Karacasu

In ancient times, Gordio Teichos city existed instead of Karacasu. Yenişehir, the old name of Karacasu, was built on this city. The Karasu Clan of the Aymür tribe, one of the sons of Oghuz Khan, settled in the city. The city, which was under the rule of the Kayra people, passed into the hands of the Romans in 189 BC. The region, which came under the domination of the Seljuks, has recently been attached to the Menteşe Principality. Respectively entered the Aydınoğulları Principality and under the rule of the Ottomans. Due to its high altitude, it shows highland characteristics unlike the Mediterranean climate. The marbles formed by the transformation of the limestone structure on the slopes of Baba Mountain; He was instrumental in the establishment of the ancient city of Aphrodisias and the development of sculpture here. Its main livelihood is apples and olives, along with figs, grapes, pomegranates, citrus fruits, chestnuts, almonds, peaches, vegetables, grains, and some cotton and tobacco. Earthenware jugs, pottery and tourist items; Plateau tourism and Aphrodisias attract the attention of local and foreign tourists.

The Ancient City of Aphrodisias is located within the borders of Geyre District in Aydın’s Karacasu district. The ancient city, which was built on a plateau at an altitude of 600 meters from the sea, received the richness of the historical buildings from the marble quarries located on the foothills of Babadağ on the north side of the city.

The ancient city in Aydın’s Karacasu district was built towards the end of the 1st century BC. The ancient city of Aphrodisias has been used by different rulers and has survived to the present day. Since there is not enough promotion for Aphrodisias Ancient City, it is not visited much by local and foreign tourists.

Aphrodisias Ancient City includes a theater, parliament building, stadium, Hadrian’s Bath, Aphrodite Temple and Sebastion.

In order to reach the ancient city, you should turn to Karacasu road on the right after passing Kuyucak for 2 kilometers while using the Aydın – Denizli highway. After turning from the Karacasu sign, you can reach Karacasu after 27 kilometers and then the city when you move 12 kilometers towards Tavas. 

Entrance fee to the Aphrodisias Antique City Museum, which is adjacent to the ancient city, is paid. When you pay the museum entrance fee, you can visit Aphrodisias Ancient City and its museum.

The theater part of the ancient city was used both as a show and a gathering place for local people. The theater consists of two parts, the spectacular stage and the audience.

The stage part of the 7000-seat ancient city theater was built using 3-storey marble. When you go to the top of the ancient city theater, you can see all the details in the stage section, watch the perfect view and take photos.

The parliament building has a very important place in the period when the ancient city was used. The council building, which was built in the 200th AC, was used as the public gathering place. While the theater, indoor theater and concert hall were used as the meeting place of the people, the parliament building was also used as the meeting place.

There are portraits of two different benefactors, Dometeinos and Ttiana, in the parliament building and their pedestals written on the statues. Today, the pedestals are not removed while the portraits are being taken to the museum.

Would you like to see one of the best preserved and largest stadiums in the world? The stadium of Aphrodisias Ancient City is 270 meters long and has a capacity of 30 thousand people.

In the 1st century AC, the stadium where games such as long jump, disc and javelin throw were played, and in the 400s AC, brutal sports were made that shed blood. People from the local and surrounding cities watched the struggle of gladiators and wild animals here.

Hadrian’s Bath, built in the 2nd century AC, is one of the largest institutional buildings of the Ancient City of Aphrodisias. Built in accordance with Roman architecture, Hadrian’s Bath was dedicated to the Roman Emperor Hadriana.

The front of the bath is surrounded by walls and has a courtyard. On the north side, there is a fountain built with fine workmanship. When the fountain is examined carefully, you can see the traces of the Roman period.

It was used as a religious center during the Sebastion period, which is located in Aphrodisias Antique City. During the Roman Empire, Sebastion was established to worship Roman emperors as gods.

There is a long courtyard and building in the lower part of the Sebastion structure. The building has three floors and columns on the sides. Relief writings and sculptures were built on and around the columns.

It is known as the focal point of the ancient city. Aphrodite Temple was built in the 1st century BC, and columns were added around the temple in the 2nd century AC. In 500 AC, the temple was converted into a Christian church.

Sculptor masters in the ancient city have made important works at this point. You can see these products produced by sculptors in the temple.

You should definitely watch the sunset around the Aphrodite Temple. The sunset around the temple, which is the highlight of the city, is even more perfect.

Located within the borders of the ancient city, the museum was opened in 1979. In the museum, only historical artifacts unearthed from the ancient city are exhibited.

Sculptures with and without head parts, busts, coins from Rome and different empires, gold and artifacts produced by sculptor masters are exhibited in the museum. You should definitely not leave the museum without seeing the beauty of the Aphrodite statues. There are visible architectural differences between Aphrodite sculptures and other sculptures.

The museum, which opens at 08:00 in the morning both in summer and winter, closes at 19:00 in the summer and at 17:00 in the winter.

Karacasu Natural Beauties: 4 Places To See Enchanting With Its Untouched Greenery

Hyena Cave is located in Camarası District in Aydın’s Karacasu district. The cave is about 14 kilometers from the town of Karacasu and about 10 kilometers from the ancient city of Aphrodisias.

The entrance part of the Hyena Cave is 4 meters long and the entrance is made by crawling because it is low. There are ceramic pieces, stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave, which is 348 meters long. Ceramic pieces in the cave suggest that it was used as a living center for a certain period.

You can use Kuyucak – Tavas road from Karacasu city center to reach Hyena Cave. Another alternative to reach the cave is that you can reach Çamarası Mahallesi via Yazır – Karasu road. There are minibuses that provide transportation from Karacasu city center to Camarası District.

Caglayan Nature Park is located in Caglayan Mevkii, approximately 18 kilometers from Aydın’s Karacasu district center and approximately 2 kilometers from Bahcekoy District.

The park is protected due to its vegetation, rich living space around it, its climate and its high position. Animals such as wild boar, fox, crow, nightingale and blackbird live in Caglayan Nature Park.

In the park, where you can watch the unique view of nature, examine the forest and mountain ecosystem, breathe the perfect scent of trees and plants, you can capture plenty of photographs.

You can use the Kuyucak-Tavas road route to reach the park. You will use the D-585 highway to reach the park.

Gorle Canyon, located in Gorle District of Karacasu district, is approximately 25 kilometers from the district center. In order to reach the deep and steep valley, you have to descend 250 meters from the Yaykın Plain.

You can take a sightseeing tour around the canyon where you can witness nature walks, mountain climbing and excellent views. The canyon height varies between 100 meters and 250 meters.

Mediterranean vegetables and herbs are grown with abundant water and greenery around the canyon.

You can easily reach the canyon by using Gorle minibuses departing from Karacasu district center. If you want to reach with your private vehicle, you can reach the Karacasu district center by following the Kuyucak-Tavus road.

There is no entrance fee for Gorle Canyon. You can explore mountains, valleys and plains for free.

Bahcekoy Waterfall is located in Bahcekoy Neighborhood in Aydın’s Karacasu district. There is approximately 20 kilometers distance between Karacasu district center and Bahcekoy District. The waterfall is located approximately 4 kilometers from Bahcekcy Neighborhood.

The cold water flowing through the mountains and slopes from a height of 100 meters in both summer and winter is a perfect natural wonder. Benches have been placed in order for the locals around Karacasu to spend more quality time at the edge of the waterfall.

To reach Bahcekoy Neighborhood, you can reach Karacasu district center by using the Kuyucak – Tavas highway.

Since there is no entrance fee to Bahcekoy Waterfall, you can have a picnic around it or take pictures if you wish.

Kahvederesi Plateau, located 3 km west of Karacasu district, is a place worth seeing with its natural beauties, highland houses and various tree-plant species. In Karacasu, one of the most popular places of plateau tourism, which contains the seven colors of nature; There are many plateaus such as Nacipınar, Ballıpınar, Dedebağı, Gökbel, Dikmen Ozanlı and Gürlek. It is known that local and foreign tourists also come to the highlands, where the local people migrated during the summer months.

Based on the ruins found in the excavations of the ancient city of Aphrodisias, which is 13 km away from the district center, it is estimated that pottery has been made in the region since historical times. The soil used for making pottery today is supplied to the potters by the Municipality of Karacasu. The most important feature of the soil used in making pottery is its high iron content. Due to the high iron content, the color of the pots is a dark and beautiful red. The clay used in Karacasu pottery is obtained from Yazır village and the locality called Esek Kosagı near the region. Another raw material is a mica-based material used in the decoration of Karacasu pots, a bluish color with a white firing color. Potters extract this substance from the immediate environment with their own means. The main pots produced in Karacasu are casseroles, jugs, mugs, teapots, coffee pots, sugar bowls, ashtrays, jars, vases.

Blacksmithing gains importance as a very old cultural activity in Karacasu. Production continues today on the basis of master-apprentice. Nowadays, knives, hatchets, axes, agricultural tools and souvenirs are produced as blacksmithing activities. Yes, you can buy a gift for yourself and your relatives when you visit here.

The abundant growth of acorn, the raw material of leatherwork, in the region has led to the opening of tanneries. Leather business activities carried out since the Ottoman Empire increased with the establishment of a modern leather business facility in Dandalaz in 1985. Here, mostly indigenous vaketa leather is produced. In particular, leather of sandals worn is produced in Karacasu.

One of the oldest traditions of Anatolia, Dedebag Keskek Hayri, which has been organized since 1282 and whose name transcends the borders today, people come from kilometers away to spend time in a peaceful atmosphere as well as taste. With the work carried out in Dedebag and started the night before, the keskek boiled in 70 large pots are distributed to thousands of citizens.

WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK IN KARACASU?

Pide making is very famous in the region. Pide makers from Karacasu are distributed throughout the country, especially in the Aegean region. The reason why Karacasu pide is famous is that the dough and cooking style of the pide is different. At the festival held in Karacasu every year, pide makers compete to make the longest pide. So, if you visit this place, you should definitely eat “pide”. You should especially eat “Karacasu yuvarlagı” . You know, if you don’t like pide, you can stop by KAHVEDERESI and eat “Well tandoori”.

How To Get To Karacasu With Minibus?

In order to reach Karacasu district by minibus from Aydın, you must first take the minibus Nazilli. Karacasu minibuses departing from Nazilli will take you to the district center.

There are minibus services from Aydın to Nazilli approximately every twenty minutes, and Karacasu minibus services from Nazilli approximately every twenty minutes.

After reaching Nazilli from Aydın, you can reach Karacasu district center by using the municipal buses.

There are minibus services departing directly from Denizli Bus Station to Karacasu district center.

How to Get to Karacasu by Private Vehicle?

You should take the D-585 highway from Aydın to follow the Camdibi, Bahceköy and Karacasu route.

There is approximately 250 kilometers distance between Izmir and Karacasu district. You must use the E-87 highway to reach Karacasu district from Izmir with your private vehicle. When you depart from Izmir, you can reach by following the route of Gaziemir, Menderes, Torbalı, Incirliova, Kosk, Nazilli and Karacasu.

To reach Karacasu district center from Denizli, you must use the D-585 highway. When you set off from Denizli center, you can reach Tavas, Akıncılar, Geyre and Karacasu respectively.

There is a distance of approximately 630 kilometers between Istanbul and Karacasu. When you set off from Istanbul, you should follow the E-5 highway, E-881 and D-555 highway in order. From Istanbul, you should follow the route of Sultanbeyli, Orhangazi, Balıkesir, Alasehir, Saraykoy and Karacasu respectively.

There is approximately 600 kilometers distance between Ankara and Karacasu district center. You can reach the district of Karacasu by following the E-90, E-96, D-650 and D-585 highways. When you set off from Ankara, you will see the districts and provinces of Polatlı, Bolvadin, Dinar, Denizli, Saraykoy and Buharkent respectively.