Duzce is a city located halfway between the Turkish cities of Ankara and Istanbul. The city is intersected by the D-100 highway, while the TEM highway runs around it.
Duzce has a climate with hot summers and cold winters, though there is a noticeable difference in climate between the inland West Black Sea region and the Central Anatolian countryside. The main agricultural products grown in Duzce include tobacco, maize, wheat, nuts, and various types of vegetables.
The historic city of Konuralp is located 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Duzce. It was first settled in the third century BC and became an important settlement belonging to the state of Bithynia until 74 BC, when it was conquered by Pontus and eventually controlled by Rome.
During the Roman period, Duzce was influenced by Latin culture. After Christianity became popular, the city was renamed Hypium and was controlled by the Eastern Roman Empire, later known as the Byzantine Empire after 395 AD.
During the Ottoman Empire, Duzce was significant in providing timber for the navy and became an important transportation hub between Istanbul and eastern cities such as Sivas and Erzurum. In the 18th century, traders in Duzce gained control of commerce, leading to increased trade from all around Turkey.