Cumalikizik

Cumalikizik

Cumalıkızık is a charming village located in the Yıldırım district of Turkey, just 10 kilometers east of Bursa. This village boasts a rich history dating back to the Ottoman Empire's founding, and it features a number of well-preserved examples of Ottoman architecture.

Cumalikizik

As one of 14 villages that end in -kızık, Cumalıkızık was initially established to provide income for the Orhan Gazi Mosque located in Bursa's historic city center. Its name comes from the fact that people from surrounding villages would gather here for Friday prayers, with "Cuma" meaning "Friday" in Turkish. Today, only a handful of these Kızık villages remain, including Değirmenlikızık, Fidyekızık, Derekızık, and Hamamlıkizik - the villages that once had hamams.

There are 270 Ottoman-era houses still standing in Cumalıkızık, with about 180 of them still inhabited and many having undergone restoration. These houses are typically two to three stories tall and constructed of wood, rubble stones, and adobe. The narrow cobblestone streets feature gutters down the center to channel rainwater, adding to the village's old-world charm.

While there aren't specific attractions in Cumalıkızık, it's a wonderful place to wander the streets and soak in the authentic atmosphere of the past. This region is rich with historical villages, and many of them are included in Bursa's UNESCO World Heritage listing.