KARAMAN TURKEY

Karaman

Karaman Castle 

Karaman Castle (Karaman Kalesi), set in the city centreof Karaman, is believed to have been constructed in the late 11thcentury. The structure underwent some renovations during the Seljuk and Karamanid periods,and in 1465, the Ottomans repaired the citadel. In theserepairs, inscriptions and architectural elements from previously destroyedstructures were used on the castle ramparts. Traces of the Bronze,Roman and Byzantine periods can be observed in thecitadel.

Karaman Museum

You canwitness history during a visit to the Karaman Museum (Karaman Müzesi),featuring the rich archaeological and ethnographic artifacts of Karaman and itsenvirons.  The museum has two exhibition halls of archaeological and ethnographic artifacts,containing items from the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman, and TurkishRepublic eras. Among the exhibited artifacts are terracotta pots,idols, bone, and metal jewellery, weapons, ethnographic items, and ancientcoins, as well as lacrimatory, which are vases used to collect tears. 

Değle Archaeological Site 

The Değle Archaeological Site (Değle Ören Yeri) sheds light onthe Byzantine Era as well as earlier periods. Seton Karadağ, a volcanic mountain north of Karaman, theexcavation reveals details of Byzantine-era residential architecture. Comparedto religious structures of the same era, residences were simply built and quiteplain, with two or three rooms depending on the requirements of the period.

Apre-Byzantine altar on the site had been transformed into a rock altar duringthe Byzantine era. On the eastern side of the huge block is a relief depictinga man holding a bowl with his left hand and sowing seeds with his right. Thisindicates that Karaman was used as a settlement in antiquity by societiesengaged in agriculture.

Madenşehir Archaeological Site 

The Madenşehir Archaeological Site (Madenşehir ÖrenYeri) featuressome still-standing structures, which offer an idea of the period’s art andarchitecture.

Thelargest of the Binbir Church structures at the entrance of thevillage is the first basilica. The structure was built in the year 500 and wasrepaired in 900s after it was destroyed in an Arab invasion. The necropolis (cemetery)area lies on both sides of the road, stretching north from the first basilica.The outer surfaces of some of the sarcophagi here are decorated with reliefsand figures.

Gökçeseki Archaeological Site

The Gökçeseki Archaeological Site (Gökçeseki ÖrenYeri) isin Gökçeseki Village, in the Ermenek district.Inside the site are the basic traces of many buildings, some architecturalpieces, numerous pottery shards and, at the top, a sanctuary with steps. Thereare two hills and a number of rock tombs on the northern slope of one and thesouthern slope of the other, as well as some structural remains and tombs inthe small valley between the two hills. Klinai and lion-shaped covers can beseen inside the rock tombs, some of which are multi-chambered and somesingle-chambered. The excavations, including the tombs, suggest that the sitewas a settlement during the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Yunus Emre Mosque and Tomb

Havinghosted many civilizations, Anatolia is also the birthplace ofthese civilizations’ literature, much of which is renowned worldwide. Numerouspoets came from this region. Yunus Emre is a folk poet ofSufism and the pioneer of Turkish poetry in Anatolia. The Yunus EmreMosque (Yunus Emre Cami) was built during the Karamanid Periodand is in the city centre of Karaman. Adjacent to the western wallof the building is the tomb of Yunus Emre.

Aktekke Mosque

Aktekke Mosque (Aktekke Cami) is in the city centreof Karaman. The mosque is in the form of a social complex, as wascommon in that era. The complex includes baths, along with dervish cells in themosque environs. There are cemeteries in its south and west areas as well astombs and cemeteries inside. The great Turkish mystic and sufi, MevlanaCelaleddin-i Rumi, came to Karaman with his family in 1222, was marriedthere and stayed for seven years. The structure is also known as the Mader-iMevlâna Mosque, as the tomb of Mümine Hatun, Mevlana´smother, is in the building known as Aktekke Mosque among thepublic. On the left-hand side inside the mosque, built in 1370, there are 21stone sarcophagi belonging to Mevlana´s mother, elder brother, and otherrelatives.

Taşkale Grain Storage

In ancienttimes, humans discovered that grain products could be stored for more than 30years – if placed in warehouses carved into calcareous clay rock. Thus, earlyinhabitants carved the Taşkale Grain Storage (Taşkale Tahıl Ambarları),located within the borders of Taşkale village in the centre ofKaraman. The Storage consists of more than 250 single or two-chambered storagehouses in total. You can climb the storage houses by holding onto the indentson the rock surface. Cereal products are transported by a chain roller system.

Çeşmeli Church

As anexample of Byzantine architecture, Çeşmeli Church (ÇeşmeliKilise) (Surp Asvadzadzin Armenian Church) is another of thechurches in Karaman that have hosted many civilizations. Set in the citycentre, the church is in the Tapucak Settlement, one of the oldestin Karaman. This settlement was inhabited by Armenians and Greeks,who lived together with Turkish people prior to World War I andthe population exchange.

Thechurch was restored in 2007 and started to be used for artistic events suchas exhibitions, meetings, and music concerts.

Hatuniye Madrasa

With theadvent of Islam, various rulers erected numerous madrasas acrossAnatolia. Hatuniye Madrasa (Hatuniye Medresesi), located inthe city centre, is among them. It was built in 1382. There are studentchambers on the east and west sides of the madrasa.

Tol Madrasa

Known asthe first major madrasa built during the Karamanid Period, TolMadrasa (Tol Medrese) is one of the works of the beyliks reigning inAnatolian geography and located in the Ermenek district.Ethnographic pieces and stone artifacts collected from the region are exhibitedin this madrasa, which was built in 1339.

Hürrem Dayı House

To see anexample of Traditional Turkish House Architecture during theOttoman Empire, you can visit the Hürrem Dayı House (Hürrem Dayı Evi), locatedin the city centre of Karaman. With nearly 300 years ofhistory, Hürrem Dayı Evi takes visitors on a nostalgic journey withits hand-carved wooden ornamentation.

Tartanlar Mansion

Set inthe city centre of Karaman, Tartanlar Mansion (TartanlarKonağı) built in 1810 by Hacı Ahmet Efendi of theTartanzade family. Considered one of the most beautiful examples of AnatolianTurkish House Architecture, the building has a middle antechamber plan withtwo floors. Fine handcrafted decorations in the house attract attention.