Pictures Türkiye

Selimiye Camii Mosque in Edirne, the first city in Turkey after the Bulgarian border

Again the Selimiye Camii Mosque with the monument of Mimar Koca Sinan, who designed this mosque 500 years ago

Relief from the 6th century BC in the museum close to the mosque

It was Saturday when we arrived in Edirne and there was a wedding in a street near the mosque

Soldier with gull in the center of Edirne

Fighting men in the center of Edirne

Mermaid in Sarköy on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Marmara

Bikers in the center of Sarköy

Marion and Alfred on the ferry from Gelibolu to Lapseki - from Europe to Asia

The highway bridge that crosses the narrows in the western part of the Sea of Marmara

Sunset in Sevketiye with our camper

Ocaklar seen from the ascent to the saddle between Ocaklar and Turan

Marion with the island of Marmara behind her

Wild turtle on the way

Beach Küçükova Koyu on the northwest corner of the Kapidag peninsula

Bursa seen from the drive to the Uludag ski resort, which is the fourth largest city in Turkey with 3.2 million inhabitants

2486 meters high Zirve Tepe in the Uludag Mountains where are the highest peaks in the Marmara Region

Mine in eastern Bursa seen from the 1746 meters high Bakacak peak which is accessible via a decent road

Marion on top of the little peak Uludag Çobankaya

The Uludag ski resort is one of the largest in Turkey and is located near the megacities of Bursa and Istanbul

Giant yellow plants in full bloom on our way to the summit of Zirve Tepe

Also we met a huge goat herd with many dogs and one shepherd - the only human we saw on our hike to Zirve Tepe

Blue-purple flowers

When we reached the high plateau at 2400 meters above sea level, there was a violent storm

Summit house of the 2486 meter high Zirve Tepe – unfortunately in shabby condition

Marion approaches Zirve Tepe with the high plateau and the Uludag main peak (2543 meters above sea level), which is about 5 kilometers away

Alfred on top of Zirve Tepe with Bursa behind him

Purple flowers in the rocks

Marion with Deveboynu Castle which dates back to the Phrygian Period (12th century to 7th century BC)

Opposite of the Deveboyno Castle is the Doğanlı Fortress

Again the Doğanlı Fortress which was also used in the Byzantine Period (330 to 1463 AD)

Sheeps on our wonderful overnight staying place in front of Doğanlı Fortress and Deveboynu Castle

Gerdekkaya Anıtı Monument, a burial site from the Hellenistic period (3rd to 1st century BC)

View from the Gerdekkaya Anıtı Monument

Tombs in the Gerdekkaya Anıtı Monument

Arezastis Aniti Monument from the Phrygian period (12th century to 7th century BC) with three inscriptions - so far only one has been deciphered: Mother of the Gods

In Yazilikaya, the former Midas city, which was the religious center of the Phrygian Kingdom and was founded 5000 years ago

"Modern" house in Yazilikaya

The Midas Monument, measuring 17 x 16.5 meters, is the largest Phrygian rock monument. It is dedicated to King Midas.

The Kirkgöz Rock opposite the Midas Monument is a monumental rock tomb from the Hellenistic period (3rd to 1st century BC).

Lady in the Midas Monument

Ancient stairs in Midas City

Unfinished monument in Midas City

Mysterious rock on top of Midas City

Midas Monument seen from the top

In the nice restaurant near our parking place in Yazilikaya / Midas City

Malta's monument, an important Phrygian site, almost 3000 years old

Collapsed Lion's Head on the road to the Maltas Monument, dated 800 to 700 BC

Virgin Mary Church in Ayazini which is dated between the 10th and 12th centuries AD

In the Virgin Mary Church

Rock in which the Virgin Mary Church was built

Marion in the Nazli church

Byzantine rock site

Two Lion's Heads

Cave dwellings opposite of the churches

Depiction of King Midas with donkey ears – warning against greed, dangers of arrogance and lack of humility

Byzantine castle Avdalaz Kalesi with our sleeping place

Stairs into the castle Avdalaz Kalesi

Goddess Tomb in Ayazini, dated 2nd to 5th century AD

Boy sitting on a god

Two happy Ladies in Ayazini

Shop in Ayazini

The cave churches and dwellings are still integrated into Ayazini

Trailer garage

Princess with Prince in Ayazini

Welcome sign of Sultanhani with its caravaserai

The caravansrai was built by the Seljuks in the year 1229 AD and was one of the most important stops in caravan routes during the Middle Ages

Gate of the Sultanhani Caravanserai

Space for the gate guard

Carpets in the caravanserai

Hanging buckle in the caravanserai - a typical example of the dragon figures of the Seljuk period

Mina'i bowl in the caravanserai – from Iran, dated to the 12th to 13th century AD.

Cave dwellings in Selime

More cave dwellings in Selime

South side of Selime Castle, the largest and most elaborate cave complex in Cappadocia, built about 1,100 years ago

Northwest side of the Selime Castle

In the Selime Castle

View to the Fairy Chimneys

In the huge cathedral

Again in the cathedral of the Selime Castle

Outside of the cathedral

On the way to the Mother Mary Church

Mother Mary Church in the Selime Castle

The fairy chimneys behind our lovely sleeping place in Selime

Fairy Chimneys, the village Yaprakhisar and the volcano Hasan Dagi (top right) seen from little Fairy Chimneys Peak

Our camper with the Fairy Chimneys

Delicious dinner from the people living close to our sleeping place on the Fairy Chimneys

With bicycles in the green northern part of the Ihlara Valley

The route was partly a bit challenging for bicycles

Donkey near the entrance ticket office in the central part of the Ihlara Valley, where we parked our bikes

Two witches in the Ihlara Valley

Incredible green like in a jungle

Ancient wall painting in the Sümbüllü / Hyacinth Church. The Ihlara Valley is famous for its churches dating from the 10th to 12th centuries AD – there are more than 50 Rock Christian Churches.

More frescoes in the Sümbüllü / Hyacinth Church - approx. 1000 years old

Agaçalti Church

Inside the wonderful Agaçalti Church

Ceiling of the Agaçalti Church

Fresco in the Agaçalti Church

Tiny mosque in the Ihlara Valley

Fresco in the Kokar Church

Typical bridge in the Ihlara Valley

Karagedik Church, which collapsed in 2011 due to a rockfall, leaving only the north façade intact

Frescoes of the Karagedik Church from the 10th or 11th century

In the ihlara Valley which is about 15 km long and 150 meters deep

Ihlara Valley seen from the viewpoint about one kilometer northeast of the village Ihlara

Hasan Dagi seen from the village Helvadere

Various routes to the summit of Hasan Dagi – we chose the red one as it is the easiest and safest

Hasan Dagi at sunrise - the main peak is on the right

Interesting flowers on the trail

Trucks on the northeastern summit Hasan Dagi Küçük Zirve, 3215 meters above sea-level

Happy men showing the Turkish flag

Again the trucks with a view of the Taurus Mountains, up to 3756 meters high

The winding but decent road to the starting point near the Karbeyaz Hotel at 1964 meters above sea level

Rocky terrain to the summit

Alfred on top of 3268 meters high Hasan Dagi

Celebration of the summit ascent in the evening at the Hotel Karbeyaz

Kayseri with the majestic volcano Erciyes Dagi, which at 3916 meters above sea level is the highest mountain in Central Anatolia that we climbed in 1989