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.
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Coming Next – Sumela – Turkey’s Cave Monastery
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