Kastamonu

Kastamonu

Kastamonu city center is an ancient settlement location and its districts contain numerous historical structures available for visiting purposes. The major ones among these localities are Araç, Taşköprü, Küre, Abana districts and are protected areas. Archeological protected sites could be counted as Zimbilli Hill (Pompeipolis) in Taşköprü district, Abeş Castle and Geriş Hill in Inebolu district, Ginolu Bay in Çatalzeytin district, Gideros Bay in Cide District.

Near the city (approximately 10 miles) is the village of Kasaba with an important mosque, the Mahmut Bey mosque, from 1366, built in the Seljuk tradition. It is considered to be one of the finest wooden mosques in Turkey. The door has excellent wood carving.

Places To Visit;

Kastamonu Archeological Museum collection belonging to the prehistoric, Roman and Byzantine periods is exhibited in the Kastamonu museum.
This historical structure was constructed by Architect Kemalettin Bey in between 1914 – 1917. In this historical building, Atatürk had stated his historical speech concerning about the “Hat and Dress Revolution” in 1925 at his visit to Kastamonu. The materials used by Atatürk in his Kastamonu visit are also exhibited in the house.
Address: Cumhuriyet Avenue., Kastamonu,
Telephone: (+90-366) 214 10 70 – 214 54 56
Open hours to visit: 08.30 – 12.30 / 13.30 – 17.30 (Closed on Mondays)

Liva Paşa Mansion Ethnography Museum was constructed by Mir Liva Sadik Paşa in between 1879 – 1881 years as a private mansion. The structure was nationalized by The Ministry of Culture in 1978 from the private property and was restored afterwards. It was open to visit in 1997 May.
The structure has a cellar plus 3 floor and have separate parts for women and men. At the first floor of the mansion the products of Kastamonu hand crafts are exhibited in a different section. The second floor is open for public visit as a Kastamonu Mansion with all of its furniture and materials.
Address: Hepkebirler Quarter, Sakurada Avenue. No:5, Kastamonu,
Telephone: (+90-366) 214 01 49

75th Year of Republic House was bought from the private property in the extent of the Celebration activities of the 75th Year of the Republic by the Kastamonu Governorship. 75th Year of the Republic Celebration Committee and was restored by the same committee. The mansion was assigned to the usage of the Ministry of Tourism for the purpose of introduction.

The house was open for visit since 29 October 1998. The house was decorated by local materials and donations from the folk and these ethnographic materials are on exhibit. Also the photographs, pictures and the objects related to the Kastamonu visit of Atatürk and Hat and Dress Revolution are exhibited.
Address: Hepkebirler Quarter. Saylav Street. No:4, Kastamonu
Telephone: (+90-366) 214 41 61
Open hours to visit: 08:30 – 12:30 / 13:30 – 17:30 (Open everyday)

Ancient Cities

Kastamonu Castle is one of the major magnificent monuments of the province and it is assumed to be constructed in the Byzantine period. The castle is still impact and the foundation of the inner castle belongs to the Byzantine period and the higher section of the castle belongs to the Candarogullari state period.

Zimbilli Hill Tumulus (Pompeipolis) is an ancient city located in the vicinity of Taşköprü district center and was founded by the Romans in the year 64 BC as the center of the Paphlagonia province. At the executed archeological excavations, lots of historic works and mosaics were discovered.

House Rock Tombs are located to the south of the city center on a rock starting from an altitude of 8 meters. These rock tombs are dated to the 7th BC.

Mosques

Atabey Mosque is located in the city center. It was constructed in 1273 at the period of Candarogullari state. Because of the wooden pillars extending from the door to the niche of the mosque the mosque is known with the name of 140 pillared mosque among the common folk. The short minaret constructed from the shear stone displays the properties of the Seljukian Period.

Ibni Neccar Mosque is located at the city center. It was constructed in 1353 and survived to the present day with various restorations and attachments. The pointed arched entrance door is one of the most beautiful samples of the wood carving.

Mahmut Bey Mosque is located at 20 km. northwest of the city center in the Kasaba Village. It is one of the most beautiful samples of the wooden architecture tradition of the Seljukian and Governmental States period. The mosque was constructed in 1388 by Candaroglu Mahmut Bey. The wooden door wings of the mosque was covered and adorned with ancient inscriptions and plant patterns. The chisel works with colored paints on the plain wood are extremely successful.

Complex of Ismail Bey Complex (Külliye) had constructed by Candaroglu Ismail Bey (1443 – 1480) in Kastamonu in 1451 which is composed of a mosque, a mausoleum, a bath, a theological school and a charitable establishment. The stone craftsmanship at the front part of the Mausoleum is interesting.

Ismail Bey Inn (Kurşunlu (Leaded) Inn) is located in Kastamonu inside the Aktarlar Bazaar and has two main entrances in north and south directions.
Deve Inn is located in Kastamonu just behind the Külliye of Ismail Bey. At a written inscription, it is stated that this inn was constructed together with the Complex of Ismail Bey. The front side of the structure is constructed from shear stone and the side walls are from debris stone.
Urgan Inn is located in Kastamonu beside the Nasrullah Mosque and was constructed in the 1748.
Gökçeagaç Caravansary is located in the Hanönü district center. This Caravansary is assumed to be constructed as a church in Justinien period, but later it was transformed into a caravansary by Turks.

Kastamonu Houses

At the Akmescit, Hepkebirler, Atabey and Ismailbey quarters of the province, the samples of traditional and authentic Turkish houses and the samples of early period Ottoman civil architecture are still standing. This style of traditional houses are not so common at the city center, but this style of houses are encountered at the oldest quarters of Taşköprü, Küre, Inebolu, Araç and Abana districts.

Beaches

The beaches of Kastamonu province and its districts are mostly archeological and natural protection sites. Among these beaches are Cide Gideros Bay, Cide district beach, Central beach, Kumluca, Akbayir Village beach, Women Beach in Doganyurt, Boyranalti Beach in Inebolu district, Gemiciler Village Beach, Yakaören (Ilişi) Village Beach in Bozkurt, Public Beach in Abana, Holiday Village Beach and Ginolu Beach in Çatalzeytin.

Caves

The caves of the region, which worth seeing could be counted as Ilgarini (Ilvarini) Cave in Pinarbaşi district, Sarpunalinca Cave in Küre district and Kuyluç Cave in Şenpazar district.