AREA INFO

- Fethiye - Oludeniz - Uzumlu - Xanthos - Cadianda - Pınara - Letoon -

- Butterfly Valley - Gemiler Bay & Island - Gunluklu - Katranci -

- Saklikent Gorge - Gebeler Spa - Kaya Rugs -

Fethiye is located on the Lycian and Carian border and was called Telmessos in ancient times. The city was very prominent and a centre of prophecy, pledged to Apollon. That the city life was rich and highly cultured during the Hellenistic and Roman periods is evident from the existing monuments. Today the majority of ancient ruins in Telmessos are rock-tombs, Lycian-type sarcophagi, the fortress and the Roman Theatre.
The peninsula lying between Fethiye and Antalya was known as Lycia in the ancient times. Lycians were natives of Anatolia and sea-faring people as mentioned in Homer’s Iliad and Kadesh War Peace Agreement document.
The tomb of Amyntas, which could be considered as the insignia of Fethiye, strikes the eye with its grandeur on the slope as you enter the bay. This tomb, whose façade was built as an Ionic temple based on the plan of in antis, belonged to Amyntas is believed to be a king or a governor of Telmessos during the Hellenistic period.
Within the city there are quite a number of Lycian-type sarcophagi. On these there are epitaphs in the Lycian scripture. Especially the sarcophagus near the government house is worthy of notice, with its relieves depicting warriors.

The fortress stands where the city was first founded and the existing walls are from the 11th Century. At same places, portions of walls from the Roman period can be seen. The fortress was repaired by the Rhodesian Knights during the 15th Century and was used as a naval base.
Telmessos Ancient Theatre stands opposite to the commercial quay at Fethiye town centre. Typical Roman type theatre was built in 2nd. Century on the remains of a Greek style previous one. The site was escavated by the Fethiye Archaeology Museum in 1993 and a restoration project was made to renovate the theatre’s cavea and stage.
Fethiye Archaeology Museum exhibits numerous Archaeological findings from the Lycian, Hellenistic, Roman and Ottoman periods as well as ethnological works of art typical of the region.

There is a new project to be realised in 2001—2002 for a new “open-air Museum complex with the ancient theatre”. Fethiye Municipality and the Directory of Museum are leading this project to reform the centre of town with the idea of protecting natural and cultural environments of Fethiye.
The Teke Peninsula of our times, lying between Fethiye and Antalya was known as LYCIA in the ancient times. In fact the Lycians participated in the Kadesh War together with Hittites, Which indicates that they were one of the oldest tribes of Anatolia. All through the history, Lycia was invaded by the Persians, Alexander The Great, Romans and Byzantines but was never evacuated. Fethiye is an appropriate centre for excursions into Lycia. Either on your own or by organised daily tours, you can pay visits to major Lycian cities in the region.

BLUE  LAGOON (ÖLÜDENİZ):

Explore the Blue Lagoon (Ölüdeniz) where the calm crystal-clear water is ideal for swimming and other water sports. The Blue Lagoon is located at the famous tourist resort of Ölüdeniz and protected as one of Turkey’s national parks.

UZUMLU

Uzumlu village (grape village) is 18 kilometres from Fethiye, nestled in foothills. Here the quality variaties of grapes are still grown, as the name of village suggests. On looms found in most homes, a local pure cotton material (known as ‘Dastar’) is woven by the village women. Table clothes & curtains are among the finished products available.

XANTHOS:
The political capital of the Lycian Federation, Xanthos is known as the place where the population committed suicide in preference to defeat by the Persians who invaded the city in 546 BC. Sir Charles Fellows first discovered Xanthos in 1838 and all reliefs and the beautiful Nereid’s Monuments were carried to London’s British Museum. The ruins of the city are found at Kınık Village on the  Fethiye - Kaş road and are splendid examples of the Lycian Civilisation.

CADIANDA :
The ancient city of Cadianda is located near Üzümlü Village, about 20 Km. from Fethiye. Fine examples of Cyclops Walls, a sports complex, theatre and Heroon like temple tombs are all worth seeing, as are the magnificent views out over Fethiye.

PINARA:The Lycians’ “Beauty Center”, Pınara is on the way to Minare Village and can be reached by a short road branching off from the Fethiye—Kaş highway. Numerous Pigeon Hole type simple tombs carved into the cliff faces, a hearth planned Aphrodite Temple with fine friezes and a well preserved amphitheatre are probably the most interesting remains of Pınara.

TLOS:
Located  28 km. from Fethiye, Tlos is one of the oldest residential areas of Lycia and one of the few cities that continued its existence up to the 19th Century. Tlos is known as “the sports centre” of the Lycian Federation and was the home of the mythological winged horse, Pegasus, and his hero Bellorophonte.  An Acropolis, the temple type tomb of Bellorophonte, the Stadium, the Roman Bath complex (with its great views), and amphitheatre, are some of the structures that remain quite well preserved. The nearby trout farms are an oasis on a hot summers day, serving delicious lunches.

LETOON: Letoon was a holy city, dedicated to the Goddess Leto. Located at Kumluova Village and 4 km from Xanthos, it is known that all holy ceremonies were performed here by the priests of the temples of Leto, Artemis and Apollon.

OENANDA:
A recently excavated city, Oenanda is located near İncealiler Village, about 88 km from Fethiye. British and Turkish archaeologists discovered about 300 scribed tablets by the Lycian Epicurean Philosopher, Dioghenes.

BUTTERFLY VALLEY:
Pieri Rapos, Euglapia Quadripunctia, Danaus Chtsippus and others… Butterfly Valley is a deep and steep walled valley and is one of the most beautiful bays of the Fethiye region. Commencing in springtime for up to 10 months, more than 40 varieities of butterflies can be watched in the valley.  

 
GEMILER BEACH & ST NICHOLAS ISLAND:
Following the road leading from Kaya Köyü, descend to the beautiful Gemiler beach, surrounded by pine and olive trees. Gemiler bay faces St Nicholas Island where the Byzantine ruins of a monastery lie tucked among the olive trees. A Japanese team has carried out archaeological excavations at intervals over the past 10 years and confirmed that this is the once residence of St Nicholas.

GÜNLÜKLÜ BAY (Küçük Kargı):
This site is also operated as a camping ground by the Department of National Parks and is reknowned for its frankincense trees (Liquid Ambar Orientalis) which grow naturally only in this region.

  KATRANCI BAY:
The Muğla-Fethiye highway branches off to this campsite at the 15km point from Fethiye and there are numerous little bays for secluded swimming. Katrancı is an ideal picnic place where pine trees stretch right to the shore.   

SAKLIKENT GORGE:
Gushing torrents of pure spring water have cut a narrow gorge / canyon through the mountains creating the 11km long, Saklıkent Gorge. Walk through the icy waters and explore the deep gorge with its water-smoothed walls and permanently shaded floor. A cool refuge on hot summer days, Saklıkent Gorge is a favourite lunch stop with its rustic restaurants serving delectable fresh trout.

GEBELER SPA: 
Gebeler Spa is a thermal spring with high contents of chlorine and sulphates claimed to cure many ailments. The 15 metre deep hot water well provides remedies for rheumatism, sciatica and skin diseases.

  KAYA KÖYÜ - A MOSAIC OF CULTURES:
Beyond the Fethiye fortress following the road climbing up the slope some 7 km, you reach the magnificent lowland of Kaya Köyü (village) where Anatolian Greeks lived on the hillside until 1922. Greeks called the town Levissi. During the 1922 exchange of Turks in Thrace with Anatolian Greeks, Kaya Köyü was evacuated and the new residents did not occupy the existing houses. Kaya, now abandoned, become a “Ghost Town”, although the fertile valley is still inhabited and farmed today. 2 churches, chapels, numerous houses, schools, library, hospital, workshops remain to be explored.  A renovation project has been proposed by The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies and The Chamber Of Turkish Architects and is a possibility in the near future. The valley also hosts many small BBQ and borek restaurants very popular with locals.

LOCAL HANDCRAFTS:
Kaya Village rugs have been made for centuries with specific designs and colours and the special dying techniques.
Dastar: Dastar is a handcraft more specifically seen in Üzümlü Village. Spun cotton is used for these scarves and they are hand woven on looms in plain weaving or with designs traditionally in white-on-white.
Kilim: Flat woven carpets as well as saddlebags are hand made at Seydiler, Atlidere, Karaçulha and Eldirek Villages, each with specific designs.
Kolan: These are thin, long belts woven from wool dyed in bright colours and used to tie babies or loads on women’s backs.

From the coastline to the mountain pastures, Fethiye is the place where different cultures have been blended to create a colourful life. Yörük (Nomads) and fishermen come together easily in a typical Fethiye picture. Local arts such as folk music, folk dances, handcrafts and local cuisine are all unique to this region.

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