Türkiye

🏞️ Geography and natural diversity

• Turkey is a country transcontinental, located between theAsia (Anatolia) and theEurope (Thrace).
• It is bordered by four seas : the Black Sea to the north, the Aegean Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Sea of ​​Marmara in the center.
• The territory is marked by a great variety of landscapes :

• Mountains : Taurus and Pontus mountain ranges, snow-capped peaks like Mount Ararat.
• Trays : vast semi-arid expanses in the center.
• coastal : beaches, coves, cliffs and natural harbors.
• Lakes and rivers : including Lake Van, the Tigris and the Euphrates.

🧬 History and Civilizations

• Cradle of ancient civilizations : Hittites, Phrygians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, Ottomans.
• TheOttoman Empire, founded in 1299, dominated much of the Mediterranean world until its fall in 1922.
• The Republic of Türkiye is proclaimed in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, which modernized the country and made it a secular state.
• The country is full of archaeological sites : Troy, Ephesus, Pergamum, Göbekli Tepe, Nemrut Dağı, and many others.

🏙️ Iconic cities

• Istanbul : ancient Byzantium and Constantinople, a mythical city between two continents, with its mosques, palaces, bazaars and Bosphorus.
• Ankara : political and administrative capital, sober and modern.
• Izmir, Antalya, Konya, Gaziantep, Bursa : each with its own identity, traditions and cultural riches.

🕌 Culture and spirituality

• Turkey is predominantly Sunni Muslim, but it also houses religious minorities : Alevis, Christians, Jews.
• Thereligious architecture is remarkable: Ottoman mosques, Byzantine churches, troglodyte monasteries.
• Turkish culture is a mixture of influences : Turco-Mongol, Persian, Arab, Greek, Balkan.

🍽️ Gastronomy

• Rich and varied cuisine: kebabs, mezzés, dolmas, baklava, pide, manti, black tea, Turkish coffee.
• Each region has its specialties: fish on the Black Sea, spices in Gaziantep, cheeses in Kars, sweets in Istanbul.
• Meals are often friendly and generous, accompanied by fresh bread and lively discussions.

🎭 Art and traditions

• Music: from saz traditional to modern sounds of Turkish pop.
• Dance : halay, zeybek, belly dance, depending on the region.
• Crafts: carpets, ceramics, copper, calligraphy, embroidery.
• Holidays: Ramadan, feast of sacrifice, national day, cultural festivals.

✈️ Why Turkey is unforgettable

It is a country where every stone tells a story, where the scents of spices float in the air, where the looks are proud and welcoming. Turkey is complex, vibrant, contrasting, at the same time modern and rooted, ouverte et mystérieuse.