Not far from Bursa is a cute, historical town with colourful Ottoman homes built along the sides of narrow, cobblestone streets. The well-preserved village provides a window into early Ottoman life and is worth a visit if you are in Bursa.
Cumalıkızık Village
Nestled on the lower slopes of Uludağ Mountain, Cumalıkızık is an early Ottoman village established in the early 1300s. There were originally a few villages in this area with their name ending in ‘kizik’. This suffix relates to their origins from the same Ottoman nomadic tribe. These villages were settled when the Ottoman chose Bursa as their capital. Cumalıkızık is one of the only ‘kizik’ villages remaining and is said be one of the best preserved Ottoman villages in the region.
The layout of the streets as well as the homes are original so it is one of the best places to see what an Ottoman village may have looked like 700 years ago. The roads seem a bit erratic, running in every direction up and down the mountain’s side. These former nomads aren’t known for their orderly conduct so I guess we shouldn’t expect it in their roads.
You enter the village on a long cobblestone street lined by stalls selling tourist trinkets. Each one sells exactly the same garb, making you wonder how anyone makes any money.
The treasures of this UNESCO World Heritage site are its restored Ottoman houses. The homes are charming with stone bases and overhanging upper floors. The ground floor was often used for storage or as a stable for livestock. The second floors are either wooden or colourfully painted plaster for a uniquely Ottoman look. The other typical Ottoman features are the large eaves and the wooden support beams coming out on an angle between the two floors.
The main route that most tourists use to explore the village takes you by restored homes, painted in bright colours. It’s a small loop, taking 15 minutes if you go very slow.
The village is larger than this highly visited area though. Beyond the tourist loop, we found where residents still lead a traditional lifestyle, similar to their ancestors. The houses are less restored, but we found these streets more authentic and therefore more charming.
How to get to Cumalıkızık Village – Located just 12 kilometers east of central Bursa, the village is easy to access if you have your own car. If you don’t, public transportation is another option. Bus D/10 has several stops in Bursa and drops you off at the entrance to the village.
Gölyazı Village
Built on an oversized peninsula on Ulubat Lake is the fishing village of Gölyazı. Only 45 km from Bursa, it was touted as being a cute, fishing village that is a great day trip from the city. It was said to be filled with historic Greek and Ottoman homes. Both Greeks and Turks lived in this village in harmony for generations until the end of the Greek-Turkish war. After the war there was a population exchange between the two countries and the Greek population was sent to live in Greece. It was at this time that the village’s name was changed from Apollonia to Gölyazı.
The village does have the potential to be charming. It is set on a quiet, peaceful lake but unfortunately, it is lacking in the cute department. We don’t recommend it as a day trip from Bursa unless you have extra time.
You can find more of our posts from Turkey here.
Coming Next – Sumela – Turkey’s Cave Monastery
For pictures from other blogs go to Gallery at monkeystale.ca
To read about more of our adventures go to Destinations.
If you like what you read, please comment or share (with credit) using the links below.
Monkey's Tale 
I think I’d definitely get lost wandering those streets. I always find it interesting to see how people live in other parts of the world.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s quite fascinating to see people living these traditional lives isn’t it. Thanks for reading Lyssy! Maggie
LikeLike
Très très belle cité, avec un passé et une âme que l’on retrouve dans les photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merci Christine! Je suis tres content que aimes ca! I hope my French makes sense! 🙂 Maggie
LikeLike
What delightful villages! I loved your descriptions and fabulous images 🌹
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Luisa, it is a cute village 🙂 Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
As ever, you’re more than welcome, dear Maggie 🌹🌹🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
(Did you change your blog layout?)
LikeLiked by 2 people
No, but I need to soon our Theme is obsolete, but I haven’t found another that I Iike.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, you’re the 2nd blog I follow with that issue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would definately need to have a local guide in Cumalıkızık so I wouldn’t get hopelessly lost. The houses are charming, but the electrical wires look a bit sketchy. The boats in your last photo are especially intriguing. Do the domes have a religious or some sort of cultural significance?
LikeLiked by 2 people
ha, yes the wiring is a bit sketchy, similar to a lot of places in Asia. I believe that the domes came from the Byzantine design, and were continued to be used on many Turkish mosques so it partly represents their faith. Good question, I should research into that a bit more 🙂 Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. The domes are attractive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun pictures.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks!!
LikeLike
Such an interesting place. I can’t imagine living above the livestock. I don’t enjoy the smell of them from across the field. I would need nose plugs if they were downstairs.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It would be awful wouldn’t it!!??
LikeLiked by 1 person
An amazing heritage location and yet, still a current way of life. The Greeks often left their main floors undeveloped or used them as stables to avoid the taxman. I can’t imagine living above livestock. Thanks for sharing Maggie. Happy Friday. Allan
LikeLiked by 2 people
You would think it would be rather stinky, especially in the heat!
LikeLike
What a wonderful little village, Maggie. I love its many colourful houses. Are they mostly made of wood and rubble stones? It has a distinct look, and its narrow cobblestone streets remind me of medieval times. It looks like this place is perfect for shopping for traditional clothes, all kinds of traditional jewellery, decorations, homemade food, etc.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The homes all, or most of them have a stone base, but I’m not sure the type of stone with wooden upper floors In later years they covered both in plaster, but not in these early years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful scenes from the historic village!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Indira 🙂 Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s always interesting when countries preserve traces of their past, it helps us to understand their history better. In this case, I find that the architecture of the villages in the southern Balkans is very similar. This is no coincidence, as they were all part of the same Ottoman Empire.
LikeLiked by 3 people
The houses in Bulgaria are very similar. In fact they call them Bulgaria Revival but they look to be slightly modified Ottoman houses. The Ottoman’s reach was very broad. Thanks for your input 🙂 Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
That boat looks like a very charming restaurant, Maggie, but if it’s a houseboat I’d be very happy to hang out there for a couple of days.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It would be a pretty cool houseboat, unfortunately it’s just for short day trips around the peninsula.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great pictures. Thank you for your very informative and interesting post on these communities, Maggie. Cheers.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Lynette 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We haven’t been to these places but have seen very similar Ottoman architecture twice – once in Sirince near Selcuk in Turkey and also in the amazing “City Of A Thousand Windows” which is Berat in Albania. Sirince is a bit of a tourist spot (with great wine!) but Berat is fabulous to see. Love the little winding streets that you were able to lose yourself in, that’s always such a great feeling.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It did remind me a little of Sirince, but Cumalikizik was less over-run by tourists and also not as many homes were restored. It was a nice day trip. I’ll have to see about visiting Albania for the wine. We visited Bulgaria and really enjoyed their wine. Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Adding to our list!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s a great half-day trip 🙂
LikeLike
It’s amazing that Cumalıkızıking village is still intact and alive with activity despite everything being so squished together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is quite amazing that they still live such a traditional life so close to a major city. Seeing these centuries old homes in such good condition was a real treat. Thanks Nancy 😊Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the way people living in old cities dress up narrow streets with flowers and greenery.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know, it really adds to the charm doesn’t it 🙂 Maggie
LikeLike
Very cute. Nice descriptions!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much ! Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your post is an exciting read. I’ve never been to Turkey, but I still never imagined it like this from the photos I’ve seen. You’ve found a part of the country that I would love to visit. It reminds me a little of Bosnia, where we were a year ago.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! We really didn’t know much about Turkey except for the usual tourist spots, but we found so many diverse and fascinating places. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Maggie
LikeLike
Another new place I have learnt about from you! Adding to my little “travel dreams notebook”! Thanks! Xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
More to come, Turkey has a lot of these little gems 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had never heard of these villages until today. It’s a good thing that they restored a lot of old Ottoman-style houses in Cumalıkızık. While the main alleys look pretty, I’m glad you also wandered off the main tourist trail to get a glimpse of how the locals live. It’s sad to read about the history of Gölyazı. Instead of living side by side peacefully, a lot of Turks and Greeks had to leave their houses, creating a division that will probably last for generations.
LikeLiked by 2 people
There are quote a few towns and villages where the Greeks and Turks lived side by side without problems for generations and then politics split them up, forcing them to leave their only home. It’s a crazy world.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I enjoyed ‘tagging along’. Thank you for bringing me to these places.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad you came along with us 😊 Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the first village with it’s colorfully painted buildings and twisting streets; it looks very inviting. Beautiful photos!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is a great little historical village. Thanks 😊Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
As always a fascinating read, Maggie!!. And I love the photos, especially the less traveled parts of Cumalıkızık Village. I like the photo of the green door!!. Their form of transportation in the half truck with the large wheels looks pretty unique. It must be quite bumpy on cobbled stones to travel in the cart compartment of that truck.
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I k ow, especially if you’re the one in the back 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, at least it beats walking!
LikeLike
Amazing! You’re incredible and inspiring. Love the lake photos. 👏🏻
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Michele 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful commentary, again. Those streets make me think of Sapa in Vietnam, minus the hanging electrical cables.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cumalıkızık looks very photogenic! Like you I would want to wander away from the well-trodden tourist paths and see how people really live here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is very photogenic, with so much character. Thanks Sarah, Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely beautiful, what an historic little village. Those overhanging first floors are truly unique and so easily identifiable as Ottoman. I also love the views across the water with the boats on Ulubat Lake
LikeLiked by 2 people
The over hanging second stories make the houses awkward and cute I thought 😊
LikeLike
Rustic, historic old place. But nobody was selling ottomans as souvenirs? (Although, it’d be tough to fit one in a suitcase…)
LikeLiked by 2 people
😅😅😅 I actually don’t remember seeing a single ottoman in the Empire’s land 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cumalıkızık looks like exactly the kind of place I like to explore, especially when you get beyond the main tourist area; like going back in time.
Alison
LikeLiked by 2 people
You would love it Alison! Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a charming town with all those narrow cobblestone streets and colourful historic houses.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is very charming. More like a museum, but it’s a real village. So fascinating to see how people still live like this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cumalıkızık looks charming. There’s quite a contrast between the restored and less restored houses. Like you, I prefer the area where the houses aren’t as restored, where you get to see the more traditional way of life.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes there was quite a difference between the two parts of the village. Seeing how people live in a traditional manor was as interesting as seeing their homes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing these amazing images of this villages. Anita
LikeLike
Even though I love the overwhelming stimulating appeal of the city- I will always prefer a stroll through a small village along their cute streets where it feels more like being a part of place. And this village seems to check every box of that 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too, I love seeing the simple homes and the way people live in these small villages.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely stroll back in time. It’s always interesting to compare the touristy areas with the less-touristy areas. Both worth exploring.
LikeLiked by 2 people
There’s usually a reason that those areas are touristy but there are so many other hidden gems out there aren’t there?
LikeLiked by 2 people
The lake is beauty. Village looks similar to fairy tale villages.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a little like a fairy tale. Hard to believe people still live in such rustic conditions. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
At first I thought, looking through the first few photos, that you were off the beaten path, as usual, until you mentioned that it’s a UNESCO site. I’m guessing it attracts more tourists from the country and area. Then, of course, you were off into less trodden places. Always interesting and alluring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It attracts a lot of tourists, but most are Turkish. Their presence didn’t take away much from its cuteness. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing village! Looks surreal, like a fairy tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does, and these cute historic homes are still lived in. It’s quite remarkable!
LikeLike
Wonderful place that takes advantage of the natural slopes of the hills and by some kind of miracle preserved such a compact stock of vernacular architecture! The village may be from XIVth century but i would bet that the houses themselves are mainly from XVIII century – early XIX (?). There are so similar to those in upper vilages in Thassos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They may well be much older, the village promotes itself as an authentic Ottoman village, but settlers may have been there for generations before. We haven’t been to Thassos, but maybe we should look into it! Thanks for sharing your ideas. Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do not doubt its authenticity, just the period of the houses. It looks quite authentic to me, Still, “Authenticity” is a very disputed concept in UNESCO, depending on the cultural background of the “judges”- European versus Asian – and may vary from case to case (“Nara document on authenticity”). Thassos is a Greek island that went to Greece only after 1913 so it kept a lot of Ottoman influence even if today you may not find any Turk residents (beside the tourists). Just for fun, check Google Street View for Sotiros or Kazaviti (or maybe Panagia) in Thassos and you will discover the same architecture! Although i have a lot of pictures from Thassos in my blog, i did not use enough of those with traditional Balkan/Ottoman houses. I will post one of them and link it with your wonderful travel here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, ‘authentic’ may be a bit of a marketing ploy too:) I’ll check out your pictures. Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
We did notice the Ottoman influence in Bulgaria as well. They added a couple of touches to make it ‘Revival’
LikeLike
Done
LikeLike
what an amazing little town – wonderful photos! i would love to explore this place! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s not large, but it is very cute.
LikeLike