Happy TravellerDiscover the hidden gem of northern Turkey, Kastamonu. Formerly known as Kastamone and Kastra Komnenon, this city of 125,622 people is the seat of Kastamonu Province and Kastamonu District. With an elevation of 904 m (2,966 ft), Kastamonu is located in the southern part of the province.
History buffs will love exploring Kastamonu’s rich past, dating back to the 18th century BC. During the Roman period, the town was known as Timonion. In the 10th century AD, Manuel Erotikos Komnenos, a prominent general and father of the Byzantine emperor Isaac I Komnenos, was given lands around the city by Emperor Basil II. Manuel built a fortress named Kastra Komnenon, which was later shortened to Kastamone and eventually Turkified to Kastamoni and Kastamonu. Ibn Battuta visited the city and noted it as one of the largest and finest cities, where commodities are abundant and prices low. The city is also famous for being the birthplace of the Dress Code Revolution of Kemal Atatürk in 1925.
Foodies will enjoy the typical country fare, including homemade hot sauce, sweet katmer, and freshly slaughtered whole lamb slow-cooked over the glowing embers of wood in a sealed, airtight well. Breakfast might include farm-made cheese, olives, pekmez, fried potatoes, rose jam, homemade hot sauce, eggs served hot in the pan, folded unleavened bread called katmer, fresh farm milk, and black tea.
Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate Kastamonu’s stunning geography, consisting of 20 quarters: Kuzeykent, Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Yavuz Selim, Budamış, Akmescit, Aktekke, Atabeygazi, Beyçelebi, Cebrail, Hepkebirler, Hisarardı, Honsalar, Inönü, Isfendiyar, Ismailbey, Kırkçeşme, Saraçlar, Topçuoğlu, Esentepe, and Candaroğulları. The town has a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers, and precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year.
Kastamonu is also home to Kastamonu University, which was established in 2006 by incorporating existing colleges, schools, and institutes that were previously under Ankara University and Gazi University. Notable high schools in Kastamonu include Abdurrahman Paşa Lisesi and Kastamonu Mustafa Kaya Lisesi.
Take a step back in time and discover the hidden treasures of Kastamonu, a city with a rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine. Book your trip today and experience everything that northern Turkey has to offer.
