DUZCE TURKEY

Düzce

The city of Düzce, having asmall acreage, is often preferred by nature lovers each year. It isone of thecities which ensures a peaceful time away from noise of big cities. Akçakocadistrict is attractive for sea tourism, while Yığılca, Cumayeri and Gölkayadistricts for trekking routes, and Cumayeri district provides raftingopportunities.

Akçakoca

Akçakocais known with the name Diapolis where was an important coastaland commercial town in Roman and Byzantine periods. The district was under thesway of Genoese in 13th century, then was conquered by Ottoman Empire and cameunder Ottoman culture after 1323.

Akçakocais the gate of Düzce opening to the Black Sea coast. The district drawssignificant attention with its religious architecture, salmon berry fields,chestnut honey, hazelnut, long coasts and sand, large green fields, picnic andrecreation areas, historical monumental trees, Genoese Castle (CenevizKalesi), Fakıllı Cave (Fakıllı Mağarası), AktaşWaterfall (Aktaş Şelalesi), regional tastes and historical UpperNeighborhood having its own characteristic civilian architecture. When youenter the city, main port and fishing ports including big and small fisherboats welcome the visitors.

Akçakoca Ceneviz Castle

Akçakoca Genoese Castle (Akçakoca CenevizKalesi) reaching today from Roman and EastRoman periods has been registered as archeological and naturalprotected area. It is in UNESCO World Temporary Heritage List.Castle has two different coasts on eastward and westward having a special sand.The castle is worth to see with its surrounding verdant nature, sea viewdownward to the cliff and fjord-like natural structure.

Historical Houses of Akçakoca

Akçakocaand surrounding villages have beautiful samples of civilian architecture. Thesehouses have a history of about 150-200 years and different architecturefeatures according to the period they have been built. Many of these historicalhouses are included in the upper neighborhood which is one of the oldestresidential areas of Akçakoca and is famous for these types houses. Here, 160historical houses were registered and protected. Among them, the famous and thebiggest one is Mehmet Arif Bey Mansion (Mehmet Arif Bey Konağı) havinga white facade and 28 rooms. On the other hand, Akçakoca Local Market(Akçakoca Yöresel Pazar) welcomes visitors with traditional localfoods and hand-made ornaments.

Ancient City of Prusias ad Hypium

AncientCity of Prusias and Hypium is in Konuralp neighborhood in city center.Therefore, it is also known as Ancient City of Konuralp. History of the citydates back to 3rd century BCE. It is thought that many monumental structuressuch as aqueducts, theatre, Turkish bath, bridge had been built during thisperiod.  Six gates and their extensions are the entrance of Ancient City ofPrusias and Hypium. The gate lintel with embossed horse is interesting. Thereis a horse figure on lintel and scripture has a funerary stela written by aPrusias person for her/his mother.

Ancient Theatre of Prusias and Hypium (Konuralp)

AncientTheatre of Konuralp, known as "forty steps" by local people, has beenbuilt in Hellenistic Period (300-30 BCE). The additions in Roman period (30BCE. - 300 CE.) have come until today. IT is one of the most vivid historicalartifacts from Prusias Kingdom which had ruled the region until the firstcentury CE.

Düzce Konuralp Museum

Düzce Konuralp Museum (Düzce Konuralp Müzesi), built in order to protectrich cultural heritage of the Ancient City of Prusias and Hypium, consists offour main sections as archaeology, stone artifacts and mosaic, ethnography andmuseum garden. In museum, there are artifacts, earthen and marble statues,jewels, glass containers, tomb gifts from various periods between the BronzeAge and the East Roman. Moreover, ethnographicobjects such as coins from various periods, handworks from traditional cultureand regional cloths are exhibited chronologically.

Samandere Waterfall Natural Monument

Locatedin city center, Samandere Waterfall Natural Monument (Samandere Şelalesi TabiatAnıtı) provides a visual feast with its rich flora and interesting geologicalfeatures such as waterfalls, falls and "Hot Spots".

Güzeldere Waterfall Natural Park

GüzeldereWaterfall Natural Park (Güzeldere Şelalesi Doğa Parkı) is in Gölyaka district.It is worth to see the natural enthusiasm where 120 meters high waterfallmerges giant beech and hornbeam trees. In the park, having forestlands, walkingtracks, camping areas, you can make trekking, camping, bicycling, photo-safariactivities.

Aydınpınar Waterfall Natural Park

AydınpınarWaterfall (Aydınpınar Şelalesi) is in Aydınpınar Village justten kilometers away from Düzce city center. Around the waterfall, there is apathway very attractive for hikers.

Topuk Plateau and Pond

TopukPlateau and Pond (Topuk Yayla ve Göleti), located in Kaynaşlı district, is at1300 mt. altitude and 35 km away from Düzce. Topuk Plateau and Pond is one ofthe important centers for alternative tourism activities such as canoe, tentcamping, ATV and trekking as well as football tourism.

Kardüz Plateau

KardüzPlateau (Kardüz Yaylası), located in Gölyaka district, has one of the importanttrekking routes of Düzce. 24 kilometers route is interesting with its endemicflora and nature life. Good condition, long trekking experience andorienteering capabilities are required to complete this track. Especially inwinter, Kardüz Plateau provides unique views with snowy pine trees.

Sarıkaya Cave

It is 35km away from Yığılca district. Cave is interesting with fossils from twodevelopment periods and ceiling height including young dripstone shapes. Thereis a little fall in the middle of the hall and a canyon-valley from secondperiod.

Dipsizgöl Pond

DipsizgölPond (Dipsizgöl Göleti) in Kaynaşlı district, you can make picnic, tentcamping, hiking, bicycle and photo-safari activities.

Fakıllı Cave

Beingrich in stalactite and stalagmite, the cave is in Fakıllı Village eight kmsouthwest of Akçakoca district of Düzce. Fakıllı Cave (Fakıllı Mağarası) istotally natural, its length is 1017 mt. and 350 mt. of this is open forvisiting.

Geyiklibel Canyon Natural Park

GeyiklibelCanyon Natural Park (Geyiklibel Kanyonu Tabiat Parkı) in Yığılca is veryinteresting. It contains forestlands, fir, beech, black pine and oak trees,natural observation terraces having many large and small ponds and waterfalls,recreational areas, natural flora and clear streams across the canyon.

Wooden Stack Mosques

Woodenstack mosques, mainly in villages of Manav Turks, can and seen in differentlocations of the city. These mosques had been built without nails and bynotching the logs within each other in a central village by Turks becameresidents of the region after 1323.

Hemşin Village Mosque

Hemşin Village Mosque (Hemşin Köyü Cami) in Akçakoca district isone of the best samples of wooden stack (a structure built without nails)mosques. The mosque has been built by Hemşin people came from Artvin after 1877Ottoman-Russian War. The mosque, built with stone masonry in first floor andwooden stack technique in second floor, has a history of 150 years. Having aminaret also wooden, Hemşin Mosque draws attention with its altar, pulpit andceiling workmanship.

Çayağzı Village Orhan Gazi Mosque

ÇayağzıVillage Orhan Gazi Mosque (Orhan Gazi Cami) located in Akçakoca district hasbeen built 687 years ago using wooden stack technique with long logs withoutnails. These buildings built with no foundation are strengthened by disposingtrimmers on huge stones. Including no nails is the most important feature ofthese buildings.

Kaynaşlı Karaçalı Orhan Gazi Mosque

Themosque located in Kaynaşlı district was built in 14th century and has arectangular plan. Wooden stack technique was used in construction.

Gaziler Village Mosque

Themosque located in Yığılca district is similar to early period Ottoman woodenstack mosques. There are brick red flower (rosette) and passionflower ornamentsmade with madder on surface of door in last meeting locale of the mosque.

Hasanlar Dam Reservoir

HasanlarDam Reservoir (Hasanlar Baraj Gölü) is in Yığılca district and 20 km away fromcity center. Lake environment is attractive with changing nature colorsespecially dependent on the season.

Kültür Park

KültürPark, used by local people of Gölyaka district as a recreational area, is quitesuitable for air sports, hiking, tent and caravan camping, bicycle and photosafari activities.

Akçakoca Central Mosque

AkçakocaCentral Mosque (Akçakoca Merkez Cami) is interesting with its contemporaryarchitecture. Turkish and contemporary architecture synthesizes wereimplemented in the mosque, and the most significant feature is a roof systemset on octagon foundation inspired from traditional Turkish pavilion which hadbeen used in Seljuk Architecture, instead of a classical roof system.

Eş Şeyh Aliyyü-l Müslahiddin Hazretleri Mausoleum

Mausoleumis located in Çilimli. It is one of the most important centers of religiontourism.

Selamlar Fountain

Thefountain is in Selamlar village of Gümüşova district.  Atatürk has visitedthe village and drunk ayran in 1934 during his İstanbul visits, since thenvillage people holds a festival and drain ayran each year on 18th of July inthe memory of Atatürk.

Sarsılmaz Warfare and Hunting Weapons Museum

It is inBeyköy town in central Düzce. Many weapons from flintlocks and matchlocks fromOttoman period to fire- and unfire-arms used in 1st World War and until todayare exhibited chronologically.

Uğurlu Village Yeni Meze Mosque

UğurluVillage Yeni Meze Mosque (Yeni Meze Cami) is 16 km away from Akçakoca. Being abeautiful example of stone masonry, the mosque was built in 1885. It is one ofthe important cultural and architecture values including scriptures within itfrom the Ottomans.