Eskişehir
From Turkey Travel Guide
Eskişehir is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Eskişehir (meaning Old City in Turkish) is a city in northwestern Turkey which may be one of the oldest settlements (3500 BC) in this region of Anatolia.
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[edit] History
It was founded in the 1st millennium BC by the Phrygians. Hittites assembled a great government centralized in Eskişehir B.C.14. Century. The king of Phrygians declared his kingdom which lasted for 600 years in B.C.12. During 600 years following Phrygian King, the city was called Gordion. Great Alexander and his army, passing from Gordion 2300 years ago, conquered Gordion. But affter the death of Great Alexander, city of Gordion had witnessed great wars because of its location. Many commanders who wanted to control Anatolia tried to conquer Gordion city. First Galats and then the Romans captured the region at the end of the year B.C. 189. In the 4th century AD, the city was moved about 10km northeast, from Karacahisar to Şehirhöyük. When it was controlled by the Roman Empire, Constantine the Great introduced the religion Christianity to this region as well as the other parts of Anatolia. Romans, restored Gordion city, and the city was living its glorious days by then. When the Seljuks conquered the place, they called it Sultanönü in 1074. But with the foundation of the Ottoman Empire, it was called Eskişehir for the first time. During the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922), it was a very important location of strategy. After this war, modern-day Eskişehir was rebuilt with a number of historic buildings remain.
[edit] Navigation
Eskisehir is located in the north-western part of Turkey's Central Anatolia region, on the banks of the Porsuk River. It is 233 km to the west of Ankara, 330 km to the southeast of Istanbul and 78 km to the northeast of Kütahya.
[edit] Getting there
[edit] By plane
There are flights from Istanbul to Eskişehir Airport (ESK).
[edit] By train
While getting to Eskişehir, train is a convenient and a cheap choice of transportation. There are two mian train stations in Eskişehir province; one in the city centre (Central Station) and another one in about 2km south of the city centre called Enveriye Station. Eskişehir is junction of all major railways in Turkey and therefore there's easy access to this city via train. [1]
The central train station is located at the city center and there's easy access to tram. If you can catch the fast train from Istanbul it takes about 3 hours and from Ankara only 2 hours. It's also a very pleasent journey from Istanbul with the view along the way.
[edit] By car
Driving to Eskişehir is possible but not recommended.
[edit] By bus
There are frequent buses from Ankara and Istanbul to Eskişehir as well as buses running from all other major cities through this direction. Ankara is 210 km to Eskişehir and it takes about 3 hours with a bus ride to Eskişehir.
[edit] Getting around
Since Eskişehir is a big university city full of students, public transportation is very easy for cheap fees.
[edit] By car
[edit] By public transport
Theres a very modern tram system running in the city for cheap fees.
There are also two different public bus services running around the city. EBOI public bus service is owned by municipality and OHO is a private bus service controlled by the municipality. You can use a multipass card system for these bus services as well as the tram system.
[edit] By foot
[edit] By bike
Eskişehir is one of the most biking friendly cities in Turkey.
[edit] Weather
As a part of the Eastern Central Anatolia Region, Eskişehir has a dry continental climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers. During the winter time it gets very cold but not not unbearable with a -2 degree average temperature. In the summer time the weather is dry with a pleasant 20 degree average temperature and the nightly temperatures are cooler. It mostly rains during the spring and autumn times.
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[edit] See
Eskişehir Archeological Museum was first started as a storage museum in 1945 at Alaaddin Mosque but later moved to the complex of Kursunlu Mosque in 1966 and then to its present place in Akarbaşı in 1974. It has collections of animal and plant fossils from archaic ages, items belong to the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Old Bronze, Hittite and Phrygian Periods, the findings from the Demircihöyük, items from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Period, coins from the antique and Islamic periods, the findings from Kocakizlar Tumulus, statues, tombs, Roman era floor mosaics from Dorylaeum and the findings of Babadat excavations.
Atatürk and Culture Museum was built in 1921 and is located in the Arifiye part of the city. It was organized to keep the memories of Great Turkish Leader Atatürk who visited Eskişehir between the years of 1920 and 1938.
As a typical example of wood architecture of 19th century, Ottoman House Museum is located in Dede neighborhood of Odunpazarı.
Yunus Emre Museum is located within the Yunus Emre Complex at Yunus Emre Village Sarikoy and has a porched entrance with arched windows. It still keeps the famous Turkish dervish, poet, philosopher Yunus Emre's memories alive.
Seyitgazi Museum is located at Seyitgazi District of Eskisehir, within the Seyit Battalgazi Complex. The complex is a great sample of Seljuk, Early Ottoman and Classical Ottoman Periods.
Ballıhisar (Pessinus) is located on the Eskişehir road 117 kms from Ankara. In this historical Phrygian city, you can see the Temple of Cybele, and an open-air museum with ancient sculptures from the 10th century BC.
Midas is located at 66 km south of Eskisehir and was one of the most important settlement centers of the Phrygians. There are historical temples and tombs carved into the rock.
[edit] Do
Take a boat ride to see the city. The municipality has sightseeing boats, operating up and down on Porsuk river for very reasonable prices.
There are nostalgic horse carriages offering a nice trip to see the city for a low rate. The main departure location is in front of Haller youth center which is very close to the train station.
Visit the archaeological site of the ancient Phrygian city of Dorylaeum which is famous for its hot sulphur springs and also close to Eskişehir.
[edit] Events and Festivals
Municipality of Eskişehir [2] is organizing events throughout the year.
Lületaşı Festivali (Meerschaum Festival) is organized in Eskisehir every year. Eskisehir's meerschaum is known worldwide. Meerschaum is a rare claylike mineral which is soft when it is extracted from the soil and it gets hard in time.
International Eskisehir Art Festival is organized annually in the province where cultural and art activities increase every year.
The Yunus Emre Village is the burial place of the world famous great poet of the 13th century, Yunus Emre. Every May there are celebrations organized to honour him.
Birth Festivities are dedicated to Nasreddin Hoca who is very famous humour master and public philosopher of Turkish culture. They're organized every year in the last week of June.
[edit] Eat
Other than finding typical samples of traditional Turkish cuisine, you can find interesting dishes of the Tatars. There are so many Crimean Tatars (A Turkish origin community once lived in Tatarstan, Russia) living in Eskişehir and their cuisine is popular in the city. Here's some information about the characteristics of this cuisine; Meat is cooked in its fat until all the water is gone, fish are salted or dried, fruits are made into preserves or compotes, and vegetables are pickled or in the case of tomatoes and peppers, reduced to paste for storage.
There are different types of soups mostly thickened with homemade noodles (tokmaç), grains, or vegetables. Soups are often served with meat balls or stuffed buns (Öçpoçmak, bavursak). Main dishes are usually based on meat, grains, and potatoes. Baliş, pilav, ikmäk, kabartma, koymak, "küzikmak" and "çibörek" are the most famous dishes of this cuisine. There so many çibörek ( a fried pastry filled with meat) restaurants around the city.
[edit] Drink
Tea and coffee are the most popular drinks of Tatar cuisine. Ayran (a sour, yoghurt based drink, mixed with cold water) is also popular and refreshing, especially during the summer time.
[edit] Sleep
[edit] Budget
Hotel Soyic [3] is located in the city center on Yunus Emre Caddesi.
[edit] Mid-Range
Grand Namlı Hotel Eskisehir [4] has 57 rooms and located in the city center, 10 minutes to the train station, 20 minutes to Eskişehir Airport and 15 minutes to the bus station.
Yimpaş Hotel [5] is a 4* hotel located only 15 minutes from Eskişehir Airport. It offers modern and spacious accommodation with free wireless internet and breakfast included, along with a fully equipped business centre.
Ibis Hotel Eskişehir is located right in city centre, only 5 minutes walking distance from the main railway station. Hotel is surrounded by shops, restaurants, entertainment areas and is very close to two main universities and military base in city.
[edit] Upscale
Anemon Hotel Eskisehir [6] is a 5* hotel located on the İstanbul-Ankara ring road. It is conveniently situated at a distance of 3 km. to the city center, 11 km. to the Eskişehir organized industrial zone, 12 km. to the Eskişehir airport and 232 km. to the Ankara Esenboğa airport.
[edit] Work
Eskişehir is one of the most industrial cities in Turkey. There are several industries such as producing trucks, home appliances, railway locomotives, fighter aircraft engine, agricultural equipment, textiles, brick, chemicals, and refined sugar, but you need a valid work permit given by Turkish State.
[edit] Learn
Eskisehir is virtually a city of students with, more than 250,000 students.
Anadolu Üniversitesi [7] was first founded as Eskişehir Academy of Economy and Commercial Sciences in 1958 and then it became Anadolu University in 1982. Anadolu University houses 12 faculties, 3 of which are distance education, 7 schools, 4 vocational schools, 9 institutes (4 graduate schools, 5 institutes) and 28 research centers and units.
Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi [8] - Erasmus exchange programme is available at this university.
[edit] Keep connected
[edit] Internet
Most of the places have wireless internet if you have your own computer access. Or you can try one of the internet cafes located around the city.
[edit] Phone
Phone code for Eskişehir is +90 (222).
[edit] Post
Turkish State Postal Office (PTT) [9] has branches in the city and the province of Eskişehir.
[edit] Safety
Eskişehir is a safe city but if there's an emergency you can dial 155 or +90-505-318 2600 and +90-222-230 2773 to reach Turkish Police Department [10].
[edit] Stay Healthy
Eskişehir Özel Sakarya Hastanesi (Private Hospital) [11] is located at Fevzi Çakmak Mahallesi, Çevreyolu Muttalip kavşağı, No:1 in the city center.
Eskişehir Devlet Hastanesi (State Hospital) [12] is located on Çifteler Caddesi and can be reached by dialing +90-222-237 4800.
Eskişehir Yunus Emre Devlet Hastanesi (State Hospital)[13]
Özel Eskişehir Anadolu Hastanesi (Private Hospital) [14]
Eskişehir Osman Gazi Üniversitesi Hastanesi (State University Hospital) [15]
Özel Eskişehir Onvak Hastanesi (Private Hospital) [16]
[edit] External links
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