Tokat’ın İngilizce Tanıtımı
Area: 9.958 km²
Population: 719.251 (1990)
Traffic Code: 60
The Tokat Province is located inside the Yeşilırmak river basin area where 14 states and numerous principalities have been founded and reigned starting from the date BC 4000 and every inch of the land displays the traces and remnants of these civilizations and it is possible to meet historical and cultural creations at these lands. Among these creations and ruins are the ancient Hittite city of Sebastapolis in Masat Tumulus, the ancient Roman City, Inns, Baths, Bedesten structures, mosques, bridges and mausoleums.
Districts: Tokat (center), Almus, Artova, Başçiftlik, Erbaa, Niksar, Pazar, Reşadiye, Sulusaray, Turhal, Yeşilyurt, Zile.
How to Get
Highway: It is possible to reach Tokat from every province of the country by highway.
Telephone of the bus station: (+ 90 – 356) 214 22 21
Air Transportation: The Tokat Airport is located at the 17th kilometer of Tokat – Turhal highway and regular flights between İstanbul – Ankara provinces are arranged.
Telephone of the Airport: (+ 90 – 356) 238 72 68
Railway: The train course of Sivas – Samsun passes from Artova, Zile and Turhal districts of the province.
Where to Visit
MUSEUMS AND ANCIENT CITIES
Museums
TokatMuseum: The structure is the most important creation of Seljukian period in the province and is a theological school. The structure is located in the G.O.P. Boulevard Square Quarter and is used as a museum today. The Gökmedrese (theological school) displays the most specific and clear characteristics of the Seljukian architecture and art. The structure was used as a tekke and bimarhane by the Ottomans until 18th Century and then the structure was transformed into a cure house and shelter for immigrants.
Telephone of the Museum : (+ 90 – 356) 214 15 09
Open hours to visit : During the working hours
Open days to visit : Everyday except Mondays
LatifoğluMansion: The structure is a wonder of 19th Century Turkish Baroque architecture style and contains all architectural properties of the Anatolian Mansions. The building is two floored and was constructed from wood carcass and adobe material. The structure is used as a house – museum. It is possible to see the most beautiful samples of wood crafts at the mansion.
Telephone of the Museum : (+ 90 – 356) 214 36 84
Open hours to visit : During the working hours
Open days to visit : Everyday except Mondays
Ancient Cities
Masat Tumulus: The Masat Tumulus is located at the Yalınyazı Borough of the Zile district of Tokat province. Three layers of settlement were discovered in the Masat Tumulus. These layers are Old Bronze Age in BC 3000, Hittite age in BC 2000 and Frigian Age in BC 1000. A palace of a border state ruler of the Hittite civilization was discovered in Masat Tumulus. Beside the cooked earthenware, metal and glass art works, tablets with Hittite Hieroglyph (Illustration Inscription ) inscriptions were discovered.
Sulusaray (Sebastapolis): The ancient city of Sulusaray is located 68. Km. southwest of Tokat province. The tumulus was inhabited in the periods of Old Bronze Age in BC 3000, Hittite age in BC 2000 and Frigian Age in BC 1000. These periods were determined by the cooked earthenware works and these findings are exhibited in the Tokat Museum. At the excavations executed at the ancient city, the ruins of the ramparts of the ancient city, a church ruin, a bath and a health center where the ground is covered by mosaics were discovered. These mosaics are exhibited in a closed hall in Sulusaray.
The other archeological fields and ancient settlement areas could be counted as Horoztepe, Niksar, Tufantepe and Komana Pontika.
CAVES
Ballıca Cave The Ballıca cave is located in the borders of Pazar district. The cave has a total length of 680 meters and 94 meters high and is one of the most imposing caves of the world.
Caves of TokatProvince
KunduzCave
Location: Tokat, Artove District
The cave is located at the vicinity of Yeşilyurt, at a distance of 4 km. to district center, and is 1500 m. away from the road and at 300 meters height inside the borders of Kunduz Village.
Properties: The entrance of the cave is at the shape of a round archway and the cave is covered with stones and soil. The cave was formerly used as a mint. Necessary investigations and information was not carried yet.
İndere (Ballıca) Cave
Location: Tokat, Pazar District
The cave is located inside the borders of Ballıca Village located at 6 km. southeast of Pazar and is 600 meters southeast of the village.
Properties: Ballıca Cave, having two layers above the entrance and five layers below the entrance is a seven – layered beautiful cave. There are small ponds, drippings, dry natural pools and small polls in every layer. The amount of mud and wet clay is high although there is no water flow at each layer floor. This fact makes climbing and descending difficult. The respiration is interestingly easy inside the cave.
The entrance of the cave expands in the direction of east – west upside down. After 45 – 50 meters of the entrance a wide saloon is reached. This saloon contains remains (plastered walls, plastered material depot etc.) displaying that this cave is used until the historic periods. After this point the cave expands into directions altering between north and northeast with a gallery of 25-30 meters. There are chambers on left and right sides of the gallery and the gallery finally leads into a big saloon. There are numerous stalactites, stalagmites, pillars and water ponds inside this saloon. The cave expands to upper layers after branching into north and northwest as two different layers. This section which is accepted as the first layer is 150 meters away from the entrance.
The second layer which is 10 meters below the first is in the shape of a large saloon. There are stalactite, stalagmite and pillars present inside this saloon. There is a descend to the third layer at the end of the second. The third and fourth layers contain pillars, stalactite and stalagmites and displays a breath taking scenes for the visitors. The shortest distance between the end of the fourth layer and the entrance of the cave is about 350 meters. There is a lake at the 5th layer.
RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS
Mosques
The Mosques of the Tokat Province are Ali Paşa Mosque, Hatuniye Mosque, Meydan Mosque, Takyeciler Mosque, Ulu Mosque, Çöreğibüyük Mosque, Silahtar (Gunner) Ömer Paşa Mosque and Elbaşoğlu Mosque. The major theological schools of Tokat province could be counted as Çukur theological school, Gökmedrese (theological school) and Mevlevihane.
Religion Tourism
Meydan Mosque (Center): The mosque was constructed in the name of Gülbahar Hatun, Mother of Sultan Bayezit II and therefore name on the records are as Hatuniye Mosque. The mosque was constructed over a wide area in the Meydan quarter in 1474. The structure had been greatly damaged at the earthquakes occurred in 1939 and 1943. The mosque was then restored by the donations of the public and by the assistance of the Government and had been re-opened for worship in 1953. The structure is one of the most beautiful samples of Ottoman period creations. The marble portal decorated with Seljukian style stalactites and the tenon wooden gate are major art creations.
INNS AND CARAVANSERAİS
The major inns and the caravansaries of the Tokat province are Taşhan, Bedestenler Inn, Yazmacılar Inn and Mahperi Hatun Caravansary.
Geography
The province of Tokat is under the effect of both Black Sea Region climate and terrestrial climate of the Central Anatolian Region
History
The province of Tokat was founded among the banks of Kelkit, Yeşilırmak and Çekerek Rivers and the ancient Hittite and Frigian settlement areas had encountered a high level cultural and artistic life style between BC 4000 – 2500 years. After the reign of Roman and Byzantine civilizations, the city has entered under the dominance of Danişmend, Seljukian, İlhanlı and Ottoman periods.
Where to Eat
The food culture of Tokat province is quite rich and increases appetite. Among the local food varieties Tokat Kebab, Etli Dolma (Stuffed vegetables with meat), Bakla Dolması (Stuffed Broad Beans), Keşkek, Gendüme Soup, Bacaklı Soup, Cevizli Çörek (Pastry with walnut), Bezli Sucuk (sausage with clothing) and Bat. Beside these food varieties, the vine of Tokat province is another flavor. One must taste the Mahlep vine produced only in Tokat province.
Where to Buy
It is possible to buy various souvenirs from Yazmacılar Bazaar, Bakırcı (copper artizans) Bazaar, Zurnacı (Shrill pipe) Bazaar, Çarıkçı (Rawhide sandal) Bazaar. The most famous souvenirs are the wooden pressed hand made kerchiefs.
Don’t Leave Without
– Visiting the Ballıca cave,
– Visiting the Gökmedrese, Latifoğlu Mansion, Beysokağı, Sentemur Mausoleum , Taşhan, Ali Paşa Mosque, Meydan Mosque and Hıdırlık Bridge,
– Visiting the marvelous spectacle at the Kaz Lake, Reşadiye Zinav lake, Almus Dam Lake and natural promenade areas as Topçam, Gürnlevik and Çamiçi,
– Visiting Yazmacılar Bazaar, Bakırcı (copper artizans) Bazaar, Zurnacı (Shrill pipe) Bazaar, Çarıkçı (Rawhide sandal) Bazaar.,
– Visiting the villages where the hand weaved cloths and authentic local dressing culture are exhibited.,
– Buying wooden pressed hand made kerchief,
– Bathing in a historical Tokat Turkish Bath,
– Tasting the food varieties, especially the Tokat kebab and tasting the delicious vines of Tokat province,
– Drinking water from the world wide famous Niksar Ayvaz Water spring.,
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