Kütahya
From Turkey Travel Guide
Kütahya is a city in the Aegean Region of Turkey.
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[edit] History
First settled in 3000 BC, Kütahya was originally called Kotiaion, after the goddess Kotys. It gained the prominent position in the Phyrgian Kingdom in the 12 century BC, and kept its influence after the kingdom's fall. It was conquered by the Seljuk Turks in 1071 AD but captured by Crusaders 20 years later. After changing hands a few more times, it eventually became a part of the Ottoman Empire in 1428. The most important event in the city's history was perhaps when Sultan Selim I relocated tile workers from the conquered Persian city Tebriz to Kütahya (as well as Iznik), which would drive the economy of the city until the modern emergence of Eskisehir as a prominent city.
[edit]
The city is centered around the main square, Belediye Meydani and the adjoining Azerbaijan Park. Most hotels and restaurants are located here, while most of the museums and sites are west of it.
[edit] Getting there
Kütahya is 344 km from Ankara,355 km from İstanbul,325 km from İzmir and 363 km from Antalya.
[edit] By plane
[edit] By train
There are two departures a day to and from Istanbul (Haydarpasa), Ankara, Eskisehir, and Basmane, one each in the morning and evening. Single daily departures leave to and from Konya, Eregli, and Usak.
The bus station is 1 km from the main square on Abdurrahman Karaa Caddesi. The trip can be made by dolmus or city bus.
[edit] By car
Kütahya has road connections to all major Turkish cities.
[edit] By bus
There are frequent bus connections to all major Turkish cities. The trip is 6 hours from Istanbul, 5 hours from Ankara, 6 hours from Izmir, and 90 minutes from Eskisehir.
The bus station, called the tile station, is 500 meters from the town square on Atatürk Bulvar. The trip can be made by dolmus or city bus.
[edit] By boat
[edit] Getting around
Most of the sites are in a compact area, but visitors may wish to take a taxi to the fortress or other distant sites.
[edit] By car
[edit] By public transport
There are city buses that are convenient for travel to and from the train and bus stations.
[edit] By foot
The road between the main square and the main sites, Cumhuriyet Caddesi is a pedestrian shopping zone. The three museums are in easy walking distance from each other.
[edit] By bike
[edit] Weather
Kütahya is in a transition zone between the continental climate of central Anatolia and the mild climate of the Aegean and Marmara regions because of its the formation of the landscape and altitude. The eastern and western parts are different from eachother; In the eastern part, the summers are hot and dry, while winters are cold and rainy and in the western part there's a milder maritime climate. The average temperature of the city is 10.5° C. The hottest months are July and August with a temperature that can go upto 38.6° C. The coldest months are January and February where the lowest temperature can be -28.1°C.
(°F)
(40)
(44)
(52)
(61)
(70)
(77)
(83)
(83)
(77)
(66)
(54)
(43)
(°F)
(26)
(27)
(32)
(39)
(46)
(52)
(56)
(56)
(49)
(42)
(35)
(30)
(inches)
(2.6)
(2.0)
(2.0)
(2.2)
(1.9)
(1.1)
(0.7)
(0.7)
(0.9)
(1.6)
(2.3)
(3.1)
[edit] See
[edit] Archeology Museum
open 8-12 and 1:30-5:30, closed Mondays
In a 14th century medrese is the small but interesting Archeology Museum. The key piece is a Roman sarcophagus with carvings of amazon warriors, but there are other lovely pieces, including a 'fake viking statue' and a triple goddes statue, from all periods of Turkish history, ranging from late Miocene to the Ottoman era. Visitors planning to continue on to Çavdarhisar will be particularly interested as many artifacts originate from here.
[edit] Tile Museum
open 8-12 and 1:30-5:30, closed Mondays
Housed in the former soup kitchen of the Ulu Mosque complex, the Tile Museum has a collection of both historic works, dating as far back at the 14th century, and modern pieces. People wishing to visit a tile factory can find brochures advertising them laid out here.
[edit] The Kossuth Museum
open 8-12 and 1:30-5:30, closed Mondays
Also known as the Hungarian house, this typical 18th century Ottoman house with a lovely garden was the residence of of Lajos Kossuth, a leader in the Hungarian independence movement. He and his family stayed here as refugees from 1850-1851. The museum includes ethnographic objects and many personal belongings of the Kossuths, including the desk where Lajos Kossuth drafted the Hungarian constitution.
[edit] Grand Mosque
At the end of Cumhuriyet Caddesi is the Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii), built in 1401 and restored by architect Sinan. The Minbar has 4 columns and there is an image of Mecca on the wall.
[edit] The Tiled Mosque
South of the town square is the lovely turquoise tiled mosque modeled off of Middle Asian design. Built in 1973, the inside is decorated with graphite.
[edit] Ottoman Wooden Houses
Germiyan Caddesi (go west from Belediye Meydani on Adna Menderes Bulvari five blocks, and left onto Germiyan Caddesi) has a fine row of Ottoman style houses. They are not well renovated, but the bazaar nearby can also be an interesting place to visit.
[edit] Geology Museum
Geology buffs may be interested in a geology museum outside of town.
[edit] Do
Shop for porcelain in the tourist shops along Atatürk Bulvari or the factory outlets across from the bus stations.
Take a tour of a tile factory.
[edit] Eat
There are a variety of restaurants along Atatürk Bulvari.
Meshur Iskender Kebap Salonu offers the usual Turkish fast food, like pide and kebaps. It is located at the south east end of Azerbaijan Park.
Çinar Köfte at the end of Atatürk Bulvari serves cheap meatballs, soups, and salads.
In the old fortress are several tea gardens with excellent views and a good and reasonably priced restaurant called Döner Gazino.
[edit] Drink
Biraderler Bira Salunu is a student bar on Cumhuriyet Caddesi, about four blocks from the main square.
[edit] Sleep
[edit] Budget
Hotel Yüksel offers well-worn rooms with televisions and some en suite bathrooms for 20-30 lira for 1-2 people. It is located on Belediye Meydani, with some beautiful views of the giant vase fountain located in the square.
Otel Kösk has larger rooms with prices ranging from 30-50 lira for 1-2 people
[edit] Mid-Range
Gül Palas, built in 1966, is covered in Kutahya tiles. The comfortable rooms include luxury rooms and suites. Its prices range 50-65 lira for 1-2 people. it is located on the south west side of the town square.
The bright pink Hotas Hotel has two stars and offers wireless internet and a beautifully tiled hamam. It is located on Menderes Bulvari north of the central square. Its prices range from 60-80 lira for 1-2 people.
[edit] Upscale
[edit] Work
Work for non-Turkish speakers is not widely available, but some of the private language schools may be interested in native speaker teachers.
Also, Kütahya's Dumlupinar University coordinates voluntary work in teaching and coaching in an EU framework.
[edit] Learn
Kütahya's Dumlupinar University is very welcoming to Erasmus students, and also offers lifelong learning courses in areas like tile design.
[edit] Keep connected
[edit] Internet
There are several reasonably priced internet cafes with decent connections along Atatürk Bulvari.
[edit] Phone
Look for Köntorlu telefon for a metered telephone. There are several mobile phone stores along Cumhuriyet Caddesi.
[edit] Post
The post office is located on Cumhuriyet Caddesi, about a four blocks from the main square.
[edit] Safety
Watch your step around the the fortress; there are some open pits and edges without railings.
[edit] Stay Healthy
Drink bottled water. Tap water is usually all right for brushing teeth, but you may wish to avoid this as well.
Exercise normal caution around stray animals, as rabies vaccination programs are not widespread outside of Istanbul.
[edit] External links
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