ŞİLE, AĞVA

Transcription

ŞİLE, AĞVA
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ŞİLE, AĞVA
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ŞİLE
Kabakoz
Saklı Göl Karamandere
Akçakese
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Kufalı
AĞVA
Gökmaslı
Göksu
Kalemli
Hacılı Gürlek Mağarası
Çataklı
Kadırga Koyu
Kilimli Koyu
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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,
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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
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Şile Limanı ve
Şile Tahlisiye Binasıve Kayıkhane
Şile Çarşısı
Ayazma Plajı
Kumbaba Plajı
* Kumtepe
* Kum Zambakları
* Kumbaba Türbesi
Hanımsuyu ( Mısı
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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/
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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/
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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.
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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.
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Rom
Ağva Plajı
Dudubayırı Tepesi Yürüyüş Parkur
Kufalı Ormanı Yürüyüş Parkuru
Yakuplu Deresi
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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
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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
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