ŞİLE, AĞVA
Transcription
ŞİLE, AĞVA
tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org ŞİLE, AĞVA 231 tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org ŞİLE Kabakoz Saklı Göl Karamandere Akçakese tanbuş Kufalı AĞVA Gökmaslı Göksu Kalemli Hacılı Gürlek Mağarası Çataklı Kadırga Koyu Kilimli Koyu istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org tanbuş 234 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org ŞILE – AĞVA A Trip to the Historical Black Sea without Leaving Istanbul. The new holiday resort for Istanbulites! Şile and Ağva bring together history, sea, sand, sun and much more! The place where pleasure and tranquillity meet, just an hour from Istanbul! The most authentic and organic fabric that is handled here is known as “Şile Cloth”, and along with its historic lighthouse and caves this is what Şile, as well as Ağva, is famous for. Its historic buildings, its position by the sea and reputation for being a holiday region make it a treasure store for those interested in outdoor sports and caves. Şile in History The first people to settle in Şile were the Greeks. Its name comes from the ancient tribes of Miletos and their passion for beauty and nature. It is recognised that when the first settlers saw the purple flowers which brightened up the hills around there, they gave the name of this plant, “Marjoram” (Latin: “origanum heracleoticum”), to their city. The tools made from flint found in the river beds show that the history of the place stretches back to the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic ages. Researchers have proved that there have been people living in the region since the Neolithic age. The region, which has at one time or another been ruled by Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Persians, Bithynians, Romans, and Byzantines, eventually became Turkish in the wake of the War of Liberation. This region has been named by historians as the homeland of Bithynia. It is accepted that the Bithynians were a tribe with roots in Thrace who migrated to Anatolia in the 8th century BC. In the 3rd century AD, some Christian groups, escaping from the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, took refuge in caves close to the villages of Kızılca, İnkese, and Sofular. The caves around Şile were a safe haven for the Christians. Later, the Genoese ruled the region for a while. The famous castle of Şile is what remains from that time. After them, the Seljuks took Şile in 1050, but in 1097 the Crusader armies took it back. Despite Akçakoca Bey claiming a large section of the Kocaeli Peninsular for the Ottomans in 1327, they could not succeed in taking Şile out of Byzantine hands. However, the peninsular was given the name of the commander who conquered the whole of this region. It was first called Akçakocaeli or Akçakocaili, and in time this settled in the language as Kocaeli. In 1391, Yahşi Bey, son of Kara Timurtaş Pasha, one of Sultan Bayezid the Thunderbolt’s commanders, took Şile. However, the Byzantines, seeing Yahşi Bey’s advance on Istanbul to join the siege as an opportunity, immediately retook control of Şile. In 1395, Yahşi Bey conquered Şile for the second time and added it to the Ottoman lands. With an agreement signed in January 1401, Şile finally and officially became Turkish. From this time until the 1st World War, Şile remained under Turkish control for 500 years. In accordance with the provisions of the Mondros Armistice, Şile fell within the bounds of the demilitarised zone of the Bosphorus, and in 1920 it was given to the British administration. It was relieved of the 235 tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Şile Limanı ve Şile Tahlisiye Binasıve Kayıkhane Şile Çarşısı Ayazma Plajı Kumbaba Plajı * Kumtepe * Kum Zambakları * Kumbaba Türbesi Hanımsuyu ( Mısı tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org e Kalesi * Şile Feneri * Kavala Parkı Ağlayan Kaya Plajı Ağlayan Kaya ırlı Hatice Sultan) Çeşmesi Uzunkum Plajı Akçakese Kufalı AĞVA Saklı Göl Karamandere Gökmaslı Göksu Kalemli Hacılı Gürlek Mağarası Çataklı Kadırga Koyu Kabakoz Kilimli Koyu ŞİLE tanbuş 238 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org British occupation on 7th October 1922 by a cavalry division of the 3rd Army Corps who marched on Istanbul after Turkish forces had entered Izmir. When all the sanjaks were made into provinces in 1924, Şile remained administratively attached to Üsküdar. With the reorganisation in 1926, Üsküdar became a region and was attached to the province of Istanbul. In 2004, Şile was brought within the bounds of Istanbul Metropolitan Council. north. 79% of its area is forest, 10% agricultural land, and 11% is used for other things. It has a coastline of 60km comprising gently meandering villages and natural beaches. Its important watercourses are the Göksu, the Şile Kabakoz, and the Yeşil Creek. Ağva, which is known to have been a settlement since the Hittite period, has in recent years become a much-favoured holiday resort. Şile and its Geography It is a district on the Black Sea shore of the Kocaeli Peninsular, to its east is Kandıra, to its south is Gebze, to its west is Beykoz and Çekmeköy, and the Black Sea is to its Going to the Antique Black Sea without Leaving Istanbul: Şile and Ağva Stops: 1. Şile 2. Şile Lighthouse and Kavala Park tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org 3. Şile Harbour and Castle 4. Şile Lifeboat Building and Boathouse 5. Market and Shopping for Şile Cloth What you can leave until after you’ve seen Ağva and its environs: *The Weeping Rock and Beach *Kumtepe and Sand Lilies *Holy Spring Fountain and its Beach *Uzunkum Beach *Hanımsuyu (Egyptian Hatice Sultan) Fountain, Kızlar Bathhouse *The Hidden Lake – This small lake on the Karamandere road has been used decoratively in many Turkish films. 1. Şile Transport: You can reach Şile by private or public transport. Timetables for these buses and information related to their stops are on the Şile Council website: “Harem - Şile Bus Times” The Black Sea constantly changes in both summer and winter, but it is always exhilarating. Because of this the topography of its shore are extremely characteristic. In fact, in the Black Sea region, life on the land is just as difficult and gruelling as it is on the sea. 239 tanbuş 240 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org 2. The Historic Şile Lighthouse and Rather Unknown Paths The first thing you will see when you arrive in Şile is the historic Şile Lighthouse on the hill. This lighthouse was built by the “Lighthouses Department” between 1859 and 1860, using the concession which was given to the French by order of Sultan Abdülmecid, in order to show ships sailing the Black Sea shores the way. İstanbul and Its Lighthouses In 1755, a galleon under the command of Hacı Kaptan, which was carrying freight to Egypt, came aground at Kumkapı when they couldn’t see its surroundings at night. In the wake of this, Sultan Osman III instructed Admiral Süleyman Pasha to build the first lighthouse at Ahırkapı. From that day until today, lighthouses, whether big or small, cyclical or wheeled, in many and different technical specifications, have followed the Ahırkapı Lighthouse. Administration of the Lighthouses and “Michel Pasha” The foundation with the full name of “Public Board for Lighthouses”, or “Lighthouses Board” for short, was an Ottoman administrative office, but was actually managed by the French. Virtually all the lighthouses built in those days were constructed by the French. Who Was Blaise Jean Michel Marius? The Frenchman Blaise Jean Marius Michel was a young man who had been trained for years on the open seas as a master mariner. He later continued at the Maritime Academy in Paris and became a Naval Officer. He then took part in the Crimean War. The ship belonging to Count Montebello, friend and general to Napoleon III, ran aground on rocks in the Black Sea. Napoleon ordered that Jean Marius Michel be assigned to save it. Michel succeeded, taking Count Montebello to France safe and sound. In the meantime, he had seen Istanbul and became an admirer of its beauty! Napoleon was extremely pleased with his success and wanted to reward him. Michel’s response was very clear: “I want to build lighthouses in the eastern Mediterranean and have made plans for the whole of my voyage.” When Michel, who had won the tender for the renovation of lighthouses from the Ottoman court, was successful in this matter, he was appointed general manager of the “Public Board of Lighthouses Authority” by Sultan Abdülmecit. His efforts resulted in his being awarded the title of “Pasha” from the Sultan. There is another who loved Istanbul like Michel Pasha, none other than Monsieur Thobie! Jacques Thobie Jacques Thobie, the former Manager of tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org the French Anatolian Research Institute in Istanbul, was an academic, diplomat, scientist and cultural person who published works which looked closely at the relationships between the 19th century Ottoman Empire and the powerful western states, particularly those with France. In the meantime, he showed a special interest in the subject of the lighthouses, and wrote a book entitled The General Administration of the Lighthouses of the Ottoman Empire and the Company of Collas and Michel (18601960). After the declaration of the Republic in Turkey, the state bought the concession of the “Public Board of Lighthouses” from the French, and took possession of all the lighthouses under the administration of Michel Pasha’s company. Their administration was handed over to the “Coast Security and Ship Rescue Authority General Management, which was founded on 12th May 1997. This foundation is now run as the Coast Security General Management. The Bosphorus in France! Returning to Michel Pasha… Even when he returned to the south of France, the love he bore for Istanbul could not end. He bought the whole of Tamarisk Bay, in the Toulon area, close to Marseilles, and there had yalıs, piers, and Bosphorus steamboats built. On the official website for Sanary is a series of exhibits about Michel Pasha and his collected scientific works which were presented at a conference. Characteristics of the Şile Lighthouse The Şile Lighthouse has the characteristic of being the only example according to international standards. This is the largest lighthouse in Turkey, and the second largest in the world. One of the characteristics which make the Şile Lighthouse stand out is its lens system, as it is the only one in the world to use this system still in its original state. The lighthouse was built by Barbier, Benard and Turenne, and its lens system was invented and developed by Augustin-Jean Fresnel. A cross-section example of the Fresnel 8-flash panel system, which is still being used today: The lighthouse, which is still in working order, is one of the symbols of Şile; in fact, being its most recognised protects its character. You can get to the lighthouse via Şile Feneri Street on Fener Yokuşu. The first things you will encounter are the open-air information panels and gift stalls. While in the garden is Turkey’s first Historic Lighthouses Museum. The Reunite with the Light Project or the Şile Lighthouse Dressed in Şile Cloth and Meeting the Sea! The 150th anniversary of the Şile Lighthouse coincided with Istanbul’s being chosen as a “European Capital of Culture” in 2010. That year students from the Photography and Textile and Fashion Design faculties organised an environmental art event: Reunite with the Light. The starting point was to introduce the lighthouse to its surrounding sea; the lighthouse had had a 150-year relationship with the Black Sea, but they had somehow never been able to touch each other. In the end, the Şile Lighthouse was wrapped in Şile cloth, starting from its balcony and continuing all the way down to the sea, by a group consisting of teaching staff, students, and technical staff, in a manner that did not impede the transmission of its light. And it has a Special Film: “The City behind the Lighthouse” Special stamps were printed for the 150th anniversary of the Şile Lighthouse, and an international lighthouse symposium was held. During the symposium, an announcement for a film entitled “The City behind the Lighthouse” was made. The subject of the film, in a dramadocumentary style, was the nature and legends stretching back to the Şile of the antique age up to 1859, and from there to the modern day, embracing its viewers with the inhabitants of Şile in the past and the present. Address: Şile Feneri Sokağı, Balibey Mahallesi, Şile. The Lighthouse and Museum are open to visitors every day between 10am and 4pm between May and August. 241 tanbuş 242 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Kavala Park When you enter Kavala Park, you will come face to face with a lush green environment and an amazing view. The park is named after Necla Kavala, whose family provided the funding needed to transform this pristine piece of nature into a park. One of the business managers, Fatma Çiğdem Başaran, transformed Kavala park into a paradise by spending a considerable amount from her own budget in 2001.3. Şile Harbour and Castle Şile harbour is a lively place, and the first things that will catch your eye are the Castle on the rocky Ocaklı Island, the Şile breakwater, the fishing boats, and the footpath with restaurants on the shore. Şile Castle and Ocaklı Island The Ocaklı Island Castle in Şile has a long and well-established history. Built by the Genoese and used as a place of exile by Prince Alexios, having been sent away by the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos, its walls which encircled the island have mostly collapsed. tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Harbour and Fish Şile Harbour, as well as being a haven for fishermen, is a fish repository for Istanbul and its surrounding areas. On this subject, the much loved and watched TV program, “Hayat Gezdikçe Güzel” contains very good testimony in the conversations the producer and presenter, Fatih Türkmenoğlu, has with the locals. There are also some very good first-person statements about Şile cloth and the area around Şile! 243 tanbuş 244 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org 4. Şile Lifeboat Building and Boathouse Historical Lifeboat Buildings in Şile The first works of the Lifeboat Service, after it had been founded in 1869 and after it had passed into British control, were some facilities which were built on opposite sides of the Bosphorus at the Black Sea. Of these the ones built in the modern centre of Şile were a Lifeboat Station, a Dormitory, a Boathouse, and a Rockethouse. In this respect, there were two Rockethouses in the district centre of Şile. Of these, the one in front of Harmankaya has been demolished, but the one in front of Kumbaba is still standing. The Dormitory and Watchtower at Alacalı Station are still in use. The Dormitory, Watchtower, and Boathouse at Karaburun Station are structurally sound and are still in use, and the Rockethouse cave/buildings in Karakiraz and Sofular are also still in good condition. tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org 5. Şile Market and Şile Cloth Shopping The district centre, where you will be greeted by a statue of a young girl working on Şile cloth, Şile Market is a lively, muchfrequented place which shelters all the stores that you might find in a market. About Şile Cloth and the Forerunner of Şile Cloth: Linen The forerunner of Şile cloth is linen. Fabric, thread, and ropes were produced from flax grown in the Kandıra Region during the Roman period. The planting of flax was banned in the 1980s, but despite this, old women living in the villages continued to weave “linen cloth” for their own needs from thread they had hidden in their dower chests. These stalls were re-animated with the cooperation of the ÇEKÜL Foundation. You are able to make an order: “Kefke Guide”. Distinguishing Characteristics of Şile Cloth The weaving from cotton thread began in Şile in the 1930s. The villagers of Şile started to make it on primitive hand looms in their homes. In three villages of Şile, about 30,000 metres of cloth is produced each year. You can get more detailed information from the Şile District Governorate’s website: Şile Cloth Not just clothes, but various covers, sheets, curtains, in fact, even bridal dresses are made from this cloth. Held every year in Şile, the “Şile Cloth Festival” creates a lot of interest. 245 tanbuş 246 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Kabakoz You can reach Kabakoz, 11km from Şile, on the IETT No.139A bus. Established on the edge of a forested hillside, Kabakoz has 630 inhabitants and is one of 50 villages in Şile with old preserved wooden houses. In the Village Square is a 700-year-old plane tree which is protected by the Monuments Commission. It also has a fountain going back six hundred years to the Byzantine era, which was the first construction in Kabakoz and is known by the villagers as the “Priest’s Fountain”. There is also “Istanbul Kamp’s” coastal camp in Kabakoz which plays host to some extremely interesting events. The campsite can be rented by those wishing to come here and organise events, such as the “Art Residence” event. Contact address: Pehlivan Caddesi, No: 154, Kabakoz Köyü, Şile/Ağva Tel: 0216 7278107 GSM: 0532 4551938 Email: info@istanbulkamp.com Web: http://www.istanbulkamp.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ istanbulkamp tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Akçakese This is an old Ottoman village. On the village’s long shoreline, there are wooden houses, lodging facilities, and a wonderful beach. The quality of the Şile cloth woven by the village’s Auntie Halide is legendary. Sixty historic houses are preserved in Akçakese village, which was settled by former nomads, known as Manav Turks, during the time of Sultan Bayezid the Thunderbolt. As you get closer to the coast, you will see that there are campsites and lodging facilities to the right and to the left of you. The entrance to one of these will surprise you, as it has been designed to look just like a cowboy town. Woodyville - Cowboy Hotel The owner of the facility, Erol Karaoğlan, over time expanded this place, where he had built tree houses, which he had seen and liked in Olympos, forty years before, to include bungalows, cowboy wagons, and log cabins. Inside, there is a saloon, a sheriff ’s office, and a jail. Small rooms have been constructed from cowboy horse-drawn wagons. Woodyville Website: http://www. woodyville.com.tr After this, there is a campsite a little further to the right which will surprise you again: Dreamweaver Village Indian Hotel – American Indian Village There is a facility on the coast which belongs to the council, which is also concerned with the administration of the beach. From some of the rock within the sea, there is fresh water flowing, which is typical of those in Şile. Some of the caves can be entered. This is also a suitable coast for those interested in diving. Akçakese Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/akcakese/ 247 tanbuş 248 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org AĞVA Among the people of Ağva, it is known as the “paradise between the waters”. Its name in Latin means “the village between two streams”, as it was founded between the Yeşilçay and Göksu, which flow into the Black Sea. Ağva in History In the superficial research which has been carried out, it has been established that Ağva and its surrounding area was inhabited in pre-history (Neolithic Age) and that it was Istanbul earliest settled area. In prehistoric studies carried out on a section of the Black Sea coast, settlement areas belonging to various times in the Palaeolithic age and, particularly, to the Epipalaeolithic (Mesolithic) age have been determined to have existed in Ağva and its environs. The first known settlement in the Ağva area belonged to the Milesians, who were a sea-faring people. Ağva first became part of the Turkish lands during the Seljuk era, after it was seized by Kutalmışoğlu Süleyman Shah in 1090AD. Up until the 14th century, it remained as one of the Byzantine outpost castles. After the Hittites, Phrygians, and Romans came Ağva’s Ottoman period, being conquered by the Turks during the era of Sultan Beyazit the Thunderbolt. tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Ağva Today Being bounded by the Black Sea, the Göksu and the Yeşilçay, it is a beautiful town which arouses much admiration. The Göksu (“Sky-water”) Stream, which takes its name from the sky being reflected in its waters, is known for the hotels which are situated on its banks. If you stay overnight in Ağva, we recommend that you stay in one of the boutique hotels, which are extremely conscious of their environmental and social responsibilities. Environmentally-Friendly Boats Discovering the area by tour boat on the Göksu creek is simply a must. It is sometimes possible to get over the stream to a hotel on the shore via a small raft by pulling on a rope on the other side. (See Video: Fatih Türkmenoğlu: Ağva) The directors of the environmentally-friendly “Explore Ağva/Nature Society” say that when the new Şile-Ağva road is completed, travelling time will be cut down to 18 minutes. Ağva Fashion and Little-Known Things about Ağva Ağva has become a holiday resort in recent years, with a constant stream of local travellers. It may be said that it has also played a role in some popular television programmes, which frequently film scenes in Ağva. 249 tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Rom Ağva Plajı Dudubayırı Tepesi Yürüyüş Parkur Kufalı Ormanı Yürüyüş Parkuru Yakuplu Deresi tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Kilimli Yürüyüş Parkuru ma Lahit Yeşilçay Deresi Kabakoz Akçakese Kufalı AĞVA Saklı Göl Karamandere Gökmaslı Göksu Kalemli Hacılı Gürlek Mağarası Çataklı Kadırga Koyu ŞİLE Kilimli Koyu ru Aşıklar Yolu tanbuş 252 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org What Can You Do in Ağva? -Explore Nature: There are 32 walking tracks in the area. The cycle paths and mountain bike facilities, bird-watching hut, endemic plants, and forest-tour park for the disabled are just waiting for nature-lovers. The endemic plants of Ağva are under conservation. For plant species, please click on this link! -Bird Watching: Among the bird species you can observe in Ağva are the robin redbreast, the kingfisher, the European goldfinch, the European greenfinch, and the nightingale. -River Safari: You can explore the rivers by rented pedalo, canoe, or rowing-boat, or, without getting tired, by boat tour. -Watersports and Swimming: The Danube Surf School, which operates in Kerpe, is preparing to open a branch in Ağva. You can make contact with them: Danube Surf School. You can reach the beach options in Ağva via the links below. *Ağva Beach *Kurfal Altı Beach and Cliff *Kilimli Bay and Cliffs *Kadırga Bay and Amphitheatre-shaped Rocks Hunting – Fishing: Ağva is surrounded by forests and it is possible, when the official hunting season starts, to hunt animals such as snipe, quail, duck, pig, and rabbit, and you may catch fresh and salt water fish in the sea and rivers. Moto-Safari: Most of Ağva plays host to motorsports. Mountaineering and Camping: There are places in Ağva suitable for those who come by caravan and stay overnight or for those who wish to set up a tent. Photo-Safari: For those who like to take photographs, there are very few places with a geography that presents such variety as does Ağva and its environs! tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Gastronomy: Ağva is a paradise for fish and seafood! Archaeology and Culture: Ağva and its environs are home to an extremely important cultural heritage. * Rock Tomb in Kilimli It is possible to come across historical remains stretching back to the 7th century BC in the villages around Ağva. * Church Ruins and Gravestones in Kalemköy Kalemköy is also one of Ağva’s oldest settlements. In this area, there are church ruins and gravestones belonging to the Romans. * Cave, Genoese Walls, and Mountain Windmill In the village of Hacıllı, the Gürlek Cave, with traces of life from the 3rd century, is waiting to be explored. In Geredeli Köyü, there are ruined walls from the Genoese period on the hill of Hisar Tepe. In the neighbourhood of Sungurlu, there is a mountain windmill along with other important remains… “* Two Villages which Preserve their Historical Character: Gökmaslı and Göksu The two villages of Göksu and Gökmaslı have long preserved their character because there have been talks and expectations of a dam being built. Çataklı Köyü is a village that also completely preserved its civil architectural character. There are no summer houses within the village, and until now no villagers have sold their land. To be informed in time about events which change according to the season, you can follow Explore Ağva/Nature Society on their website, their Facebook page, or their messages on Twitter, and you can obtain a colour Map of Ağva, which the society has prepared. The Explore Ağva map, drawn by Adem Dönmez, contains details concerning Ağva in the form of a caricature. 253 tanbuş 254 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Hacıllı Waterfalls Tour This guided tour, which is carried out every Tuesday and Thursday during the spring and summer months, after a journey by vehicle from Ağva to Hacıllı, involves a rest and chat with villagers at Hacıllı Village Café, a nature walk to the Hacıllı waterfalls area, a swim and picnic at the small lake where the waterfalls and Gürlek cave are located, and a second swim break in the Göksu on the return journey, and it takes about five and a half hours. Address: http://exploreagva.com/tr/ agva-rehberleri/agva-etkinlikler-rehberi/ tur-hacilli River Safari on the Göksu You can go on this tour every Monday during the summer months, and it starts with a motorised boat tour setting off from Yeşilçay Holiday Village at 2pm. After a fish and swimming break, preparations for a barbecue on the riverbank are begun. After eating is free walking time. This tour lasts about 3 hours. Mushroom Walk with Jilber Barutçiyan These tours are carried out in the mushroom season of autumn, and are guided by perhaps the only mycologist (mushroom expert) in Turkey, Jilber Barutçiyan (Barutçuyan). Barutçiyan is a mushroom expert approved by the Swiss Health Ministry, and he gives courses and shares his knowledge with those who would like to collect mushrooms as amateurs. tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org For Those Who Wish to Explore Ağva by Foot TRACK 1 - KURFALLI FOREST TRACK Enter the forest from the Kurfallı hillside, which is on your right when you get to the end of the Nehir Boyu Avenue, which continues from the Tourism Information Office, which is on the Explore-Ağva map, 200m parallel to the Göksu creek. When you reach the Small House, you can take two different directions. For your walk, you go down to the gözleme-tea point in a northerly direction from the hillside to the left of the small house. If you take the path towards the hill, you will come across the Kurfallı dunes and one of the most wonderful views of the Black Sea. It is worth seeing where the Göksu Creek meets the sea. Address: http://exploreagva.com/tr/agvarehberleri/yuruyus-rehberi-parkurlar/ yuruyus-kurfalli-ormani TRACK 2 - DUDU BAYIRI HILL (MILLENIUM TREES FOREST) This time our route is on the eastern side of the Göksu Creek. After the start point on the Explore-Ağva map, start the walk by passing the eastern side of the Göksu. The hill directly in front of you is the Dudu Bayırı Hill. After a 600m walk along Karaağaç Avenue, on the slopes of Dudu Bayırı Hill, you will be directed into the forest. This is the Millennium Trees Forest. Pass the big tree and continue climbing up the hill until you get to the dirt track. When you have come to the end of the path down the hill, you will be again on Karaağaç Avenue. Turn right and pass Iskele Avenue opposite. This place is AŞIKLAR YOLU (“LOVER’S LANE”)! Address: http://exploreagva.com/tr/agvarehberleri/yuruyus-rehberi-parkurlar/ dudu-bayiri TRACK 3 - AŞIKLAR YOLU Here on the creek’s opposite hillside is the best place in Ağva to observe herons. When you have walked along Aşıklar Yolu towards the sea, the backstreets will lead you back to the centre of Ağva. Address: http://exploreagva.com/tr/agva- rehberleri/yuruyus-rehberi-parkurlar/ kilimli-yuruyus-parkuru TRACK 4 - KİLİMLİ NATURE WALK TRACK Kilimli track and bay are on the eastern limb of Ağva. You can cross to the other side in the rowing boats waiting for you at the mouth of the harbour, next to the Liman Restaurant, at the point where the Yeşilçay opens out to the sea. By walking the length of the forest and coastal strip, you may reach firstly the cliffs, and then the bay of Kilimli. There is a tomb from the Roman period at the start of the Kilimli track. On the coastal strip are limestone rocks which have become rock sculptures as a result of being worked by the wind and waves, the most well-known of which is the Bride Rock, which at one time resembled a bride, but it no longer has a head. TRACK 5 - ONBİRGÖLLER VALLEY AND HACILLI WATERFALLS TRACK This track is one of the places where the most important natural wonders of Ağva are situated. Take the information office on the Explore-Ağva map as your starting point and set off in your vehicle along the mountain road from Ağva towards Istanbul. At the end of a roughly 10km journey, you will have passed the villages of Isaköy, Gökmaslı, and Ubeyli, which are on the main road. Take a turn at the Göksu-Hacıllı roadsign. The village of Göksu is 4km from this road, and 7km from Hacıllı. If you start you walk from here, follow the dirt track that leads down to the right of the mosque. Keeping the river to your right, continue on your walk until you get to the wooden bridge. After here, you will walk along the valley through which the river flows on your right, towards the hill until you find the waterfalls. 255 tanbuş 256 istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org Do Not Leave Ağva Without Eating Food At These Places! Liman Restoran An Ağva classic at the harbour, on the banks of the Yeşilçay, a Black Sea fish restaurant. This restaurant, which has been run by Hacı Ramazan and Hüseyin Yazıcı since 1976, is right next to the Harbour Fishing operation, which also belongs to them. Web: http://www.agvalimanrestaurant. com Hanife Teyze’nin Bahçesi Hanife Teyze makes mancar (a type of black cabbage) bread in the village oven in the garden of her house in the village of Göçe every Thursday morning at 11am. The mancar plant grows at the side of the river. You can make a reservation for Hanife Teyze’s Garden by calling 0536 464 56 52. Şengül Farm The Şengül Farm on the bank of the Göksu River is a place suitable for passing a pleasurable time. It opened in 2008 and is managed by the Şengül family who are locals of Ağva. Web: http://www.sengulciftligi.com Return Route and Şile Again… tanbuş istanbulturizmmerkezleri.org If you left Şile in a hurry to go to Kabakoz, Akçakese and Ağva, there are perhaps many other places you did not see that stuck in your mind. For that reason, when you return to Şile, here are a few more recommendations for you if you have the time: Şile - Weeping Rock and Beach 500 to 600 metres back after leaving Şile Lighthouse, is the cave that gives its name to Weeping Rock, a source of fresh water, and the Weeping Rock shore. According to one belief, if you make a wish here, it will come true. Other Places: * Kumbaba (Kumtepe and Sand Lilies) One of the most interesting places in Şile. Kumtepe is full of rocks that are actually composed of an alloy of iron and copper. This is why they have a reddish-orange colour. * The sand lilies are one of the plants endemic to Şile, and they grow on the sand dunes. * Holy Spring Fountain and Beach One of the most popular beaches in Şile. The others are the Ağlayankaya and Uzunkum Beaches. The Şile people’s beach is free to use. * Uzunkum Beach This is quieter and its surroundings compared to Uzunkum beach are flatter. There are two beaches, one charged and one free. About Şile and other beaches in Istanbul see: “Everything About swimming”! * Hanımsuyu (Egyptian Hatice Sultan) Fountain and Kızlar Bathhouse This historic fountain on Üsküdar Avenue was built by Egyptian Hatice Sultan in 1871. The Old Hamam is an Ottoman bathhouse in the Hamamdere Neighbourhood. You can also see the Kızlar Bathhouse, which remains from the Byzantine period, close to the harbour. * The Hidden Lake - This small lake on the road in Karamandere has been seen in many Turkish films. Because this place is used for trekking, eating and drinking, and leisure, and because the places are limited, in order to benefit from these facilities, you should make a reservation before you go. Web: http://www.karamanderesakligol. com FaceBook: SaklıGöl 257