cities

Akşehir

Open on map More cities Spin a random place Ask WorldAI

Overview

Akşehir is a city in the Lakes District of Mediterranean Turkey, administratively part of Konya Province. With a population just under 94,000 in 2022, it's best known for a fictional resident, Nasreddin Hoca.

Facts

Rank

—

Coordinates

—

Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia778 words

WBP editorial3

A taste of Anatolian hospitality

Beyond the market stalls, Akşehir’s cafés serve a quiet ritual: a steaming cup of "çay" accompanied by "simit" fresh from the oven. Locals linger over the tea, swapping stories about the town’s folklore, especially the legend of the wandering dervish. Ask the proprietor for the day’s "lokma"—sweet fried dough balls drenched in honey—often prepared in the kitchen behind the counter. The practice of sharing a plate with strangers is a subtle way to experience the town’s communal spirit, something guidebooks seldom highlight.

Exploring the Sultan Mountains fringe

While most visitors stick to the town centre, a short drive north leads to the low, grassy foothills bordering the Sultan range. Here, informal paths wind through wild thyme and sage, offering panoramic views of the plain below. Early morning walkers can catch the sunrise illuminating the town’s terracotta roofs, a scene that photographers prize for its soft, amber light. Pack a light snack and a water bottle; the terrain is moderate but rewarding for those who enjoy a brief escape from the urban rhythm.

The yearly poetry gathering

Each spring, local cultural societies convene a modest yet spirited poetry reading in the town square, echoing the historic reputation of Akşehir as a cradle for folk verses. The event is open to the public and typically features recitations in both Turkish and the regional dialect, accompanied by the soft strumming of a bağlama. Attending provides insight into how contemporary residents keep oral traditions alive, and it offers a gentle immersion into the town’s artistic pulse beyond the usual museum visits.

More in cities0

Introduction

For other uses, see Akşehir (disambiguation). District and municipality in Konya, TurkeyAkşehirDistrict and municipalityAkşehir Ethnography MuseumMap showing Akşehir District in Konya ProvinceAkşehirLocation in TurkeyShow map of TurkeyAkşehirAkşehir (Turkey Central Anatolia)Show map of Turkey Central AnatoliaCoordinates: 38°21′27″N 31°24′59″E / 38.35750°N 31.41639°E / 38.35750; 31.41639CountryTurkeyProvinceKonyaGovernment • MayorAhmet Nuri Köksal (CHP)Area895 km2 (346 sq mi)Elevation1,025 m (3,363 ft)Population (2024)93,719 • Density105/km2 (271/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)Area code0332ClimateCsaWebsitewww.aksehir.bel.tr Akşehir is a municipality and district of Konya Province, Turkey. Its area is 895 km2 (346 sq mi), and its population is 93,965 (2022). It was known historically as Philomelium. The town is situated at the edge of a fertile plain, on the north side of the Sultan Mountains. Its elevation is 1,025 m (3,363 ft).

History

[edit] Philomelion (Greek: Φιλομήλιον) was probably a Pergamene foundation on the great Graeco-Roman Highway from Ephesus to the east and Cicero, on his way to Cilicia, dated some of his extant correspondence there. St Paul passed the city on his second and third missionary journey in the first century and his impact can be traced by numerous Christian inscriptions in the region. The Smyrniotes wrote the letter that describes the martyrdom of Polycarp to the townspeople of Philomelion. The town became at some point a bishopric and remains a titular see of the Catholic Church. At some point after 1071, the city fell to the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. It was retaken by forces of the First Crusade and in 1098 Stephen of Blois met emperor Alexios I Komnenos here, persuading him to not continue his march to Antioch. Alexios returned in one of his final campaigns in 1116 to Philomelion which he conquered and returned with many Greek refugees to Byzantine lands. In 1146, the town was taken by emperor Manuel I Komnenos after defeating forces of the Sultanate of Rum at Akroinon. Manuel burned the town, released several prisoners who had been detained there, and transported the population to Pylae. The town was taken a final time by German members of the Third Crusade in 1190 but rebuilt in 1196 by Kaykhusraw I and resettled with Greek captives taken on a raid from Caria. It became an important Seljuk town, and late in the 14th century passed into Ottoman hands. It would serve, along with Beyshehir, as the border between the Ottomans and the Karamanid beylik, and the two towns would change hands multiple times until Mehmed II annexed the Karamanid state. There Sultan Bayezid I is said by Ali of Yezd to have died after his defeat at the Battle of Ankara at the hands of Emir Timur. The town's landmarks include the alleged tomb of Nasreddin Hoca, the tomb of Seydi Mahmut, the house used as headquarters by the Turkish Army during the last phase of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), other monuments and old Turkish houses. Between 5 July and 10 July each year, commemorations with concerts and other social activities are held to the memory of Akşehir's famous resident, Nasreddin Hodja. With its rich architectural heritage, Akşehir is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions. Akşehir Grand Mosque Fountain

Composition

[edit] There are 55 neighbourhoods in Akşehir District: Adsız Ahicelal Alanyurt Altunkalem Altuntaş Anıt Atakent Bozlağan Çakıllar Çamlı Cankurtaran Çay Çimendere Çimenli Değirmenköy Doğrugöz Engilli Eskikale Gazi Gedil Gölçayır Gözpınarı Ilıcak İstasyon Karabulut Karahüyük Kileci Kızılca Kozağaç Kuruçay Kuşcu Meydan Nasreddin Hoca Ortaca Ortaköy Reis Sarayköy Savaş Selçuk Seyran Söğütlü Sorkun Tekkeköy Tipi Tipiköy Üçhüyük Ulupınar Yarenler Yaşarlar Yaylabelen Yazla Yeni Yeniköy Yeşilköy Yıldırım Bayezid

Climate

[edit] Akşehir experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa), with hot, dry summers, and chilly, rainy, often snowy winters. Climate data for Akşehir (1991–2020) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.0(41.0) 7.4(45.3) 12.0(53.6) 17.0(62.6) 22.0(71.6) 26.5(79.7) 30.4(86.7) 30.6(87.1) 26.4(79.5) 20.3(68.5) 13.2(55.8) 7.1(44.8) 18.2(64.8) Daily mean °C (°F) 0.8(33.4) 2.6(36.7) 6.7(44.1) 11.3(52.3) 15.9(60.6) 19.9(67.8) 23.4(74.1) 23.4(74.1) 19.2(66.6) 13.7(56.7) 7.3(45.1) 2.8(37.0) 12.3(54.1) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.5(27.5) −1.4(29.5) 2.0(35.6) 5.8(42.4) 10.0(50.0) 13.5(56.3) 16.2(61.2) 16.2(61.2) 12.2(54.0) 7.9(46.2) 2.6(36.7) −0.6(30.9) 6.9(44.4) Average precipitation mm (inches) 53.66(2.11) 53.4(2.10) 58.7(2.31) 52.01(2.05) 54.63(2.15) 42.56(1.68) 13.92(0.55) 9.78(0.39) 21.98(0.87) 41.09(1.62) 50.62(1.99) 69.37(2.73) 521.72(20.54) Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.5 6.8 7.7 7.5 7.3 5.6 2.8 2.6 3.5 5.2 5.2 8.2 69.9 Average relative humidity (%) 75.9 69.6 62.3 58.4 57.4 54.2 46.5 46.5 50.3 60.5 68.0 75.3 60.4 Mean monthly sunshine hours 90.0 123.0 173.7 206.5 252.8 291.6 338.8 314.7 267.3 196.8 144.4 85.8 2,485.3 Source: NOAA