ULUDAG – BURSA
Besides the economic and social harmony, Bursa is a city blended with riches such as natural beauty, healing waters, summer and winter tourism opportunities. Having a rare cultural and historical heritage with the architectural features of Byzantine, Ottoman and Republican periods, Bursa is one of the most precious cities of Turkey.
Bursa, which offers fruitfulness from its bazaars, healing water from its fountains, snow coolness at the top of the mountains and peace on its green plains, is a city that has dazzled important people for years. Bursa is the city that Nobel Prize-winning French author Andre Gide regretted that he couldn’t see when he was young, Mis Pardoe could not find such beautiful anywhere else, Carsten Niebuhr fell in love with the wonderful view surrounding the plain; with the detection of Alexander Von Warsberc, the wounds of time and bullying were covered with a live greenery. Also, it is a city which Tanpınar witnessed a second time in, and it is Çelebi’s spiritual city…
This city is one of the most important components of Anatolian civilization; and it is the knot point of the magnificent story of Rome and the preamble of the Ottoman Empire.
Certain findings from Castle part in the downtown area point to 2500-2700 BC. On the other hand, recent findings in Akçalar Aktopraklık excavation showed that the oldest traces of civilization within Bursa province dated back to 8500 BC. Bursa region had been under various colonies and countries ruling until Bithynia State was established in the 4th century. BC. After going under Lydian ruling during Krezus/Kroisos (561-546 BC) era, Bursa went under Persian ruling. Entire region was heavily damaged during these wars. Meanwhile Greek immigrants arrived in the region and settled on the Marmara Sea coast. Chalcedon Republic, established in Kadıköy (İstanbul) area, attacked Bursa and surrounding region and coused heavy damages Dedalses fought against Persians and established independent Bthynia Republic in Bursa region. Bursa was promoted to city status and had city walls built during the reign of Bithynian king Prusias I (232-192 BC).
Bursa region was in Hüdavendigar Province in the early 1900s. City municipality was established in 1877. When the Ottoman Empire started to fall apart after World War I, Turkey was occupied by allied countries. City defenders did not have enaugh guns or ammunition, and Bursa was occupied by Greeks without much resistance on 8 July 1920. This occupation caused grief not only in Bursa but nationwide. The rostrum in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was covered with a black cloth, only to be removed when Bursa was saved from occupation. After 2 years, 2 months and 2 days, Bursa was liberated from Greek occupation on 11 September 1922.
Most of the immigrant folk that arrived from Balkans after occupation, most of whom did not even speak Turkish, had very different culture and traditions and this had caused new and challenging issues for republic era Bursa. But new and young Turkish Republic rapidly bound up its wounds and Bursa, along with all other provinces, overcame social cultural problems and started development progress. Republican authority managed to create a modern city from burnt and heavily damaged Bursa in a short time. Silk mills were re-established, and a construction breakthrough sprung both in the city and in surrounding county and villages. Bursa held on to republic’s revolutions and developed rapidly to become fourth biggest city of the country.
ULUDAĞ, BURSA
Close to Bursa and İstanbul, Uludağ is Turkey’s favourite ski resort. Hiking around the wooded slopes is also a popular activity in summer. The mountain is best accessed by the 8.2km-long Uludağ Teleferik, the world’s longest cable car.
Uludag, which was called Olympos until the Ottoman times, Mount of Monks in the Ottoman period; It got its present name in 1925. It is the highest peak of the Marmara Region with a height of 2543 meters. Its area is 12,762 hectares. Uludağ, which is 50 km away from the Sea of Marmara, was declared a National Park in 1961.
Although 71% of the National Park is forest, there are over 700 plant species. 33 of these are Uludağ endemics. In Uludağ, where 46 species of butterflies are seen, the Apollo Butterfly is unique to this mountain. Uludag, Turkey’s most charming place of winter tourism and sports center is visited by 1 million people., In 2006, was registered as a Natural Protected Area First Degree.
Culinary specialities
Iskender Kebap is a Bursa culinary speciality based on grilled meat from the 19th century. Among the specialties, we can also mention: Kemal Pasa dessert (Kemalpaşa tatlısı, this dessert is based on cheese itself originating from this city. The secret of this dessert is the unsalted cheese it contains.
This cheese is produced from the milk of cows), Bursa Chestnut Ice Cream (kestane şekeri), Mihaliç Cheese (Mihaliç peyniri, mihaliç is a sheep’s milk, cloth pressed cheese. The pressed curd is cut into cubes and matured in firm barrels for 3 months. It is salty and strong.)