculture with its industrial plant variations, fruit growing, stock-breeding; commercial and industrial centre with its coal, marble, silver, porcelain, ceramic, tile, thermic power station,factory of glass,sugar,fertilizer; and also historical and tourism centre with virgin nature, living folkloric values,splendid culture heritage.

Kütahya as an important centre of agriculture, trade and ındustry has a special place in Türkiye's economy. This situation is supported by thermal riches, mine reserves, historical and cultural heritage , forests.

Forty percent of city population live in the rural area and live on agriculture, forest-workerand cattle-dealing. Apart from these, other living sources are mine worker,industry worker,the art of making tilesand Merchant
The ancient bourse that was the first bourse in the world is in the ancient town Aizanoi Kütahya has special riches from the point of mineral stratum.

There are 34 metal workings 34 different regions.The principial mines are coal, silver,magnesite , antimuan, kaolin,marble, and coral reef.

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