10 000 YEARS OF HISTORY TURKEY
DISCOVERED BETWEEN HAMMAM AND NARGHILE OTHOMAN ART

Discovery

When one thinks of Turkey, one thinks nonchalantly smoking the narghile on the terrace of the old coffees of Istanbul, to stroll in its lanes borrow Othoman and Byzantine influences or in its bazaars in search of fabrics and of coppers. And in fact, a travel in Turkey, is the occasion to carry out these some phantasms of Eastern inspiration, but not only. After a stay in Istanbul, capital full with charms and mysteries, leave the activity of the city to leave to the meeting deep Turkey, that of the traditions and the good things in life, it Anatolia. Among the many treasures bequeathed by the civilisations which followed one another there, of the churches, the mosques, the monuments, the archaeological sites flower within a natural framework out of commun run. Thermal waters of Pamukkale, with the Strait of the Bosphorus via Antalya or by the Black Sea, Turkey conceals an inexhaustible wealth for the travellers in search of feelings.

Identity

Shared between the East and the Occident, Turkey interferes with happiness the various cultures these two parts of the terrestrial sphere. This ground in charge of history also offers in comparison with the tourists, one of the most beautiful capitals of the world, Istanbul, as of the varied landscapes where sandy beaches are alternated, and immense mountains. One discovers here a modern country which knew to preserve all its heritage, and, by traversing his various areas, one feels like the heirs to divine Byzance, in the middle of a history of most enthralling. Of a great wealth, Turkey indeed allures its visitors by his culture and its many monuments. Of the Bosphorus in Cappadoce, via Anatolia or banks of the Black Sea, the travellers of the whole world take full the eyes of them. One is also allured by the heat of the inhabitants which, feeling Westerners except for whole, considers us equal footing, making us discover famous Othoman hospitality. 

A stay in Turkey is the occasion to plunge itself in step less than 10,000 years of history, in order to discover the multiple civilisations which marked the Turkish culture. With the doors of two worlds, Europe and the Middle East, Turkey indeed knew to keep the best of all these influences to offer a single atmosphere and a cosmopolitan culture. Between a cultural heritage impressing and of the tourist infrastructures of top quality, Turkey definitely puts all the assets on its side to become a country of most attractive.

Culture & Traditions

OTHOMAN ART

If the literature and the Turkish music were famous several centuries ago at the time of the Ottoman Empire, it is not really any more the case today. Turkey then was also noticed for its visual arts, which one can admire the traces today: vases, potteries, jewelry and other ornaments of mosques reveal with the eyes of the visitors the wealth of the artists Turkish of the time. But it is especially for the art of the weaving of carpet that Turkey marked the spirits in the world. Always practised today, this unmemorable art is the occasion to acquire true museum pieces which take days and workdays.

 

THE HAMMAM

If the hammam is the symbol of the culture and the Turkish tradition and one finds it today a little everywhere in the world. Formerly called Turkish bath, this practice was initiated by the Romans with the thermal baths, it there several centuries already. One passes from room in room, for drinking tea, discussing, to wash themselves or to profit from energetic and strong massages in places where heat is the Master mot. Like wants it the tradition, the hammam is divided into two, with the women on a side and the men of the other. That makes it possible each one to be found between people of the same sex, and to converse on various subjects.

 

THE NARGHILE

Veritable institution in Turkey, the narghile. Today prohibited in the public places not to disturb the nonsmokers, he however always is very appreciated, in particular in bars entirely dedicated to his consumption. During several hours, one settles comfortably to taste this mixture of tobacco aromatized with the fruits, and one lets oneself invade by a delicious torpor. One still crosses many people to the terraces of the coffees in Turkey, which practise this ancestral tradition.

GASTRONOMY

 

If it is a Turkish dish which knew to be imported in the whole world, it is well the kebab. This meat sandwich born in the middle of Turkey is present in many cities all over the world. Tasty and varied, the Turkish cuisine took as a starting point many countries like Iraq, Egypt, Morocco or the Mediterranean countries. As regards desserts, which never heard about the baklavas or the Turkish delights? If these sugar refineries are famous to be rather fatty, they are not less sheer delights and are tasted for it with Turkish national drink, the tea.

Essential

5°- 10° WINTER / 25°- 30° SUMMER
TURKISH MONEY
+1H WINTER / SUMMER
TURKISH
ANKARA
KEBAB

Form your trip

The stages

ISTANBUL

Today still, Istanbul is regarded as one of the most beautiful metropolises of the world, here is which gives desire for remaining there! Alive and full with energy, the Turkish capital irradiates of a joy and a happiness to live which gives desire for plunging there. And if you wish to know all the secrecies of them, thus start with the visit of old Istanbul and its fabulous monuments. Sultanahmet more particularly, with the church Holy-Sophie, the Blue mosque, or the palace of Topkapi, is a true paradise. One discovers all there that makes the magic of Istanbul, and each monument points out the glorious past of the city, of the passage of the Byzantine emperor Justinien who built Holy-Sophie, to the Othoman domination, with its large representative, Soliman the Magnificent. Do not hesitate to pass by the authentic Grand Bazaar, which will be the occasion to haggle over some beautiful objects of local arts and crafts. The contemporary city does not miss either a charm, and will discover you restaurants with the refined kitchen with pleasure there, as well as bars with boosted environment! To discover the beauties of them, thus take Istiklal Caddesi, and go down until the place Taksim, the heart of this modern Istanbul. In the middle of the hammams, shops and hotels, you will not be able to better immerse you in the Turkish culture of today. Thus let you try by a small narghile, before a romantic cruising to admire the beauties of the Bosphorus and Gold Horn; many boats propose quite as interesting visits to you the ones as the others.

 

PENINSULA OF GALLIPOLI

On a side of the strait of Dardanelles is the famous peninsula of Gallipoli, and its many ancient sites which charm all its visitors. In the town of Gallipoli in particular, one can admire a fortress built by the Byzantines, improved by the Catalans and repairing by the Othomans, showing all the influences which marked this region of Turkey. Several Othoman mausoleums are always visible there. Small town of fishing season, Gallipoli is touched very little by tourism, which confers a certain very appreciable authenticity to him. In the region around, one discovers many battlefields and other military cemeteries which point out the animated past of this Turkish peninsula. Several sites in particular point out the importance that the strait of Dardanelles, near, had at the time of the First World War, because of its strategic position. Indeed, in 1915, the town of Gallipoli was the objective of the allied forwarding of Dardanelles. If you are impassioned by this time of the world history, this region of Turkey is a required passage during your vacancies in the old Ottoman Empire.

GORËME

Very famous in Turkey, the small town of Göreme shelters rupestral churches of any beauty. Dating from 11th and 12th century, these buildings were dug in the rock, and reproduce the Byzantine religious buildings. They all are decorated of splendid frescos which give even more charm to this very appreciated site of the visitors. All the churches abound in splendours, like Holy Pantocrator Christ of the church Basile. Let you allure by the most beautiful church of the valley, the Dark church or Karanlik Kilise. Dating from the end of the 11th century, it is composed of a storeroom, a refectory, a dormitory and a basilica on two floors. On all the sites you will admire perfectly preserved frescos, posed on a parget of lime, straw and sand.

 

THE CAPPADOCE

Cappadoce shelters many underground cities which make the fame of the area. One finds it about thirty of which only five are opened with the public: Derinkuyu, Kaymakli, Ozkonak, Acigöl and Maziköy. Privilege a visit of the two first which are largest and best arranged. On eight on twelve floors where kilometers of corridors are, these cities are the occasion to understand the daily life at the time of their construction. With defensive aiming, these underground cities had many ventilations, as well as well, books inexhaustible water. One also found there kitchens, churches or of the cemeteries, in order to ensure a pleasant daily life at the time as of seats.

AVANOS

Famous artisanal hearth, the town of Avanos is famous in the whole world for its pottery, like for its carpets. The use of the clay of Kizilirmak by the potters of the city, gives a beautiful reddish colour to works, bringing an unquestionable charm to them. With more than 300 always opened workshops, this area of Cappadoce is the occasion to bring back on your premise of the objects of any beauty and guaranteed entirely local. The potters of Avanos also produce painted ceramics of Othoman tradition, thus diversifying their production. On Right Bank of the red river, one can admire some old workings which were preserved in this old great center of weaving, thanks to conservation measures and of rehabilitation of the local habitat.