Afyonkarahisar

Ömer Hot Springs, Afyon

These hot springs, 15 km from the provincial centre, are one of Afyon's important sources of healing water and contribute a great deal to the city's tourism. They are said to be good for many conditions, above all rheumatism, joint pain, infertility and bronchitis. The spring water contains iron, arsenic, sulphate, nitrate, chrome, copper, magnesium, lead, barium, fluoride, carbon dioxide and zinc. There are also many hotels in the area where you can stay.

Gedik Ahmet Pasha Madrasa, Afyon

Part of a külliye (complex), this madrasa was built in 1472. Built of cut stone on a rectangular plan and reflecting Ottoman architecture, it was designed by the architect Ayaz Ağa. It has 2 large domes, 24 small domes and student cells. Open to visitors since 1997, it is a madrasa you will want to see if you love historic buildings.

Kabe Mescidi, Afyon

This small mosque, just below Karahisar Castle, is not well known. It is one of the city's important historic buildings and takes its name from being built to the dimensions of the Kaaba. It was built in 1397 and has a small dome.

Karacamal Cave, Afyon

Sadly it is little known because it has not been well promoted. It is in the Kocadere area and has many bats. The cave has a wide entrance and splits into several branches inside. It has 5 sections in total; in spring the water level rises and it becomes hard to enter the last section.

Çay Caravanserai, Afyon

A covered caravanserai, it is one of the historic buildings that best reflect the Seljuk period. Its other name is Taşhan, and it is in Afyon's Çay district. Its open section has been damaged, but the covered section is still sound. Built in 1278, this caravanserai should be on your list.

Memeç Rock Church, Afyon

The church in the İhsaniye district is one of the oldest buildings in the province. It is above Lake Emre and easy to reach. It was built on a steep rock, and sadly its front section has been completely destroyed.

Amorium ancient city, Afyon

This ancient city in the Emirdağ district, home to many civilisations, is 13 km from the district centre. The first excavations here were carried out by the University of Oxford in 1988. It experienced its most brilliant periods under both Rome and Byzantium. In the Roman period it even struck its own coins, and in the Byzantine period it became a central place. In later years Seljuk and Ottoman traces were also left on the area.

Sarıçayır rock tombs, Afyon

These rock tombs in the İscehisar district most probably date from the Byzantine period. There are both family and single tombs carved into the rock, with reliefs and decoration on them.

Döğer archaeological site, İhsaniye, Afyon

This site in the İhsaniye district has been used as a place of settlement since the Phrygian period. There are also burial chambers and churches thought to date from the Roman and Byzantine periods. The Kapıkaya 1, Kapıkaya 2 and Aslankaya temples are in this area, scattered about.

Apameia ancient city, Afyon

This ancient city, sadly neglected and unpromoted, is in fact a candidate to become an important tourist site. It is considered the most important ancient city after Ephesus. Many coins were found here and are now displayed in Afyon Museum. With a stadium and an ancient theatre, the city was known by the name Kelainai in the Roman period.

Dokimeion ancient city, Afyon

Like Apameia, this little-known place has no known founding date, but some say it was founded by the Macedonians. Coins were struck here in the names of Roman emperors.

Gazlıgöl Hot Springs, Afyon

As we said before, the city of Afyon is rich in hot springs, in other words healing waters. Many tourists come to the city to find healing. The mineral water of these springs, in the İhsaniye district and just 25 km from the provincial centre, is the source of Kızılay Mineral Water. So if you come here, you will be bathing in Kızılay mineral water. These springs even have a legend, and there are hotels offering thermal treatment.

Great Mosque (Ulu Camii), Afyon

It is the city's largest place of worship. It has impressive architecture with distinctive features that set it apart from other mosques. Because it has 40 wooden columns inside, it is also called the 40-Column Mosque. Construction began in 1272 and was completed in 1277. It was built by Sahipata Nusreddin Hasan and was repaired in 1341.

Sandıklı Castle (Sandıklı Hisar Castle), Afyon

This castle, standing on a mound of heaped earth, was designed by the architect Çoban. Built in 1325 by the Germiyanid sultan Çelebi Hüsameddin Yakub bin Umur Bey, sadly only its walls are still sound. If serious restoration is not carried out soon, this historic building will disappear.

Yedikapılar Monastery, Afyon

This monastery in the Bolvadin district is one of the province's important historic sites. It was built on a steep rock and is quite easy to reach. Its construction date is unknown, but it is thought to have been built between the 8th and 10th centuries.

Mısri Mosque, Afyon

This mosque, with its impressive architecture, was built by Kasım Pasha in 1593, so its other name is the Kasım Pasha Mosque. Evliya Çelebi, however, called it the Abdürrahman Efendi Mosque in his Book of Travels. There is a tomb next to the mosque.

Lake Eber, Afyon

This natural beauty is home to ruddy shelducks, great bitterns, pygmy cormorants and Dalmatian pelicans. The 12th largest lake in our country, it is visited mostly by hunters. It has been a first-degree natural protected site since 1992.

Other places to see in Afyonkarahisar

• Ayazini Church, Afyon

• Afyon Archaeology Museum

• Phrygian Valley, Afyon

• Republic Martyrs' Monument, Afyon

• Karahisar Castle, Afyon

• Anıtkaya Martyrs' Cemetery, Afyon

• Göynüş Valley open-air temple, Afyon

• Bolvadin Museum, Afyon
• Victory Museum (Zafer Müzesi), Afyon
• Hüdai Hot Springs, Sandıklı, Afyon
• Kurtini Cave, Afyon
• Ice Cave (Buzluk Mağarası), Afyon
• Eğerli Rock Church, Afyon
• Avdalas Castle, Afyon
• İmaret Mosque, Afyon
• Ot Pazarı Mosque, Afyon
• Commander-in-Chief (Başkomutanlık) National Park, Afyon
• Afyonkarahisar Museum
• Synnada ancient city, Afyon

The districts of Afyon province are Başmakçı, Bayat, Bolvadin, Çay, Çobanlar, Dazkırı, Dinar, Emirdağ, Evciler, Hocalar, İhsaniye, İscehisar, Kızılören, Sandıklı, Sincanlı, Sultandağı and Şuhut.

Başmakçı
At the far southern tip of the province, 129 km from the provincial centre, the district rests against the Söğüt Mountains. It is famous for Isparta, Kula, Ladik and Hereke-type carpet weaving, rose growing, its bird sanctuary and Lake Acı.

Bayat
On the Afyon–Ankara road, 46 km from the provincial centre. The Bayat district has the Byzantine-era settlements of Kurtini, İnpazarcık, Asarkale, Elicek and Yanıkin. Root-dyed Bayat kilims have become famous enough to receive orders from America, Japan and many European countries.

Bolvadin
The district lies 13 km off the Afyon–Konya road, 61 km from the provincial centre, on the ancient Royal Road, on the shore of Lake Eber. Lake Eber has made its name abroad with its reed beds, floating islets and fishing. The district's other attractions are the Heybeli hot springs, Horan Park, the Kırkgöz Bridge, Yanık Kışla, the Lala Sinan Pasha Mosque, the Alaca Mosque and fountain, the Çarşı Mosque, the Hacı Ahmet Mosque, the Kırklar Mosque, the Kara Çeşme, the Ak Çeşme, the Hacı Ahmet fountain, the underground city at Kemerkaya, the fairy chimneys in the Minarelik stream valley, the old Afyon houses in the centre and İnsuyu Cave.

Çay
On the Afyon–Konya road, 48 km from the provincial centre. Although the district's history goes back a long way, few historic monuments survive. Its natural beauties include Lakes Eber and Karamık, where people fish and hunt various birds. Çağlayan Park and waterfall and the Kanlı Yer poplar grove are popular picnic spots. The Seljuk Taş Mosque and caravanserai are its important historic monuments.

Çobanlar
The area's history is known to be as old as the mounds beside the Akarçay and to go back to the Early Bronze Age. The ancient city of Anabura was founded at today's village of Kocaöz (Feleli). The statue of Artemis in the Afyon Archaeology Museum was found here.

Dazkırı
On the Afyon–Denizli road, 140 km from the provincial centre. Our district became a district in 1959. It has become world-famous for its root-dyed carpet weaving and carpet shops.

Dinar
On the Afyon–Antalya road, 106 km from the provincial centre, between the Mediterranean and Aegean regions. The first music contest in history, between Marsyas and the god Apollo, took place in Dinar. The district's main sights are the Danteon (temple of the gods), the temple of Artemis-Anaitis, the ancient theatre, the agora (market place), the ancient stadium, Suçıkan Park, Pınarbaşı, the Karakuyu bird sanctuary, the Norgaz picnic area and the Cerit and Zenderi summer pastures.

Emirdağ
One of the oldest districts, founded 70 km north-east of Afyon, settlement in the Emirdağ area goes back to 1437 BC. The Emirbaba, Gölcük and Çiçekli pastures, Balcam Cave, the Amorium site and the Pınarbaşı spring that feeds the Sakarya River are places to see.

Evciler
Pieces found in the surrounding mounds show that its history goes back to the Lydians. The district has two mounds, known as Koca Höyük and Küçük Höyük, and two ruin sites called Öküzviran and Kocaviran.

Hocalar
Anatolia has been the cradle of many civilisations since ancient times. A bronze Hittite statue found in the Ahır Mountains suggests that the area has been an important settlement since very early times.

İhsaniye
35 km north of Afyon. Among its attractions are the Gazlıgöl hot springs and drinking springs, Phrygian rock monuments, Roman and Byzantine rock settlements, burial chambers, fairy chimneys and summer pastures. The settlements of Ayazin and Kayıhan and the historic remains of Kapıkayalar, Aslantaş, Maltaş and Yılantaş belong to the Phrygian period. Adorned with natural rock formations and fairy chimneys, the area is known as the Phrygian region. The mineral water from the Gazlıgöl springs is world-famous.

İscehisar
On the Afyon–Ankara road, 23 km from the provincial centre. It became a district in 1987. Built on rich marble deposits, the district has developed through farming, livestock and the marble industry.

Kızılören
In this district, 3 km off the Afyon–Antalya road and 87 km from the provincial centre, the sights worth seeing are the Great Mosque, the protected plane tree and the historic houses in the town centre.

Sandıklı
Sixty km from the provincial centre, it is one of the important settlements on the Antalya–Denizli road and the İzmir–Ankara–Istanbul railway. The district is famous for its hot springs and its leblebi (roasted chickpeas). The Hüdai hot springs in the district serve domestic and international tourism.

Sincanlı
On the Afyon–Uşak–İzmir road, 33 km from the provincial centre, the district was founded at the junction of ancient roads that bear its name, whose traces can still be seen. Places to see include the forest picnic area of Tazlar village, the Commander-in-Chief National Park, the Great Offensive Martyrs' Cemetery, the Colonel Reşat Monument at Çiğiltepe, the Yıldırım Kemal Martyrs' Cemetery, the Sinanpaşa and Kureşbaba (Boyalı) complexes, Otuziki İnler, and the Kırka and Serban ponds.

Sultandağı
Founded at the foot of the Sultan Mountains at kilometre 68 of the Afyon–Konya road. Up to the Byzantine and Seljuk periods it was a stopping point between west and east, and it gained commercial importance as the Anatolia–Baghdad Silk Road passed through it. The main places to see are the Akşehir lakes; picnic spots such as Taşköprü, Çiğdem Düzü and Asmalı; the Sahipata caravanserai and hamam; the Laleli fountain; the Ice Cave; the Dort stream and the monastery. The Balaban, Dumra, Küçük Kirazlı and Büyük Kirazlı pastures, covered with hazel forests, are well suited to highland tourism.

Şuhut
At the far east of the Inner Aegean region, Şuhut is 29 km from the provincial centre. The district's history is thought to go back to the Neolithic, with Şuhut Hisar, Karaadilli and Kepirtepe Höyük thought to contain finds from that age. Hisar Tepesi (Synnada Höyük), the Bininler rock tombs and Asmakaya Castle are old settlement sites, and the Kayabelen pond and the Selevir dam lake are picnic and recreation spots.