This article is about the city in Turkey. For the village on Cyprus, seePalaikythro.
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Clockwise from top: Clocktower in Balıkesir,Zagnos Pasha Mosque, Balıkesir Museum, Sarımsaklı Beach,Ottoman Architecture in Balıkesir, Atatürk Park, Fountain in Balıkesir
Close to modern Balıkesir was theRoman town ofHadrianutherae, founded, as its name commemorates, by the emperorHadrian.[3] Hadrian came to the region in 124 A.D., as a result of a successful bear hunting he had established a city called his name here. It is estimated that the city consisted of the castle, the homestead, the stud and a few homes. It is thought that the small town was where the current stadium is present.[4]
Members of the Roman and Pre-Byzantine dynasty had used this castle as a vacation area and for hunting. During theByzantine period, the small town which had become increasingly neglected was known asPalaiokastron (Greek:Παλαιόκαστρον) meaning Old Castle.[5]
Also, when theTurkomans came from Middle Asia to Mysia, they called it Balukiser because of the remains of the castle, asHisar is the Turkish word for castle. Balıkesir's former name was Karasi because Balıkesir city was founded byKarasi Bey in the 13th century as using the remains of the small town. 1297 is considered as the date of establishment of the city which was one of the few to be founded by the Turks inAnatolia. TheKarasids was a Turkic principality inMysia. Since the 13th century, Balıkesir city have been the administrative centre of the Mysia region.
In 1345, Balıkesir city was annexed by theOttomans. In 1898 an earthquake destroyed much of the city. The number of buildings that were not destroyed in the 1898 earthquake was only 51.[6] In 1914, Turkish students marched through the streets of the city singing a song of hatred against the Greeks.[7] In April 1916, the Christian Greeks of the villages in the vicinity of Balikesser underwent persecution from the Turks. They were refused bread on payment. The women were told that they should become Muslim so as not to die of hunger.
At the beginning of June, many young Greeks were forced by the authorities to convert to Islam at Government headquarters.[7] On 30 June 1919 Balıkesir city was occupied by the invadingGreeks but on 6 September 1922, theTurkish Army took back the city. During theTurkish War of Independence, Balıkesir was the main centre of theTurkish militias in Western Anatolia against the occupyingGreek Army.
On 3 August 1950, a major fire destroyed the centre of the city which was rebuilt later. That fire destroyed an important part of the city. According to estimates, it was the result of the firing of firecrackers belonging to child guns in a shop. According to another opinion, it was caused by the gnawing of the firecrackers of child guns by rats and this fire spread to the electrical contact. 498 shops completely burned.It is the second biggest disaster to befall in Balıkesir after the 1898 earthquake. Nearly a thousand people were unemployed. The tents were set up by the Turkish Red Crescent and food aid was provided for a long time.[8]
Avlu Balikesir Public Garden and Shopping CenterOld Government Building in the city center
The economic base of the city is both agricultural and industrial. The biggest industrial enterprises areArı-Turyağ,Limak-Set Çimento,BEST,Mar-Tük,İşbir,Kula,Tellioğlu,Bu Piliç andYarış Kabin which are among the first thousand factories in Turkey as of 2008. Balıkesir city is also important for stock breeding. Surrounding the city, are numerous dairies. The city is also an agricultural centre. Wheat,sunflowers, sugar beets, and other vegetables in a front tomato and bean plantations have dense products. Traditional crops aremelon and grapes. Balıkesir with its districts is the 12th largest economy in the Turkish economy. Also, it is calledtheAnatolian Tigers.
Other main exports areolive-based products. It is also a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists, who use it as a base to explore the near countryside which is renowned for its beauty, especially nearbyMount Ida (Kaz Dağı).
The city is well known withborax deposit. The largest global borax deposits known, many still untapped, are in Central and WesternTurkey, including the provinces ofEskişehir,Kütahya and Balıkesir.[9][10][11] Besides,Turkey and the United States are the largest producers of boron products. Turkey produces about half of the global yearly demand with the known deposits which possesses 72% of the world.
The central of Balıkesir province with 300,000 population is the fourth crowded city in theMarmara Region. Balıkesir has an aggregate settlement network. Until the 1950s, the city has grown by depending on the core being first settlements that it resembles break-up of the oil stains. The city has been carrying moreAegean character thanMarmara.Aygören, Karaoğlan, Dumlupınar, Kasaplar, Hisariçi, Karesi, Kızpınar, Hacıilbey are the first settlements of the city. The eldest settlements are acclivity, lane and also have adjoint buildings. Many historical places are in these quarters. A summary of new settlements are Bahcelievler, Atatürk, Paşaalanı and Adnan Menderes quarters.
As a part of the city skyline,New Bazaar Area is the oldest shopping place for the city.Vasıf Çınar Street andGazi Boulevard are other busy areas. The face of the government, there isBalıkesir Park, the rest area, is one of Turkey's most beautiful parks. By the establishment of Balıkesir University in the city, social life is gradually developing. Commercial life in Balıkesir is growing with modern shopping centres such asYay/ada,10 Burda,Avlu Balıkesir
Salih Tozan Cultural Center is important for cultural activities in the city. Public transport area where is the point of transport networks is near theSalih Tozan.
Also, Turkey's first jet base,9th Main Air Base is also located in Balıkesir.
The capital of Balıkesir province contains many historical buildings;
The historical clock tower
The Saat Kulesi (Clock Tower) is the symbol of the city, built by Mehmet Pasha in 1827.[12] is a smaller version of theGalata Tower. It destroyed in 1898 as a result of the big earthquake and rebuilt in 1901 in its final form.
Zaganos Pasha Mosque built by and named after the Grand Vizier ofMehmet the Conqueror,Zaganos Pasha in 1461, was once part of a great complex. Today only the mosque and baths remain. The Zaganos Pasha Mosque Complex and Yildirim Mosque are popular spiritual areas.
Yildirim Mosque is the oldest remaining work from theOttoman period in Balikesir city.Bayezid I had it built-in 1388 in the second half of the 14th century.
Umurbey Mosque has an epitaph of three lines engraved on marble using a special script calledSülüs. The date is 1412.
The Karesi Bey Mausoleum was built in 1336. It contains the cenotaphs ofKaresi Bey and his five sons. Karesi Bey's sarcophagus is decorated withSufic script.
Balıkesir's Historical Windmills are in Karakol village which is 25 km (15.53 mi) from Balıkesir, there are seven historical windmills. But only three windmills remain. Hunting and tracking are the best sports, accompanied by windmill views.
Değirmen Boğazı (means strait of a mill) is a forest area 10 km from Balıkesir on the way to Bursa, lies nestled between two hills; on holidays and weekends families flock to this scenic spot. This picnic place contains tea gardens and restaurants.
Atatürk Parkı (Balikesir City Park) is a park which has been in service since the 1960s. The ground is covered with grass. There is a poolside café and rest facility. Celtis (Hackberry) and pine trees are all over the park.
Balikesir Local-Civil Houses are the city's oldest districts (Aygoren and Karaoglan district) have historical and traditional houses which show the economy and lifestyle of the city until the 1500s.
The major memorial days of Balıkesir areHıdrellez, The Liberation Day and alsoThe Remembrance Day of Local Combat.
Hıdrellez is by tradition celebrated in the first week of May for those who live in Balıkesir. Today, it is the fulfillment of a religious ritual that is celebrated as a day of goodness. The night on the streets there is a fire, and one of the traditions is to jump over the fire seven times. That night going to such green and restful areas asDeğirmenboğazı andBalıkesir Park or near the religious area like tombs is also a ritual of Hıdrellez. People wish midnight and meet there. Accordingly, Hıdrellez day people have offerings. Drawing a picture of something that is desired to land or stone is determined. Individuals seeking goods put money into a red purse and hang it on a tree. On the other hand, those wishing for a baby type the name or draws baby figure on the ground. These rituals are traditions of Hıdrellez. One of the superstitions is that if someone takes a shower that night, he or she is protected from all diseases. Hıdrellez is a kind ofNowruz or Spring New Years.
The Liberation Day from the enemy occupation of Balıkesir is 6 September in 1922. Every year, 6 September is celebrating the day as a local holiday. There are a celebration parade and a celebratory ceremony. The ceremony takes place on Stadium Street. In the past, the previous night of 6 September, the main streets of Balıkesir were washed with cologne with lilies, because lilies are a symbol of Balıkesir. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. For two or three days, the people would come from the nearby villages and districts to celebrating. On 6 September morning, people in Balıkesir would picnic in advance of the festival, at Balıkesir Park. The festival evening, a great torchlight procession is organized.Tülü Tabaklar which had designed similarly the cannibals in order to frighten the enemies is a special event of the festival.
The Remembrance Day of Local Combat is calledKuvayi Milliye Haftası in Turkish which is organized between 16 and 23 May. The great success with 41 Balıkesirer people met at Alaca Mescit and they have managed the region such as a state and gained a military victory in 1922. 15 May 1919, after the capture of İzmir by the Greeks, Balıkesir is the first place in Turkey that the reaction of Balıkesir had shown by declared Redd-i Ilhak (Disclamation of Annexation). In 1919, the city ofBalikesir Congress was met five times.Greek soldiers on 30 June 1920 was occupied Balıkesir. By had openedAyvalik-İvrindi-Soma-Balikesir-front, Balıkesir had its liberation.
Balıkesir's local cheese, calledKelle Peyniri, is known in European countries and exportedFrance,Germany andBritain. It is agranular type of cheese.Hoşmerim which is made from cheese and egg is the popular dessert of this city. Many old Turkmen dishes (likekeşkek, güveç, tirit, mantı, kaymaklı) are composed of Balıkesir cuisine.
Balıkesirşakşuka is made with green tomatoes. The dish sometimes includes potato and peppers as well.[13]
Balıkesir plainness' folkloric traditional woman customsBalıkesir zeibeks play their zeibek dance
Balıkesir is a historical folkloric dance source. Balıkesir's historical folkloric dance is most popular in Turkey and academical searching.Bengi,Guvende andBalikesir Zeybeği are a typical dance of this city. These dances' figures spread throughout Balıkesir plainness. Also, Balıkesir'sballads are popular in Turkey.Akpınar, Mendili Oyaladım, Karyolamın Demiri are some ballads sing by women surround Balikesir city. Like these woman ballads, on the other hand, have dance figures in terms of traditional dancing. Although Balıkesir is an industrial region, traditional village culture is superb and deeply. So, for folk culture, Balıkesir is an important area in Turkey. Balıkesir's local dance came to first inNice folk festival joined 21 countries at 1958 be of value by European academical folklore authorities. Also, Balıkesir's localzeibek dance wasthe first zeibek participation from Turkey which had seen European folk authorities. Nowadays, Balıkesir folklore is chosen "intangible cultural heritage" of Turkey by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.[14]
The foundation ofBalıkesir University trace back to Karesi Teacher School established in 1910. This school has been carried to the building which is used as Necatibey Faculty of Education with particular interests of the Minister of Education,Mustafa Necati. Till 1982, the number of higher education institutes reached 4: Necati Institution of Education, Architecture and Engineering State Academy, Balıkesir School of Industry and Tourism, Balıkesir Vocational School. These foundations changed status with Delegated Legislation No 41 and were connected toUludağ University. Necatibey Teacher's Training School continued to train teachers between the years 1932 and 1982 under the name of Necati Institution of Education, left its 3-year status, received 4-year-Higher Teacher Training School status. In 1982, having been connected to Uludağ University, this foundation has been called Necatibey Faculty of Education.
In the same way, the name of Balıkesir School of Industry and Tourism has been changed as Balıkesir School of Tourism and Hotel Management, but the name of 2-year-Balıkesir Vocational School has remained the same. Having stayed under the roof of Uludağ University for 10 years, these foundations have formed a powerful background for Balıkesir University with healthy and consistent development.[15]
Most known sports club in Balıkesir isBalıkesirspor which is established in 1966. Balıkesirspor is thefootball team played in theSüper Lig after achieving promotion having finished as runners-up of theTFF First League in2013–14. The team's previous promotion was 40 years before that. Their stadium, the all-seaterBalıkesir Atatürk Stadium, has a capacity of 13,732.
Balıkesir has a coastline to bothSea of Marmara andAegean Sea.Edremit,Burhaniye,Gömeç andAyvalık are districts which are popular for their beaches, located in the Aegean coast of Balıkesir;Marmara Island,Erdek,Gönen andBandırma are districts which are located in the Marmara coast of Balıkesir. Ören, Akçay and Altınoluk are also among the holiday towns which attract vacationers interested in a holiday with scenery and historical, archaeological sites.
Kuş Cenneti National Park nearLake Manyas is an ornithological site where 266 different species of birds flourish – every year over three million birds fly through there. 13 km southeast of Bandırma in Karacabey, horse farms breed magnificent specimens of this majestic animal. Once known as ancient Erteka, Erdek is just 14 km northwest of Bandırma.
Balıkesir and its districts, besides the wealth of thermal resources, have healing waters with high quality of physical and chemical compositions.
Many spas with health-promoting features surround the city, includingPamukçu and Ilıca. The center of the city also contains the historical Turkish "Pasha Hamami" bath, which is still in use. Some of these thermal resources located in;
Balıkesir is a city that has shores on theAegean andMarmara Seas. It is easy to reach from major cities such as Ankara, İstanbul, Bursa and İzmir by motorway or railway. There are regular coaches from İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir as well as most cities in Turkey. Balıkesir Coach Terminal is out of the city so that there is servicing by the municipality to the city centre.
Railway transport is done between Ankara-Balıkesir and İzmir-Balikesir at specific hours. The railway station is located at Republica Square.
Balıkesir is joined toBursa andİzmir by a quality motorway.
Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport is located inEdremit district, 87 km from city center, serves as an international airport. There is alsoBalıkesir Airport located in city center, but currently no flights are operated from the airport.
In Balıkesir there are ten hotels with one five-star hotel.
Balıkesir has a fairly continental[17]hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa) under theKöppen climate classification and atemperate oceanic climate (Do) under theTrewartha classification. Winters are cool and wet with frequent frosts and occasional snowfall, while summers are hot and dry. The continentality increases as one moves from west to east and north to south. Therefore, winters are colder and snowier in the inland parts.[17]
Climate data for Balıkesir (1991–2020, extremes 1938–present)
According to official documents, the first head of Balıkesir Municipality is Deratam Efendi. However, in the book entitled "Balıkesir City and Municipal History" written by Kerim Kâni Akpınarlı, it is stated that there were four other municipal heads before Deratam Efendi.
Balıkesir Municipality, in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Turkey, with the law numbered 6360, published on 6 December 2012, Balıkesir Municipality has qualified as a"Metropolitan".[20]
^Prof. Dr Bilge Umar, Mysia, İnkılap Yayınevi, 2006, sf. 153
^Hasluck, F. W. (2010)."Hadrianutherae, Balukiser".Hasluck, F. (2010). In Cyzicus: Being Some Account of the History and Antiquities of That City, and of the District Adjacent to It, with the Towns of Apollonia Ad Rhyndacum, Miletupolis, Hadrianutherae, Priapus, Zeleia, Etc. Cambridge Library Collection – Archaeology:88–94.doi:10.1017/CBO9780511696978.009.ISBN9780511696978 – via Cambridge University Press.
^Karagöz, Berkan (2020). Kentlerarası Rekabette Balıkesir ve Ekonomisi, Ankara: Gece Yayınları, p. 23,ISBN978-625-7904-97-1
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