Kastamonu, located in the West Black Sea Region, is characteristically a maritime city with its back against Central Anatolia. Other determinative elements of its geography are mountains, valleys, and forests... Küre Mountains that lie north of the city center and parallel to the sea and Ilgaz Mountains to the south are the most magnificent peaks of the region's nature. Let us point out that more than 60% of the city's lands is covered with forests. The lands of Kastamonu have witnessed many civilizations. Surviving the Phrygian, Lydian, Persian, Hellenistic, Pontic, and Roman civilizations; it has come to the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey.
Tourist Attractions
Kastamonu Fortress is the first place to visit that catches your eye in the city. This fortress, which has protected the city with all its grandeur, is said to have been built in the Byzantine era. The core part of the inner fortress, which has reached the present in good condition, was built during the Byzantine era; while the upper part was built during the Jandarid era.
The Government Office and the City History Museum are among places to see at one swoop. Houses of Kastamonu are especially worth seeing. 1464 properties that are cultural assets were identified in the city, 564 of which are located in the city center. Examples of traditional Turkish houses that have not lost their authenticity and recent period Ottoman civil architecture can be toured and seen in the neighborhoods of Akmescit, Hepkebirler, Atabey, and İsmailbey in the center. You can come up against these kinds of traditional houses in the old neighborhoods of districts such as Taşköprü, Küre, İnebolu, Araç, and Abana as well.
Atabey Mosque in the city center was constructed during the Jandarid era in 1273. Because of the wooden pillars which stretch from the gate to the altar, it is called “The One with 140 Pillars” among locals. The short minaret of the mosque, which is made of cut stone, carries the characteristics of the Seljuk era.
İbni Neccar Mosque, another place to see in the central region, dates back to 1353. The gate of the mosque inside the pointed arch is considered among beautiful examples of woodworking.
Mahmut Bey Mosque, located in the village of Kasaba approximately 20 km northwest of the city, is one of the beautiful monuments of the wooden mosque tradition of the Seljuk and Beylik periods. The door wings of the mosque, which was built by the order of Jandarid Mahmut Bey in 1388, are adorned with old writings and plant motifs. Hand drawings that were made on smooth wood with colored paint are worth seeing.
Jandarid İsmail Bey (1443-1480) had a külliye (Islamic social complex) made that consists of a mosque, shrine, madrasah, and a soup kitchen in 1451. The stonemasonry on the front facade of the shrine in this area, that is known as İsmail Bey Külliye, may draw your interest.
Like many other cities in Anatolia; some time should especially be set aside for caravanserais in Kastamonu as well. İsmail Bey Caravanserai, alternatively called Kurşunlu Han, should be the first one to see. You can visit this caravanserai that is located in Aktarlar Çarşısı (Herbalists' Bazaar) by entering it from its two gates; the north and the south. Deve Caravanserai, located right behind the İsmail Bey Külliye, can be another spot to visit. In the endowment document of İsmail Bey, it is stated that this caravanserai was built together with the külliye.
Among places you can see without getting far away from the city center are the village of Hacımuharrem, the Mehran neighborhood, Kızkayası Locality, the village of Gödel, the Kayabaşı Locality Tumulus, the village of Alpagut, Üçtepeler Tumulus, the village of Dere, Gölyeri Tumulus, the village of Darıbükü, Ayvagüler Neighborhood, and Cists.
Küre Mountains make up inarguably one of the biggest richnesses of the geography of Kastamonu. The humid carstic forests, that are rare in the world, are among forests that are internationally recognized from an ecological perspective, with the abundance of plant and wildlife variety. As a result of these characteristics, the 37 thousand hectare area west of Küre Mountains were declared a national park in 2000.
Küre Mountains is one of the “100 Hotspots” in need of immediate preservation in Europe. The presence of 675 plant species was determined in the park which is considered to be an Important Plant Area (IPA) and an Important Natural Area (INA). The giant birch trees in the area, defined as a “natural arboretum”, are under protection as natural monuments. 40 of the 132 mammal species that are known to exist in Turkey are found here. 129 bird species from 38 bird genera are seen in the area.
Valla Canyon in the village of Muratbaşı in Pınarbaşı, Yaralıgöz Mountain -the slopes of which are covered with fir trees-, Kokurdan Plateau in the village of Kerte, Ilgarini Cave, Ilıca Waterfall, Ilıca Roman Bath, and Horma Canyon are among the treasures of the mountains. In the mountain villages, on the other hand, traditional architectural texture lives and breathes.
Kastamonu In One DayYou may start this day by touring the Archeology and Ethnography Museum and the Fortress. Other places you should see in the center could be the Government Office, Zımbıllı Tepe (Zımbıllı Hill), Nasrullah Kadı Külliye, Yakup Ağa Külliye, İsmail Bey Külliye, and Weaving and Handicrafts Workshops. If you happened to have come in the summer months, you can take a tour of the Küre Mountains; while in the winter you can visit the Ilgaz skiing facilities.
City Tours and TransportationIn addition to being able to tour the inner part of the city by walking, you can rent a car to get away a little bit. Public transportation options are available in the city center. Transportation to the districts and villages is provided with buses, minibuses, and share taxis.
Nearby LocationsAmong what you should see in the vicinity of Kastamonu, the houses of İnebolu should definitely take first place. These wooden structures built on steep slopes generally have either two or three stories. The roofs of the houses, which are slanted on four sides, are covered with slate (marla stone) that is authentic to the region, instead of regular tiles.
You should see the district of Taşköprü (“Stonebridge”), which is famous for its garlic festival and historical bridge. The reflection of the bays of the arches on the water at the first light of the morning, forms a splendid view. Taşköprü, located on the ancient Roman route on the İstanbul-Sakarya-Düzce-Bolu-Safranbolu-Kastamonu- Sinop-Samsun line and above Gök River, has maintained its historical function for centuries. There are also rich archeological findings in the district of Taşköprü.
Countless untouched beaches are located between Amasra and Sinop. Contrary to the Mediterranean; in summer months, these quiet beaches live continuous solitude. Kapısu, Ginolu and Gideros are the primary ones of these bays. Gideros Bay of the district of Cide is one of the few natural ports of the Black Sea. When the weather suddenly changes and waves rise, fishermen take refuge here. Dense forest vegetation surrounds Gideros, in front of which lies the deep blue sea, from the back.
Azdavay district of Kastamonu is famous for the unparalleled natural beauties it has. Its forest areas present all hues of red, yellow, orange, and green in the fall. The wooden houses of the villages inside the forests are still standing. Ballıdağ (Ballı Mountain) which separates the Daday and Azdavay districts of Kastamonu like a tall barrier, gives life to the area with water springs, forests, and various plant species. Azdavay Waterwall, which is also called “Başdeğirmen (Main mill)” because of the centuries-old mills around it, can be seen. Medil Cave and Çatak Canyon near Azdavay Waterfall are among places that should be visited.
Culture & Entertainment
Museums, Public Squares, Historical Locations, Monuments
The plan of the building that is located in the city center of Kastamonu and serves as the Archeological Museum today, was drawn by Architect Kemaleddin Bey. The structure, which was used as the Union and Progress Club in 1917, was used by the Independence Tribunals in 1921. Afterwards; until 1945, it also served as the buildings for the Turkish Society, People's Party, and the Kastamonu Youth Organization.
Livapaşa Mansion Ethnography Museum is another spot of culture to see in the center. Livapaşa Mansion, an example of civil architecture, was specially commissioned to be built by Mir Liva Sadık Pasha in the 1870s. Livapaşa Mansion was opened for service as the Ethnography Museum in 1997. The upper floor was designed as a house museum with a bridal chamber, living room, main room, guest room, and everyday room. Let us add that ethnographic artifacts are displayed in halls on the upper floor as well.
You can tour Pompeiopolis, or Zımbıllı Tepe Mound as it is more commonly known here, in the district of Taşköprü. This ancient city located near the district center was founded as the center of the state of Paphlagonia by the Romans in 64 BC. Many artifacts and mosaics were unearthed in the archeological excavations that were conducted.
Parks, Games, Events, Natural Areas
Kastamonu is also quite diverse and rich in terms of beaches. Cide Gideros Bay, Cide Beach, Merkez (Center), Kumluca, Akbayır Village Beaches, the Womens-Only Beach in Doğanyurt, Boyranaltı Beach in İnebolu, Gemiciler (Mariners) Village Beach, in Bozkurt, Yakaören (İlişi) Village Beach, the Public Beach in Abana, Tatil Köyü (Holiday Village) Beach, and Ginolu Beach Natural Protected Area in Çatalzeytin are the major beaches.
Küre Mountains are interesting with canyons as well. One of such canyons, Valla Canyon is located within the borders of the district of Pınarbaşı. Valla Canyon is also pointed to as one of the biggest canyons in the world, with a 12 kilometer length. The Pınarbaşı Municipality and the Gendarmerie give support to tourism and nature sports. For activities that will take place here, applying to the Gendarmerie station first and submitting the participant list to the station are quite important for the security of the group. The Gendarmerie may not let people cross unless the required security and weather conditions for crossing the canyon are present.
Ilıca, one of the most famous waterfalls in Turkey, is among what you can see in Kastamonu. Although it is not a very high waterfall, it has made a name for itself with its scenery and the magnificent pond it has formed. It unexpectedly appears through the steep and high walls of Horma Canyon and flows from ten meters into a pond that is characteristically a natural pool.
The beach at the shore of the pond is flooded with people who would like to swim, in summer months. In the surrounding area of the Ilıca Waterfall; Ilgarini Cave which has the ruins of a church inside, Mantar (Mushroom) Cave which is interesting for its different limestone formations, and Kuyluç Cave with a wide mouth can be seen.
1088 hectare portion of Ilgaz Mountain and its immediate surrounding area was declared a national park in 1976. All of the area of the national park falls within the borders of the Kastamonu-Çankırı Ilgaz Winter Sports Tourism Center that was announced in 1997. The mountain, the height of which is 2 thousand 587 meters, is used mostly for skiing and mountaineering in the winter. There are three ski tracks, a chairlift, and a baby lift in Ilgaz Mountain, where it is possible to ski from the beginning of December to the middle of April. The total length of the tracks is around 3 thousand 250 meters. As it is close to all of the cities of the West Black Sea, it is very crowded in the winter months and especially on weekends. The tracks of Ilgaz Mountain not being very difficult, it is suitable for those who would like to learn how to ski as well.
