Cumalıkızık Ottoman Village: UNESCO World Heritage, Gin Range and Breakfast Guide

700 Years of History of Cumalıkızık and Kızık Tribes

Members of the Kızık tribe, one of the 24 tribes of the Oghuzs, settled in the steep northern valleys of Uludağ during the conquest of Bursa and its surroundings by the Ottoman Principality in the early 1300s and founded 7 separate foundation villages: Cumalıkızık, Derekızık, Hamamlıkızık, Fidyekızık, Değirmenlikızık, Bayındırkızık and Dallıkızık. Among these villages, the only settlement that has preserved its texture intact to the present day is Cumalıkızık.

According to the most common rumor about the name of the village, the village was named 'Cumalıkızık' because the people living in the surrounding villages gathered in the large mosque in this village to perform the Friday prayer. Due to its unique qualities that carry the Ottoman rural life, logistics and foundation system to the present day, the village was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.

Civil Architecture and Must-See Points

1. 270 Historical Ottoman Houses and Indigo Streets

Cumalıkızık houses were built from rubble stone, wooden frame and adobe filling. The ground floors of these two- or three-storey houses are cellars, stables and courtyards; The upper floors are spacious living rooms with bay windows. The exteriors of the houses are painted in eye-catching indigo blue, ochre, and white lime. Concave stone gutters were built in the middle of the streets to allow rain and spring water to flow.

2. One of the Narrowest Passages in the World: Cin Gap

Cin Range, one of the most famous spots in the village, is a historical street gap that is too narrow (about 40 cm wide) for two people to pass side by side. It is said that this name was given to the street after Turkish villagers escaping from the Greek invaders during the War of Independence passed through this narrow gap and lost their traces, and the soldiers following them said 'humans cannot pass through here, demons have passed through'.

3. Cumalıkızık Ethnography Museum and Art House

In the museum located in the village square, traditional agricultural tools, kitchen utensils, weaving looms, cradles and period clothes used by the village people for centuries are exhibited.

4. Historical Village Ovens and Fountains

The centuries-old ovens in the village square still produce fragrant walnut breads, poppy seed buns and sourdough village loaves baked on wood fire.

Where and How to Get to Cumalıkızık?

Cumalıkızık Village is located 13 km east of the center of Bursa, within the borders of Yıldırım district and at the foot of Uludağ.

• By Metro and Minibus: Take the Bursaray metro and get off at Cumalıkızık / Değirmenönü station. You can reach the village square in 5 minutes with the yellow Cumalıkızık minibuses that depart from the station exit every 10 minutes.
• By Private Vehicle: You can easily reach the village by driving on the Bursa-Ankara highway (D200) and following the Cumalıkızık signs at the Otosansit junction.
• Parking: The historical streets of the village are closed to vehicle traffic. There are large municipal parking lots at the village entrance.

Local Tips for Visitors (Insider Guide)

• Traditional Sprinkled Village Breakfast: Served in the vine-leaved historical courtyards of the village houses; Be sure to try the famous breakfast with mountain thyme, homemade jams (especially blackberry and raspberry), flatbread and village cheese.
• Early Visit Advantage: Since there is a heavy influx of tourists on weekends, it is recommended that you come between 09:00 - 10:30 in the morning to experience the silence of the streets and take photos without the crowds.
• Natural Products Market: You can buy homemade tarhana, dried fruits, walnut molasses sausage and handmade wool booties from the stalls opened by village women.