Kütahya is a special city with its own cultural and historical richness, colored tiles, carpets and other hand made art works, architectural creations and folkloric characteristics. There are 1300 registered cultural wealth in the city center and in its districts. There 4 are four museums called archeology museum, tile museum, Kossuth museum, ancient Aizanoi Polis and there are some civilian architectural samples such as Germiyan Street. With its natural beaties, cultural and historical richness, and thermal springs, Kütahya has a great tourism potential. It is the only city that has 5 thermal tourism centre and 32 of 240 Turkey?s spas centers are found in Kütahya.

Ancient City of Aizanoi - Aezani (Çavdarhisar)
The ancient city is situated 57 km southwest of Kütahya, in Çavdarhisar. The settlement dates back to 3000 BC. Aizanoi was settled on the two banks of River Rhyndakos that flowed through the region called 'Phrygia Epiktetus' (little Phrygia) in ancient times. The name Aizanoi comes from the word eksouanous (eksis=hedgehog, ouanous =fox). It is understood that these animals used to be sacrificed for the sake of the city. According to sources from ancient writings, the city was conquered by the king of Bithynia, Prusias I, and put under the domination of the Kingdom of Pergamon. After the unification of the Kingdom of Pergamon with Rome it too joined Rome. The name ?Azanion? comes from the nymph Erato, who is one of Zeus" daughters, and Azan, who was the son of Arkas from Arkdaya. We also come across the name 'Ezeanition' on the coins from the Augustus period (27 BC-14 AC). Aizanoi became a wealthy city with its grain, wine and wool production. It had fame for a while as the main market of the empire, lived in the glorious age in the 2nd century and experienced many public works improvements. The city became a centre of the patriarchate with the spread of Christianity and was discovered by European tourists in 1824.
There are ruins of two agorae, the temple of Zeus, a stadium, a theatre, bath and gymnasium situated on both sides of the river.

Temple of Zeus; Built on a dais on an area 130.5 x 112m. It islocated 200m away from the western bank of the river and it is surrounded by colonnaded galleries. It was built to a dipteral plan with 4 Corinthian columns and 120 Ionian Columns of 8 x 15. In the temple under the main cella (inner shrine of a Greek or Roman temple), there are stairs that go down to underground cella. This underground cella was dedicated to the goddess of Phrygia, Meter Steunene. The temple is one of the best examples of the Ionian style in Anatolia. The acroters are especially interesting. On the west pediment, the middle acroter is decorated with the bust of goddess Kybele placed in the middle of acanthi branches and leaves. On the east pediment acroter, there is a bust of Zeus. The temple was built between the years 117-138 and has a courtyard and agora with columns in Doric style. On its front gallery walls, there are epitaphs praising Apuleius who served the Emperors Hadrian and Aizanoi.

Theatre: 200m northeast of the Zeus Temple the two-storey theatre is found next to the Stadium. It has a capacity of 13,000 and a stage with a diameter of 56m. From the epitaphs on its walls, we learn that Apuleius, whose name is also to be found on the Zeus Temple and on the 4th Roman Bridge, played an important role in the construction of the theatre.

Stadium: This structure isattached to the theatre and has dimensions of 220 x 50m. Its construction started in approximately the year 160 A.D. and was not finished until approximately 250. The stadium has a capacity of 13,500, a wide-gate on the west side and a "VIP Section" where there are medallions of athletes. There is a marble wall that separates the stadium and the theatre. Onboth sides of there are reliefs depicting hunting scenes.
On the east bank of the river, there is a round structure with 16 columns, a tomb and a necropolis that belonged to the City Elders.

Stock Exchange Building: This building was used as a grain market during the first half of the century. On its walls, there are price lists of all the goods sold in markets throughout the empire; inscriptions which show the prices set by Emperor Diocletian in 301 as a measure against inflation. Amongst the interesting things to be gleaned from the price lists is that: the price of a strong slave is equal to two donkeys, a horse is equal to two slaves and that is equivalent to 30,000 dinar. This building is considered important, as it gives certain information about the architectural development and social life of the city. And it is widely known as the world's first commodity exchange.

Colonnaded Street:This road was attached to the northeast part of the stock exchange and along the road were shops and galleries. It passes the Temple of Zeus and extends to the Holy Arena of Kybele.

Ancient Bridges:There were five bridges on the River Rhyndakos. One was made of wood and the others were stone-vaulted. Only two of them have survived to the present day.

Mound of Seyitömer

The excavation of the mound in Seyitömer town started in 1990 and has continued since. The first settlement in the mound starts with Bronze Period. This area was by the river and was surrounded by city walls. The mound became a centre for pottery made with moulds instead of hand-made ones, as seen in the early Bronze Age period. During the Hittite Period, the tumulus was surrounded by walls set above the fairly high terrace walls. In the rampart there are structures which have single or double shaped horseshoe fire places. Iron ingots and ruins of furnaces that worked with iron during the later phase of this period have also been found. The tumulus was surrounded by solid and high city walls during the Phrygian period. In later periods, a long stairway on the north side of the tumulus and a big structure with stairs and terrace walls on the west side was built.

Structures from the classical and Hellenistic periods onthe upper level of the tumulus were found entirely excavated. In this period, the tumulus was also surrounded by solid city walls supported with towers. The structures were attached to each other. They had stone walls with big square and rectangular plans. Findings from the studies of the foundations suggest that there had been a temple on the summit of the tumulus, during the Roman period.

Since early Bronze period, the inhabitants of Seyitömer have been involved with hunting, agriculture, stockbreeding, weaving, pottery and industrial production such as mining. Inhabitants of the tumulus used to worship the Mother Goddess Kybele. In the early Bronze Age period and together with the Roman period they started to worship Zeus. Many figures, idols and statues of animals relating to their beliefs have been found. In the excavations parts of pots, disk crushers, a catapult stone, a piece of a pot shaped in the form of an animal, plates, incisive tools made of flint and horn, a ring made of bone, stones, a bronze coin with a portrait of Athena and glass beads were found.

Valley of Phrygia

The region formed by the Kütahya-Afyonkarahisar- Eskisehir triangle used to be defined as the mountainous setting for 'Phrygia Epictetus' (little Phrygia). But today it is known as 'the Valley of Phrygia'. The region starts at the village of New Bosna, which is 7 km away to the city centre, and extends to the village of Ovacik, which is 54 km away from Kütahya, along the eastern part of the province. The Northern part includes the caves of 'Sabuncipinar, Sögüt, Inli, Sökmen, Findik, and Incik' and Ovacik Village and Inlice District are in the southern part.

The Valley of Phrygia is covered with the tufa rock of Mount Türkmen, an extinct volcano to the east of Kütahya. The valley was settled by the Phrygians during the years 900-600 BC. As the tufa rock of volcanoes is easily worked the Phrygians used it to create many things by carving and inlaying. Many historical structures which were dedicated to the goddess Kybele have survived to the present day. Amongst these are: open air temples, altars, rock tombs and buildings erected for defence and shelter. Later the Romans then the Byzantines settled in the area. Of the churches and natural chapels found in this region one can still distinguish the crosses fromnatural dye, meandering patterns, writing and frescos. There are also natural castles, "Deliktas Castle" and "Penteser Castle" which were created by Phrygians and Byzantines by carving the rock.

Although Phrygians are indo-european in origin they soon became Anatolians. However they were influenced by both Ionian and late Hittite culture, and they were able to create an authentic Anatolian culture. Phrygian works of wood and weaving were in great demand in Ionian markets and their craftsmen were much copied by the lonians. Among these works are bronze plates with handles and bronze cauldrons; stringy-hooked pins made of gold, silver and bronze renowned at the time for its advanced technique; belts, hairclips from precious metals, richly-adorned textiles and furniture decorated with geometrical patterns. Their weaving of rugs in a style known as 'Tapates' influenced the carpet and rug design of subsequent Anatolian civilizations.

Mosques and Tombs

Ulu Mosque
This isthe most beautiful and the biggest mosque in Kütahya. Its construction started in the Yildirim Bayezid Period (1381-1384) -and finished in the Mehmet 2 (Mehmet the Conqueror) period in 1401. During the Rhodes campaign of Süleyman the Magnificent, it was restored by the architect Sinan. The mosque reached its last stage of development in the Sultan Abdülhamid Khan 2 period in 1893, and in the last big restoration the mosque was designed asvaulted. In the restoration that started in 1888 and finished in 1893, the walls were knocked down to their bases and they were rebuilt with rubble stone.
It has a rectangular plan and no courtyard, and the main part is covered with two vaults supported with six columns and half vaults oneach side. It is worth seeing the Mecca designed panel which is on the right hand side of the niche, covered with half vaulted and 4 columned muezzin quarters.

Dönenler Mosque (Mevlevihane)
This structure, opposite the Ulu Mosque, was built in the 14th century asthe 'Semahane' of mevlevihane. This was the first mevlevihane in Kütahya and is one of the most authentic examples of early Anatolian- Turkish architecture. It experienced two restorations but only the Semahane and Dervish rooms were able to survive to this day. Today it is used as a mosque and it has a quadrilateral plan and octagonal rim. Next to this mosque there is a small mosque which was built under the order of Hazer Dinari - known as Kütahya's Seljuks period conqueror. When the grandson of the Mevlana, Ergun Çelebi was buried here, it became the tomb of Mevlevihane.

Menzilhane
This was built at the end of Republic Street on an area known as 'Kapanalti', and later 'Tahilpazan'. Its wide-low gate, rubble-stoned round arch, and inscription are interesting.

Tavsanli Ulu Mosque
There is no inscription on this structure, although the architectural techniques employed demonstrate early Ottoman work. There is a large middle vault on cornered and four legged arches, and eight small half vaults on the sides.

Çinili Mosque (Mosque of Yakupoglu)
This mosque was built in 1973 by the artist Ahmet Yakupoglu, in the Maltepe Quarter in the south-eastern section of the city. It is as if it were blown in from Middle-Asian Turkish architecture in its style. This two-storied structure has a single vault and is decorated inside by chisel work. The outside is decorated with specially produced blue Kütahya tiles. Decorated with Turkish motives and with its architectural style, this mosque is a unique example in Kütahya.

Mosque of Simav Agha
It was built in 1789 by Nasuh Agha - an Ottoman feudal lord to whom Emet and Tavsanli belonged. Being a good example of stone art the mosque was restored in line with its original style.

Yesil Mosque
It was built in 1905 by Fuat Pasha, a mutasarrif of Kütahya. Its chalet styled minaret balcony is the only example of its kind in Kütahya. The mosque has a square plan and a single vault. Inside it is decorated with high reliefs and chisel work motifs.

Hidirlik Small Mosque
This is a work from the Seljuk period, and is located on Hidirlik Hill, which is on the eastern side of Hisar Hill. It is understood from its inscription that the small mosque was built by Hazer Dinari- an emir of the Ottomans in 1243-1244. The vaulted structure has a square plan and a quadrilateral niche on its southern side. In 1980 it was restored by Ahmet Yakupoglu, and in 2004 by various
foundations.

Muvakkithane (a place where the time for namaz is calculated by looking at the sun)
It is found in the Balikli quarter in front of the old mufti building. It was built in 1831-1832 by Halil Kamil Agha, who was a mütesellim of Kütahya. It has a vertical rectangular plan and is made of rubble stone and covered with a tiled roof. This muvakkithane was built in order to show the time and prayer times, but now is used for business purposes.

Tomb of Sheik Buhari (Gümüsecik Tomb)
This 14th century structure belonged to 6azi Hasan Pasha, and in the 19th century was restored by Dilaver Pasha- a city director of Kütahya. It has a square plan and its pendanted vault is set on a row of stone without a rim.

Tomb of Ana Sultan
It is in a small forest, 25 km away from the highway between Kütahya-Afyonkarahisar. Its Baldaken styled arches arequite low. The tomb was restored by Ahmet Yakupoglu in 1980.

Dedebali Tomb
Dedebali is also known as "Hace-ül Haram" and "Mülayim dede". He was a wise man who played animportant role in promoting the unity of Anatolian Turks and in defusing sedition and disorder against the Ottomans. He was famous for his benevolence and was embraced by the public. After his death in 1394 he was buried at Mülayim Hill in Tavsanli. Surrounding his tomb there is a pool.

Tomb of Sunullah Gaybi
It is on the corner of the Musalla Graveyard in the Gaybi Efendi quarter. This tomb was built in the 17th century and is covered with a tiled roof. Sunullah Gaybi is the grandson of Pir Ahmed Besiri, the Sheik of Kalburcu. He was an experienced Sufist, who fought against ignorance and bigotry, and spoke perfect Turkish. His main works are Gaybidivani, Sohbetname, Biatname, Ruhul Akaidname, Makasidi Ayniye and Huda Rabbim.
" Happy is someone who stays in Kütahya for a month,
if you can stay two months, all the better. Kütahya is a flawless beauty. Could you harm such a flawless beauty?
Oh God, save this city.
Paradise is either beneath or above Kütahya,
Let?s sacrifice Labor, Kesmir, Tebriz for Kütahya"
(Sultan Veled)

Tomb of Pasam Sultan
Its walls can be seen on the street from the Ulu Mosque to Ishak Fakih and the entrance is in Kursunlu Mosque Street. The tomb is also called "Seyyid Nureddin". It has two parts which one canreach through "L" shaped staircase. Restorations and changes are still ongoing.

Tomb of Kara Ahmed Bey
Kara Ahmed Bey, the grandfather of Evliya Çelebi, was a famous traveller, writer and folklorist. His tomb is on the right hand side of the road that goes to Ahmet Yakupoglu Park from the slope of the State Hospital. The tomb was built in 1995, to complement the Ottoman Minaret. In his writings Evliya Çelebi talks about his visit to Kutahya in 1678 and states that the grave of his grandfather Kara Ahmed Bey was next to houses inthe Zeryen Quarter.

Kütahya Castle

The castle had been occupied since ancient times and it was strengthened with the ramparts erectedby Byzantines. Its restorations and additional parts were done by the Seljuks, Germiyanogullari and the Ottomans. It consists of 3 parts; Upper, Middle and Lower Citadel. Its rather close towers consistof layers made from rubble stones and bricks. Yukari Kale (Kale-i Bala), which is also known as Middle Citadel Mosque, is in the Maruf quarter. From the inscription on the portal, it is understood that is was done in 1377-1378 under the order of the Germiyanogullari Sultan, Süleyman Shah. The corners of this structure are made from rubble stone and stone facing. It is covered with tile and the base is different with its two-row wood balks between clean-cut stones. Lower Castle (Kale-i Sagir) in the Lower Citadel district is a small mosque planned in a hexagonal shape just above the water plant. It is one of the rarestructures which are made of brick in Kütahya. In the underground part of the mosque is a water plant, made of only stones. Its base changed shape in time. It is thought that these changes were made in order to take the water plant inside during times of siege- thus preventing a water shortage.

According to Evliya Çelebi, Kütahya Castle had 72 towers. The towers were built very close to each other. In Kütahya castle, there is a revolving Turkish night club and a coffee house with two fountains. There are two mosques and a republic building.

Grand Victory Monuments

The Dumlupinar Cemetery
The "Head Commander Square Battle" which occurred in Dumlupinar was an important moment for the formation of the Turkish Republic and changed world history. The battle started in Afyonkarahisar-Kocatepe on August 26th, 1922 and ended in Dumlupinar in August 30th, 1922 with victory. During the so-called "Great Advance", also known as "Afyonkarahisar-Kocatepe Square Wars", Head Commander Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gave his famous command: "Armies Your First Objective is the Mediterranean, Forward!" in Dumlupinar on September 1st, 1922.
The regions of Zafertepe-Çalköy and Dumlupinar are coveredwith museums and monuments for the memory of martyrs of that war.

Victory Monument;
Located in Zafertepe-Çalköy from where the Head Commander Square War was controlled. It has triangle blocks facing different directions and it resembles a torch from a distance. It stands for the Turkish Nations struggle against invading armies and celebrates the victory that occurred on August 30th.
The Monuments of Martyr Sancaktar Mehmetçik and of Captain Harputlu Sekip Efendi are in Dumlupinar; The Museum of The War of Independence, Atatürk's House, the Atatürk Monument; Mehmetçik Monument, Father and Son Martyr Monument, Milisler (armed populace) Monument and Monument of Gazi Mustafa Kemal, Ismet Pasha, Maresal Fevzi Çakmak Pasha (Three Commanders) areall in the Cemeteryin Dumlupinar.

Dumlupinar Atatürk House Museum
The site is the house that Head Commander Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stayed in during the War of Independence, and it was also used as the Dumlupinar Headquarter. The house has been fully restored to its original state and was opened to visitors on August 30, 2003.

Historical Buildings

Bazaars
There are two passages which connect the Takvacilar Mosque and the Saadettin Mosques. These arejust like the Covered Bazaar in Istanbul despite being built at different times. Together with the shops opposite them they have become the centre of Kütahya. More recently the Grand Market has been known as "Vegetable Bazaar", and Small Market has been known as the "Flea Market".

Government Office
It was built by Ahmet Fuat Pasha, mutasarrif of Kütahya in 1905 as the Government Office. It is on Fuat Pasha Street and now is being used as a courthouse. It is one of the most striking examples of civil buildings which demonstrate the late period of Ottoman architecture. The building is 3 storeyed together with the basement and is rectangular in shape. In front of its North entrance there is a large courtyard. The walls aredecorated with a two-coloured stone technique and tiles. There is also a small tile covered mosque.

Houses of Kütahya
These are examples of 19th century civil architecture and are still in their original state. They provide the most beautiful examples of old mansion culture with their two or three storey designs. The original wooden buttresses, window styles and wide eaves can be seen. Ground floors were designed as stone-floored for the kitchen, cellar, store and agricultural tools. The living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and bathrooms are upstairs. The wooden ceilings, wardrobes, chimney hoods, shelves and doors are all engraved.
" The historical houses of Germiyan Street stand with their whitened faces in the dark, and windows with railings. Metallic knockers on doors appear under lights. Their own house had a hand-shaped knocker. Cold and iron black the knocker would get warm just with a touch, as if shaking hands with people. Seyfi dreamed of the hands of a girl from Kütahya. Door knockers of these rows of white and yellow houses, were designed according to the sex of the caller, if the thick, bow-shaped, deep-voiced knocker was used, the caller would be male, so a male would open the door, if the ring-shaped, soft-voiced knocker was used, the caller would be female so a female would open the door."
(Sevinç Çokum,inthe book Rozayla Ana)

Fountains
The streets of Kütahya welcome its visitors with a fountain on every corner. Because the city is set on a plateau onhigh ground and with its rich forested areas there is plenty of water. Ceramic tiles, seen in the architecture of Kütahya since Seljuk times, abound in these fountains. Fountains canbe dated by the ceramic tiles when no inscription is available. On ceramic fountains the inscription is ona dark blue background surrounded by leaf designs on a white ground on two sides. Hürriyet Fountain is made of marble. On the three-part frontal, there is an arch with the Sultan's signature and on two sides there are star reliefs. Under the frontal with a two-line inscription, there is a deep round arch with a lock. Salihler Fountain is decorated with motives and its inscription is ornamented with tiles.

Thermal Resorts

Thermal Tourism
Because of its location on the graben system of the Aegean Region and the cracks formed by this system Kütahya isone of the most important regions in Turkey in terms of geothermal sources. Those sources have quite high thermal value and are important for health tourism.

Harlek (Ilicaköy) Thermal Resort

Location: The resort is 27km from the centre of Kutahya, in Western Anatolia, and 190km south-east of Bursa.
Transportation: Kutahya is well connected by bus, and 90km south-west from the airport at Eskisehir.
Water temperature: 25.2°C - 43°C
pH value: Kadilar Spring - 6.84. Haslas Spring - 6.78. Harlek Spring - 6.87. Kadinlar Hamami Spring - 6.64
Physical and chemical properties: The group of spring has one or all of the following properties: thermal, hypertonic, oligometallic, sulphur, calcium, magnesium.
Recommended: Applications Drinking and bathing.
Helps to heal: Rheumatic ailments, liver and gall bladder problems and skin conditions, poor metabolism.
Accommodation: Harlek Hotel -186 bed

Muratdagi Thermal Resort

Location: On the northern slopes of Muratdagi (1700m), around 15km south of Gediz and 100km southwest of Kutahya.
Transportation: Kutahya is well connected by road and air. Gediz is on the main highway between Kutahya and Usak.
Water temperature: 40°C - 42°C
pH value: 7.2
Physical and chemical properties: Sulphur, calcium, magnesium, bromide and radioactive properties.
Recommended: Applications Drinking and bathing
Helps to heal: Rheumatism, mental and muscular fatigue, skin conditions, gynaecological problems, joint pain, calcium deposits and eating disorders.
Accommodation: Youth Camp – 150 beds. Otherwise, small hotels in Gediz.

Thermal Spas in Yoncali
Yoncali is situated 16 km to the west of Kütahya. In the spa centre there isa 4-star hotel, treatment centre, motels and hostels. The spas of Yoncali offer to visitors, 4 bathhouses, 2 outdoor- and 3 indoor- swimming pools, physical therapy and a rehabilitation hospital with 200 beds. The spa water is42 degrees centigrade and is classified as "bicarbonated". It contains calcium, magnesium and sulphur. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism of the joints, inflammation, neurological problems plus sports and trauma injuries.

Thermal Spas in Simav-Eynal
Eynal is located to the southwest of Kütahya, at a distance of 4 km from Simav. In the spa centre, there are hotels, motels, hostels, 2 bathhouses and a swimming pool. The spring emits steam at a temperature of 163 degrees centigrade and is used in geothermal water-heating and in greenhouses. The temperature of the water of the Thermal Tourism Centre is between 70 and 97 degrees centigrade. It contains calcium, sodium, bicarbonate and sulphates and is used in treating rheumatism, neuralgia and skin diseases.
" I have seen many spas in the world and in Anatolia but I've never seen the like of the spas of Eynal. It is unique" (Evliya Çelebi.1671)

Thermal Spas in Gediz-Mount Murat
Thermal Spas are situated to the south of Kütahya, 35 km away from Gediz, on the west side of Mount Murat. In the spa centre can be found there are municipality-licensed bungalows, hostels and 2 bathhouses, 2 swimming pools, and a youth camp with 200 beds. There are hot and cold springs at an altitude of 1450m. The spa water is 29 degrees centigrade. There are 3 main hot water sources which create a large capacity. The water contains sulphates, calcium, magnesium and bromide and isused in treating rheumatism, skin, heart, kidney and gynaecological diseases.

Thermal Spas in Gediz-Ilicasu
These spas are situated to the south of Kütahya, 11 km away from Gediz, on the way to Simav. In the spa centre, there are municipality-licensed motels, hostels, 2 bathhouses, 2 swimming pools, a mud and a steam bath. The water has about 10 sources; on both sides of the river. Kahveönü travertine spring is the hottest with a temperature of 97 degrees centigrade. The water of the Thermal Tourism Centre is between 40 and 85 degrees centigrade and is classified as "hypotonic". The spa water contains sulphates, bicarbonate, sodium and magnesium and is used in treating rheumatism and diseases of the stomach, intestine, liver and gall bladder.

Thermal Spas in Emet-Yesil Kaynarca
The spas are located to the west of Kütahya, in the town of Emet. They have been used since ancient times. There are five springs to the west of Emet. Oneof them is Kaynarca with a 15 It/scnd capacity and a temperature of 46 degrees centigrade. Davutlar Spring is 50 m away from Kaynarca. The Lower Bath has a temperature of 44 degrees centigrade with a capacity of 5 lit/sec. Next to the Lower Bath, is found Çamasirlik which has a capacity of 2 lit/sec. Spa water is 43-48 degrees centigrade and is classified as "hypotonic". It contains sulphates, bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium and is used in the treatment of rheumatism, sciatica,skin diseases. Also employed in the treatment of diseases of the stomach, intestine, liver, and gall bladder plus renal calculus and for gynaecological disorders. In the spa centre, can be found hotels, motels, hostels, 3 bathhouses, 3 indoor, 2 outdoor swimming pools, an Ottoman bathhouse, sauna, sport centres, botanic park, caravanpark and anoutdoor Olympic-size swimming pool.

Thermal Spas in Simav-Nasa
Thermal Spas are situated to the west of Simav, 2 km away from Nasa village. There are 3 springs. In the old bath the capacity is 1 lit/sec and in new bath it is2 lit/sec. In 1 litre of water there is 1.5 gram of mineral content. It contains carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, alkali and fluoride and has a temperature of 50 degrees centigrade. It can be externally applied and in the treatment of embolism. It also reduces the blood pressure for people who have hyper-tension.

Thermal Spas in Simav-Çitgöl
Citgol Thermal Spas are located 6 km away from Simav. The waters have a temperature of 87 degrees centigrade and contain sodium, bicarbonate and sulphates. The waters are usedin the treatment of rheumatism, stomach- and intestine- diseases; diabetes and malnutrition. In the spa centre there are motels and a municipality-owned sports centre.

Thermal Spas in Tavsanli-Göbel
The Spas are situated 6 km southwest of Tavsanli. In Göbel there are two bathhouses and four pools. The larger pool feeds the other pools. The water temperature is 32 degrees centigrade and boasts a capacity of 50 lit/sec. It is usedin the treatment of rheumatism, sciatica, and skin diseases also used for injuries, stomach-and intestine- ulcers and muscle and bone problems.

Thermal Spas in Emet-Dereli
Dereli Thermal Spas are situated between Emet and Tavsanli and 27 km away from Emet. The capacity of the higher and middle springs is 30- 40 lit/sec. The third spring comes out of a natural pool. This spring iscalled Firin has a capacity of 3 lit/sec. It is unique amongst other springs in the area in its high concentration of carbon dioxide. Its surface application is effective in the treatment of embolism. Taken orally, it especially effective in the treatment of metabolism.

Thermal Spas in Hisarcik-Sefaköy
Sefakoy Thermal Spas are located 7 km from Hisarcik. The spa water has a temperature of 51.5 degrees centigrade and contains calcium, magnesium sulphate and bicarbonate. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, neuralgia, gynaecological disorders, obesity and gout.

Thermal Spas in Hisarcik-Hamamköy
Hamamkoy thermal Spas are situated 5 km away from Hisarcik. The temperature of the spa water is44 degrees centigrade. Taken orally, it has a healing effect on stomach, intestine, liver and gall bladder diseases. The vaulted bath water contains alkaline bicarbonate.

Thermal Spas in Emet-Yeniceköy
It is located 1 km south of Emet-Yeniceköy. The spa water consists of various sources that spring from rock. The water of the historical bath goes through a wooden pipe into a pool. The temperature of the spa water is 47- 49 degrees centigrade.

Activities

Trekking and Nature Walks
The area contains many places such as Egrigöz, Murat, Akdag, Simav, and Yesildag mounts, valley of Phrygia, Çamlica recreation area, Gölcük plateau and the forests of Domaniç all suitable for hiking and trekking.

Cycling-Motor biking-Horse Riding
Bicycle and motorbike trips can be arranged in the Valley of Phrygia. There is also the opportunity of horse riding.

Caving
Located 55 km away from Kütahya, in the Inlice area of Ovacik village is the vast area of the Phrygian valley. There can be found numerous rock tombs, churches and castles, carved out of a hundred caves once used as shelter. The area has been compared to Cappadocia due to its natural rock formations, fairy chimneys, water pools and pine forests. Also worth seeing are the town of Findikkale, the Chapel of Inli, the fairy chimneys of Yenibosna, and the cult areas of Ahmetoglu, Saklikent, Dogulusah and Sökmen.

Camping and Caravanning
There is a camp site in the town of Gediz, renowned for its fresh air, variety of bird species and thermal sources. Mount Murat provides an alternative camping centre. Situated in the town of Simav in the middle of pine forests, with complete facilities, Gölcük Plateau has a great potential for camping and caravan tourism.

Sport Angling
Angling is possible on the Porsuk Dam, located 20 km from Kütahya; and at the Enne Dam, located 18 km away Kütahya. Also, possible at Kuruçay Pond and Kayabogazi Dam, both 7 km from Tavsanli. Most common fish are carp and roach. There are also modern trout production farms in Gediz and Domaniç.

Bird Watching
The Altintas Plain, defined by the Karaçay River, to the south of Kütahya is one of the last habitats of the bustard in Anatolia. The species called "Toy" is on the edge of extinction and actively protected by the agency of the UN and the Turkish Central Hunting Commission.
Mount Türkmen is located on the North end of Yazilikaya Plateau, which is in the middle of Eskisehir, Kütahya and Afyonkarahisar plains. That mountain has a rich collection of birds of prey. Turkey's largest population of black vultures isfound there. Other species included in this important bird habitat, are; black stork, bearded vulture and small eagle. Also to be found are- falcons, red vultures, hawks, sparrow hawks, small forest eagles and shah eagles.

Plant Observation
The Forests in Domaniç are spread over large area around the town, to the north of Kütahya. In the Domaniç forests and in Kasaliç Nature Protection Zone, there are many endemic trees of monumental importance. The highest mountain of the mid AegeanRegion is Mount Murat which has an altitude of 2312m, located 30 km away. It boasts a variety of trees including chestnut, oak and pine. Also the Vakif Pine Grove Nature Protection Zone is an important area for plant observation. Not least as black pine, on the edge of extinction, is found only here.

Hunting and Wild Life
Because the city is rich in vegetation, it is also rich in wild life. Most common of the wild animals found here are wolf, jackal, fox, wild boar and rabbit. Kütahya is also rich in birds. There are many quails, partridges and some water birds. In Tavsanli-Çatak, and on Mount Türkmen, there are two deer breeding farms and in Altintas plain, there is a bird protection zone. Moreover on Türkmen and Saphane mounts and in Domaniç forests, there are zones for licensed hunting.

Areas

National and Nature Parks
In the village of Durabey near the town of Domaniç is the Kasaliç Nature Protection Zone. It is reached via a 4 km long road at 5 km along the Domaniç- Inegöl highway. In the middle Aegean region, it is surrounded with by a steppe ecosystem and is comparable to the forest ecosystem of the Black Sea.It is a perfect environment for unspoilt beech- black pine forests. The zone has a rich selection of flora and wild life. Beech and black pine are the most common tree species. There are also oak and poplar trees. Other species include wild pear, pear, blackberry, nettle, meadow saffron (crocus), bear grape and wild strawberry. Main animal species are bear, boar, deer, fox, rabbit, badger and hedgehog.

Vakif Pine Grove Nature Protection Zone, located in Tavsanli, part of the Village of Vakif, comprises a 685 square hectare areaand is reached by a 4 km-long road that starts from 12 km along the Kütahya- Tavsanli highway. This zone is the only habitat of ehrami black pine which faces extinction. There is also pinus nigra which is a kind of black pine and is only found in Turkey. Thus in this zone two kinds of black pine exist together which makes this a unique ecosystem. As well as the pine, there are also juniper, oak, poplar, willow and lime trees. Main wildlife species are fox, badger, rabbit, partridge and quail.
There is a thousand year old chestnut tree about 7 km from Kütahya, in Kumari Village, Boyacilar. There are3 protected trees in total that have shown aninteresting development. They still bear fruit and the largest especially is more like a monument because of its 8 m diameter and 20 m height.

Pine of Mizik is in Domur Village of Domaniç. The cradles of Ottoman emperors, Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi's were made from the wood of this tree. Today this historical tree is under protection.

Sight-seeing and Recreation Spots
Gölcük Plateau is 10 km away from Simav, to the southwest of Kütahya. It is situated in a pine tree forest and has many facilities. With analtitude of 1450 m height, it provides a unique place for picnics. There is also Çamlica, which is 5 km away from the city centre, to the west of Kütahya. It is designated as aresting area in the forest. Çamlica is a large recreation spot with its pine trees, coolwater, fresh air and peaceful view. To the west of Kütahya, 18 km away from city centre, there is Enne Dam. Overtime it has developed into a recreation spot where angling canbe enjoyed. To the South of Tavsanli, 7 km away from Kütahya, is found Kuruçay Pond. Created for the needs of irrigation it has also become a noteworthy place for recreation due to its clean environment. Mount Murat is also an important plateau tourism centre with its fresh air, cool water and thermal springs.

Local Specialities

Traditional Dishes
Traditional dishes are basedlargely on pastry, wheat and dairy products. Poppy-seed bread, gökçemen pastry, finger pizza, pancake, meat pasties areamongst the favourites. Meat prepared in earthenware pots and casseroles,meat stew with onions, roasted meat, meatball, stuffed cabbage and vine leaves, stuffed tomato, green pepper, potato and aubergine are all local main courses. Kütahya soups are especially famous. Soup with dried yoghurt, tomato and pimento and local spices are enjoyed in winter and during the month of fasting (Ramadan). Pumpkin with syrup and walnuts, delicate pastries, home-made baklava and halva are amongst the favourite desserts.
Tavsanli is very famous for its roasted chickpea throughout Turkey. The roasted chickpea, produced in Tavsanli, has many varieties including salted, and types flavoured with pepper, vanilla, sugar, cocoa and cinnamon.

Handicrafts and Souvenirs
As well as traditional Turkish handicrafts, which are part of Kütahya culture, there are also regional handicrafts. Kütahya is one of the most important centers of ceramic art in Turkey and in the world. Also Gediz-Saruhanlar Village is one of the few places where wooden spoon carving is still celebrated. Diamond embroidery and wickerwork still continue in Simav. Carpet and rug weaving, copper-smithing and wrought-iron forging are still among the handicrafts of the region. However they arenot aswidely practiced as in former times.

Tile Art, the symbol of Kütahya, became world renowned. As well as its artistic worth the industry pays the wages of the local populace. The art of ceramicstraces its origins to the Neolithic period and has taken influence from many cultures. Today it is oneof the region's biggest exports and has a wide variety of colour and designs. It is still produced in about 500 workshops. Previously kneaded white clay from days before is the start of ceramic tile production before being formed into "biscuit" shapes on the work counter. After being shaped on the wheel, in templates, moulds and presses, the biscuits are firedin the kiln. They are decorated with charcoal and rendered as vases, plates, bibelots and wall tiles. After being painted, they are firedagain in the kiln beforethey reach us.
The heartfeels, the mind thinks, the eye sees, and the hand does.
The result: handicraft.
Thus our great Kütahya artisans
Create value in their ceramicworks
And the work lives forever
Clay
Finds life in the hands of a man, is kneaded,
Put onthe wheel, and gains a shape.
The name of patience in this country
becomes tile art.

Porcelain:The first porcelain factory in Kütahya was opened in 1974. Centuries of skill are brought to life in the display. Today these porcelain works are sent to every part of Turkey and exported to many countries.

Weaving:Carpet weaving is still an important form of income for villagers, produced manually on looms in local homes. The carpets of Simav, which are also known as Palace Carpets, were produced in the most illustrious period of Ottomans, and are mainly decorated with leaf and flower motifs. They were made of wool and cotton. Their surface and edges are decorated with motifs such as curled leaves, rosettes, grenadines, hyacinths and carnations. Because the carpets of Simav are naturally-dyed, they aretermed "natural carpet with natural dye". Today hand-weaving is mainly done in Gediz and Saphane. Here only fabric is produced. Nomad carpets, a local specialty, are weaved in Bayramsah village in Aslanapa.

Hand embroidery; As it is one of the older handicrafts, embroidery gives a glimpse of the skills and tastes of local women. Nowadays we can find good examples of napkins, belts, scarf edges; money, tobacco and watch purses in the Kütahya Museum.

Embroidery has various names according to the tools and technique employed. Embroidery in Kütahya is a skill employed as needlework on the borders of scarves.

Diamond and Silver Embroidery:
Another local handicraft is diamond embroidery. It has several sub-branches such as calibre work, enamel and polish work. In the Ottoman Period, the Small Market was the centre of diamond embroidery. In Kütahya silver has been mined and treated for a very long time. For that reason, silver embroidery is a handicraft that has developed over time.
The skill that producedthe Kütahya tiles that decorate mosques, churches, mansions, fountains and palaces all over the world, became a style in its own right with a particularpalette, perspective and design which we also find inthe arts on canvas.ThusKütahya is a city rich in artists. Some that come immediately to mind are Ahmet Yakupoglu, a miniaturist, painter and flute player who graduated from the Feyhaman Duran Workshop; and painters, Hüseyin Yüce, Abdullah Taktak amongst others.

Traditional Clothes
In Kütahya, which is in the middle of the Inner Anatolia, Aegean and Marmara regions, women clothes especially are richer and different than in the other parts of Anatolia. Kütahya was the capital of Germiyans so there is a distinctive style. The traditional style of women's clothing is different in the centre to the outlying towns. In rural parts of Kütahya, there is a similar style of clothing from Bursa-Keles to Teke. The style encompasses a headscarf, white kerchief, underclothes, undershirt, under-robe, baggy trousers, apron, socks, simple sandals, and beaded jewellery.
Alternatively in the city centre the women wear: gold, silver, silver thread, pearl and bead embroidered clothes, diamond necklaces, pearl jewellery, earrings, brooches, silver belts, diamond rings and gold bracelets. Fez, bride fez, embroidered scarves, redshirts, bridal veils, socks and slippers are worn only on specific days. Daily clothes aremodern. In contrast to the authenticity of the clothes of the women, the men wear Aegean Region style clothing. Zeybek (a kind of folk dance in Aegean Region) features are dominant.
In men's clothing there is some court effect.Main clothes are fez, shirts scarfbelt, gun bag, baggy trousers, socks, rawhide sandals, kerchief and boots. As foraccessories, embroidered handkerchiefs, watches with chain, tobacco purses, rosary and amulets are used.

Arrival - Getting Around

Transportation: Kütahya is an important crossroad at the heart of middle-west Anatolia, asit connects the highways and railways between middle Anatolia and the Aegean; the Marmara Region and the Aegean coasts; the Lake District and the Mediterranean Coasts.

Highway: Kütahya has connections by road to all the cities in Turkey. Transportation is provided by coach firms in the city and with other coaches that pass through Kütahya. All districts have buses to the downtown area. Highway transportation is provided on Kütahya-Çinigar. Kütahya is 344 km away from Ankara, 355 km away from Istanbul, 325 km away from Izmir and 363 km away from Antalya.

Railway: Kütahya has connections by rail to Eskisehir to the west and east, to the west to Balikesir, to the south and Middle-Anatolia to Afyonkarahisar. Kütahya is connected to the Ankara-Izmir Railway line at Dumlupinar District Train station in the city centre. It is possible to get to the coach station municipality buses and local minibuses

Don't Leave Without

* Seeing the Ancient Roman city of Aizanoi,fairy-chimneys in Phrygianvalley, the rock tombs and chapels,

* Visiting the 250 -year- old Turkish mansions on Germiyan Street, the house of Lajos Kossuth and the museums,

* Experiencing Zafer Hill, thatwitnessed the war ofIndependence, andthe Cemetery in Dumlupinar, resting place of those who gavetheir lives for theircountry,

* Trying the traditionaldishes in Döner Gazinointhe Castle,

* Improving yourwell-being inthe thermal spas, and drinking from their Springs,

* Buying world-renowned ceramics and tiles.