Europe Planeo Discovery About a destination
Manon Pelletier W. 26 October 2021
Turkey is a place of contrasts. Connecting Europe and Asia, it’s where the East and the West converge. The charm of this land has been around for thousands of years. All of history’s great empires have left their marks in Turkey, making it a cultural environment composed of many different roots. Nature has also gifted Turkey with exceptionally beautiful scenery; four seas, two mountain ranges and striking atypical geographic formations. These treasures bring tons of opportunities. From Cappadocia to a carpet workshop, discover six unique experiences that’ll transform your souvenir collection!
At sunrise, when the burner slowly releases the flame that heats the massive balloon and that gravity is no longer in the picture, the unique sensation of freely floating in the air will take over your body. Among other balloons in a colourful butterfly ballet, you’ll quietly and peacefully drift in the air, above a 360-degree panorama. Yes, that’s reality! You’ll be flying over Cappadocia that’s also known as “the land of beautiful horses”. Being the result of volcanic eruptions, this highland area offers surprising moonlike landscapes. Over the course of the erosion, this exceptional geological site turned into an undulant semi-arid valley dotted with fairy chimneys. Some of them, notably in the Göreme Valley, can reach up to 30 metres high and—depending on your imagination—may resemble a phallic or asparagus shape… We’ll leave it at that. Forged over the centuries, these landscapes are as impressive as they are unexpected. The numerous holes that were once used as shelters give them an atypical look. With all these wonderful landscapes, the area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This dream come true will surely amaze you!
Hidden in a canyon at the base of Mount Hasan, Ihlara Valley offers beautiful trails that will surely please your inner hiker. The trail follows the riverbed’s winding path surrounded by a lush green setting of poplars, pistachio trees and vineyards. Even with the sound of the water flowing and the birds singing, your sight won’t be left out. In the depths of its dramatic red cliffs, this tufa canyon hides multiple troglodytic churches that were carved and painted by Byzantine monks, who had made it their favourite retreat location. The occupation of the place by monks appears to have taken place from the early Middle Ages to the 14th century. From the 105 small rock-cut churches in the valley, 16 are open to the public and they each have their own detailing. Very well preserved, these frescoes reveal the mixed influences of Western and Eastern, Byzantine and Arabic styles. Isn’t that a great reflection of the country’s rich history?
In the heart of the city formerly known as Constantinople, the Bosphorus Strait reigns supreme. Connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, this strategic 32-kilometre-long passage has long been at the centre of conflicts in the past. Hoping on a boat to discover it will give you an exceptional view of not only both sides of town, but also both continents. What a fascinating feeling it is to admire the junction between Europe and Asia. Spread on the European riverside, you’ll be able to contemplate important palaces such as the spectacular Dolmabahce—the sultan’s residence from 1853 to 1922—as well as stunning city panoramas. The Dolmabahce is a palace with baroque and classical architecture that is closer in looks to the Paris Opera than Ottoman palaces due to the Parisian architecture studies. On the Asian riverside, the impressive Beylerybeyi palace made of marble and stone stands tall. It was originally designed to serve as the sultan’s summer residence or as a welcoming location during heads of state visits. Standing on a piece of land right by the water, you’ll have the chance to observe the great Mecidiye Mosque, and in the distance, the Blue Mosque, the New Mosque, the Topkaki Palace and the Hagia Sophia Basilica. You won’t be disappointed! On top of that, you’ll see no fewer than 600 yalis, the large wooden houses built at the end of the 19th century that are owned by the Turkish elite. Owning of one of these villas is considered a symbol of power as they are some of the most expensive homes in the world.
Kekova Bay will charm you with its turquoise water and numerous small islands! It offers a perfect mix of one of the most beautiful natural sites and the heritage of an ancient city. On one hand, you’ll find coastal landscapes accessible by boat only where massive turtles also like to swim and come up to the surface for air. On the other hand, you’ll find the remains of the mysterious ancient city of Simena, only a meter or two below the crystal-clear water. After an earthquake, the unfortunate city’s floor sunk five metres and disappeared with its countless legends and history. Among the legends is the one of Lydia’s most famous fallen king, to whom new king Cyrus had assigned a city’s income. This city located near the Pactolus River guaranteed the fallen king a colossal fortune with its gold deposits. His name? We’ll give it to you: Croesus… It’s in this part of the world that were invented the first stamped metal pieces that we now call money.
The reputation of Turkish carpets is no secret. However, understanding the origin, tradition and fabrication process behind it is an experience in itself. After offering you an apple tea or a Turkish coffee, the craftsmen will tell you all about the history and the meaning of their work. When entering the workshop, you’ll realize the monumental extent of the work, whose tradition dates back to the nomadic era when carpets had many uses that went far beyond decoration alone. Women, each in front of their loom, tirelessly weave thread after thread. Every strand of wool or silk follows the pattern of a template found near their loom. The reputation of these handmade carpets is the result of the technique used. A carpet is woven from the bottom to the top and the completed part is shifted behind the loom as they go. Every strand is tied to the weft in the famous Turk’s head knot that these women perform at such a speed, they’ll have to slow down for you to comprehend the singularity of the movement. Knots are then packed with a special comb and the artists at work cut the threads to the desired length. It takes 40 days to knot 1 square metre of a wool carpet and 100 days for a silk carpet. To give you an idea, 80,000 knots per square metre is very few. Medium density carpets have approximately 200,000 knots per square metre, and the world’s finest rugs—made for sultans—can have up to 640,000 knots per square metre. Tell us, would you have the patience for that?
You can’t talk about Turkey without mentioning the famous Pamukkale thermal pools, also known as “cotton castle”. These bright white terraces which at first may appear as if they were made of snow, overlook the remains of an antique Roman thermal spa. These travertine terraces succeed one another on the hillside above the city. They’re the result of calcite build-up coming from hydrothermal sources located along active faults. Their highly mineralized waters cause a bright white limestone build-up that deposits on the faults and terraces. This creates a layered series of thermal pools that give the place a surprising appearance. This natural site dates back to the 2nd century BC. Apart from the thermal pools’ sizes, hot springs were also used to dry wool. You can walk barefoot to the ancient pool of Hierapolis, also called Cleopatra’s pool, that’s just as unique with its Greco-Roman remains. Did you ever swim in the middle of incredible pillars and friezes straight out of antiquity? Your swim will be as memorable as it is unique!
These six experiences are far from being the only surprises Turkey has to offer. Discover the country’s fascinating culture medley and let yourself be impressed by the mythical and priceless East-West passage of the Silk Road. You think Turkey has a lot of history? Well, it has even more surprises in store for you.
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