A Local’s Guide to Eskisehir: Exploring Central Anatolia
Eskişehir, which means 'old city' in Turkish, lives up to its name with a rich and extensive history dating back to 1000 BC. Its famous historic district, Odunpazarı, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its historic structure and urban layout make it a major tourist attraction.
The central Anatolian city of Eskişehir is also commonly associated with education, as it is one of Turkey's top cities with the highest number of university students. This, in turn, makes the city quite vibrant in terms of lifestyle, with many activities and events organised specifically for students. But don't worry if you're not a student, the city has plenty to offer people of all ages and professions.
Here's a list of things to do in Eskişehir👇
Fairytale Castle
Eskişehir Fairytale Castle has been designed to enrich children's imaginations while offering a synthesis of all Anatolian cultures through its unique architectural design. It visualises old Turkish folk tales and their prominent characters such as Nasreddin Hoca and Keloğlan.
The castle has a total of eight towers that imitate famous historical buildings around Turkey, such as Istanbul's two iconic buildings, Galata Tower and Maiden Tower, and Mardin's Ulu Kule. With an amphitheatre and a number of playgrounds and concert halls, the Fairytale Castle hosts many cultural events and festivals throughout the year. Especially for visitors travelling with their children, this place is a real must-see!
EsminyaTürk
Located in the Sazova Science, Art and Culture Park, near the fairytale castle, EsminyaTürk is a museum that displays a collection of miniatures of some famous Turkish and foreign buildings. It is a great museum that presents 32 famous Turkish historical buildings miniaturised on a scale of 1/25. The most popular miniature works that attract visitors are the Taj Mahal in India and the historic Selimiye Mosque built by the great imperial architect Sinan in the Turkish province of Edirne.
Turkic World Culture and Arts Centre
The Turkic World Culture and Arts Centre is also located in Eskişehir's Sazova Park. The science and history section is on the first floor, with exhibits of Ottoman and Seljuk architecture. On the ground floor are a group of separate units focusing on the history of music, science and art. This unique structure offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about the Turkish world and its cultural history.
Source: TÜBİTAK
Anadolu University Aviation Park
As a unit under the administration of Anadolu University, the Aviation Park aims to bring together travellers, visitors and local people in the city with a love for aviation and to support aviation-related activities such as generating knowledge in the field and developing aviation in Turkey.
The park also conducts some educational programmes, exhibits objects and information from the country's aviation heritage and introduces prominent figures in Turkish aviation history. If you are an aviation or aircraft enthusiast, we strongly recommend that you visit the AU Aviation Park!
Odunpazarı Houses
Odunpazarı is the oldest settlement in Eskişehir and consists of a number of historic houses dating back to the Ottoman Empire. With its beautiful historic streets and brand new Modern Museum, it now forms the central area of the entire city.
The Odunpazarı Houses Survival Project has helped renovate old houses in the district, and Eskişehir has regained its historic fabric. Today, these houses are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In addition to this group of houses, the Alaeddin Mosque and the Kurşunlu Mosque are two important landmarks of the neighbourhood, which are open to the public except during prayers. If you want to experience this mysterious corner of the city centre, be prepared to travel back in time!
Source: Tatildeyiz
Cumhuriyet (Republic) Museum
Eskişehir's Cumhuriyet Museum awaits the curious tourist to learn more about the history of the Turkish Republic.
Located in the Odunpazarı district, the museum was originally an Ottoman school. Its extensive collection consists of photographs, pictures, paintings and objects from the times of the most historic wars and battles in Turkish history, such as the Gallipoli campaign.
Atlıhan Crafts Bazaar
This old bazaar was built in the 1850s to accommodate traders, travellers and villagers from neighbouring villages and towns. After offering services such as horse care, it once served as a caravanserai. Hundreds of years later, in 2006, as part of the Odunpazarı Houses Survival Project, the Odunpazarı Municipality restored the old bazaar to its original form, and it is now open to visitors.
Today, the Atlıhan Handicrafts Bazaar is an important place for old Turkish handicrafts to survive in the modern world. If you want to take a souvenir from Eskişehir, you should definitely explore it!
Balmumu Heykel Museum
Balmumu Heykel Museum in Eskişehir is the first wax museum in Turkey. The museum's collection includes two hundred wax sculptures of some of Turkey's cultural and political figures, as well as some idols from around the world.
Balmumu Heykel Museum offers a journey through time, especially through Turkish history. Some of the museum's most popular sculptures include those of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his family, Ottoman sultans, Turkish politicians such as Bulent Ecevit, Süleyman Demirel and İsmet İnönü.
City Museum of Memory
Would you like to learn more about the cultural history of Eskişehir? If your answer is yes, then you should visit the Museum of Memory!
The Museum of Memory is the result of a collaboration between the Eskişehir Municipality and the History Museum of The Hague. Their joint project aims to create a link between the provinces of Eskişehir and The Hague and allows Dutch artists to exhibit their works in this Central Anatolian city. The study on the oral history of Eskişehir, which is exhibited in this museum, is particularly worth seeing.
If you want to learn more about the city, the Museum of Memory might be a good place to stop.
Source: Urban Sustainability Exchange
Yazılıkaya
Eskişehir's cultural and architectural heritage values are innumerable, but we would not be wrong in saying that the natural open-air gallery of Yazılıkaya (Turkish: 'Inscribed Rock') outshines them all in glory. Built by the Phrygians, this ancient site boasts the highest number of Phrygian religious monuments and structures and is also known as Midas - and yes, this is the same Midas that makes you think of his 'golden touch' when you hear his name.
The main attraction of the area is the Great Monument or Midas Monument, the largest Phrygian rock carving ever discovered. The Kırkgöz Rock, a Hellenistic rock tomb, the Unfinished Monument and the Monumental Tomb, carved into the side cliffs of the area, are just some of the super aesthetic structures that you should pay closer attention to after you've explored the Midas Monument.
TÜRASAŞ Revolution Cars Museum
This museum belongs to Türasaş, a locomotive and wagon builder, and displays the first domestically produced car in Turkey: 'Devrim' (Turkish for 'Revolution').
The project of the car was pursued by an outstanding committee of engineers and businessmen who worked on the project for 4.5 years. Today, it tells a story of its own and represents the Republic of Turkey's first efforts at development.
Source: Türasaş
Sightseeing is cool, but what to eat when you're hungry? Well, Eskişehir has plenty of food to satisfy your appetite!
Perhaps the most famous speciality of Eskişehir's cuisine is its Çibörek, a delicious piece of cultural heritage brought to these lands by Crimean and Tatar immigrants. This type of börek is sure to become one of your favourite Turkish starters once you've tried it! It is crispy on the outside and watery on the inside, where it is stuffed with minced meat, onions and some spices.
The most popular dessert of Eskişehir is Sivrihisar muska baklavası, which refers to a variation of the famous Turkish syrupy dessert that differs from the classic in its preparation method and shape. If you are a wanderer of the streets, you can also try met helvası, a dessert sold on the streets that could go well with your long walks.
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