İnformation About Bilecik

Area: 4.307 km²

Population: 194.326 (2000)

Traffic Code: 11

Province of Bilecik is located at the southeast of Marmara Region at the intersection locality of Marmara Region, Black Sea Region, Central Anatolia Region and Aegean Region. The oldest known names of the province are Agrilion and Belekoma. Province of Bilecik is the land where the Ottoman Empire is founded. The province is founded around the Sakarya river and is known with the riches of small ponds and creeks and carries the traces of ancient ages.

Districts : Bilecik (centre), Bozüyük, Gölpazarı, Osmaneli, Pazaryeri, Söğüt, Yenipazar.

How to Get

Highway: The bus station is located on the Atatürk Avenue in the city center.

Where to Visit

Tower, Castle

The Watch Tower: The Watch Tower is located at the center of Bilecik province over a hill dominant to the city. The Watch Tower is four - sided, with one clock in each side and was constructed by Sultan II. Abdülhamit.

Belekoma Castle: The castle is located at the banks of the Hamsıs Creek on a steep hill. It was constructed by the Byzantine in Medieval Ages. 

Caravanserais

Köprülü Mehmet Paşa Caravansary The caravansary is located on the Bilecik - Adapazarı highway in Vezirhan Village. It was constructed by Sadrazam Köprülü Mehmet Paşa at the beginning of the 17th century. The roof of the building had collapsed in 1915. Only four walls are standing in the present day.

Mausoleums

Mausoleums: Most important mausoleums of Bilecik Province are Şeyh Edebalı Mausoleum, Malhatun Mausoleum, Dursun Fakıh Mausoleum and Ertuğrul Gazi Mausoleum.

Thermal Resorts

Osmaneli - Selçik Mineral Waters: This mineral water resort is located at a locality 9 kilometers distant to Osmaneli District. The transportation is possible via highway and railway. The mineral water comes out from four separate fountains. This mineral water is known to cure the diseases of stomach, liver, ballast, intestines and urethra. This water also assists to dissolve and drop the rocks formed in kidneys.

Söğüt Çaltı Thermal Spring: The thermal spring is located at the Çaltı locality of Söğüt district. The water of this thermal spring comes from a spring, which is 30 km. away from the resort. The water of this thermal spring is used as bath and drinking. The water is known to cure the skin diseases, stomach sicknesses, rheumatic diseases, neuritis, poli neuritis and gynecological diseases.

Highlands

Kömürsu Plateau: The plateau is at 28 km distance to the center of Bozüyük district and is covered with fir trees, black pines, beech trees, juniper trees and poplar trees. In the summer season, the plateau is covered with green meadows and various flowers. The plateau is also an important location for winter tourism.

Sofular Plateau: The plateau is at 25 km distance to the center of Bozüyük district and is covered with pine and fir trees. The height of the plateau is approximately 1600 meters. The plateau is important for Plateau tourism.

Kamçı Plateau: The plateau is located at the region of Bozcaarmut village of Pazaryeri district and is important with its pine tree forests. This plateau is used as camping and resting place.

Ancient Cities

Küçükelmalı Small Lake Environ: This promenade area is located in the borders of Küçükelmalı village, which is 10 kilometers away from Pazaryeri district. The area is covered with pine forests and is a resting place.

Bozcaarmut Small Lake Environ: This promenade area is at the vicinity of Bozcaarmut Village, which is 15 km away from the district. The area is covered with fir tree and pine forests.

Kınık Waterfall: This waterfall comes out from Kınık village Alamandere locality and displays an interesting appearance. It is approximately 25 km. away from the city center.

Museums

Söğüt Ethnography Museum: There are 953 pieces of works in the museum. 75 of these pieces are archeological, 202 pieces are coins and 677 pieces are ethnographic works. 

History

The province of Bilecik displays a characteristic of transition climate between the severe and low precipitant terrestrial climate of the Central Anatolia Region and warm and precipitant climate of the Marmara and Black Sea Region. The known history of the Bitinia Region starts with the nation of Thyns originated from the nations of Thrace whom inhabited the region in BC 1950's. The region was then entered under the dominance of Egypt, Hittite, Frig, Kimmer, Lydia, Persian, Macedonian civilizations and Bitinya Kingdom, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire. After the settlement of a tribe leaded by Ertuğrul Bey from the Kayı Clan of the Turkish nation to the environ of Söğüt and vicinity, the first steps of the foundation of the Ottoman Empire was taken.

Where to Eat

Most of the local food varieties are composed of pastries. Some part of the local folk cooks their own breads. Pitta bread, Twined bread and hodalak are some of the locally cooked breads. The local folk also prepares food varieties like macaroni, soup with dried yogurt, kuskus macaroni and erişte (vermicelli) by themselves. Büzme, nohutlu tavuklu mantı (meat pastry with chickpea and chicken), keşkek, ovmaç soup, mercimekli mantı (meat pastry with lentil), kesme hamur (cut pastry), keklik kebabı (partridge kebab), köpük helvası (foam sweat made of cereals) could be counted among the authentic food varieties of Bilecik region. What to Buy

You should buy Kınık village Earthen Products

Don't Leave Without

- Participating the Culture and Art Festival of Ahilik, Remembrance of Ertuğrul Gazi and Liberation of Söğüt, Bilecik from enemy occupation.
- Visiting Şeyh Edebalı, Ertuğrul Gazi, Dursun Fakıh Mausoleums and Watch Tower
- Visiting the Ethnography Museum