Travelers to traverse route of great adventurer of Ottoman era

BURSA - Doğan News Agency

Researchers for the project traveled on the Evliya Çelebi Cultural Route on horseback and made works on culture, history, botany, archaeology and horse-riding. They arrived in the Babasultan village, where the project was introduced. AA photo

Horse-riding and hiking enthusiasts will soon be able to walk in the footsteps of the Ottoman Empire’s most famous traveler, Evliya Çelebi, with the construction of the 600-kilometer Evliya Çelebi Cultural Route in western Anatolia.

The cultural road project, which aims to revive history and re-establish cultural ties, includes the routes that Evliya Çelebi passed during a journey that started in Istanbul and ended in the Hejaz in 1671. 

Researchers taking part in the project traveled on the Evliya Çelebi Cultural Route on horseback and made works on culture, history, botany, archaeology and horse-riding. They arrived in the Babasultan village, where the project was introduced, with their horses to be welcomed by Bursa Mayor Recep Altepe. 

Altepe said the project started in 2011, the internationally recognized Year of Evliya Çelebi. “The city of Bursa aims to improve its identity as a city of tourism. At this point, cultural routes are very important. As a common work of the Culture and Tourism Ministry and the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, we are introducing Turkey’s longest riding travel and walking route.” 

The mayor said 250 kilometers of the 600-kilometer route, which starts in the northwestern province of Yalova and ends in the inner Aegean province of Kütahya, passed between İznik and Kütahya and that Babasultan was a historic village along the route. 

“Necessary arrangements have been made on this route. Our goal is to host tourists visiting this region in the best way and therefore to make a contribution to Turkish tourism. This work will provide added value to Turkey,” he said. 

Babasultan unique 

Speaking about the details of the project, Ottoman historian Dr. Caroline Finkel said researchers on the project were very pleased with the interest they had received so far on the project. 

“Babasultan village on the route of the Evliya Çelebi Cultural Road is a unique one. This is the most beautiful place on this road,” she said. 

She also asked for a bridge on the road to be named the Evliya Çelebi Bridge.