Back to cities
cities
Boğazkale
Overview
Boğazkale ("Gorge Fortress") is a town of Çorum Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey, located 87 kilometres (54 mi) from the city of Çorum. It is the seat of Boğazkale District. Its population is 1,203 (2022). Formerly known as Boğazköy ("Gorge Village"), Boghaz Keui or Boghazköy, this small town (basically one street of shops) sits in a rural area on the road from Çorum to Yozgat. The town consists of 4 quarters: Yekbas, Çarşı, Hattusas and Hisar. Boğazkale is the site of the ancient Hittite city Hattusa and its sanctuary Yazılıkaya. Because of its rich historic and architectural heritage, the town is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions (EAHTR).
Facts
Rank
—
Coordinates
40.02, 34.61
Source
WBP almanac
External sources
Media
From Wikipedia154 words
WBP editorial3
A quiet base for the ancient capital
Boğazkale’s single‑street layout lends itself to a leisurely rhythm that few modern towns can match. Arriving early, you can wander past the modest cafés that serve strong Turkish tea alongside locally baked gözleme, then step onto the dusty path that leads toward the Hittite ruins. The town’s modest size means you can ask the shopkeeper about the seasonal hay fairs that still punctuate the agricultural calendar, giving you a glimpse of how the surrounding plateau continues to sustain itself much as it did centuries ago. This unhurried approach lets you linger over the horizon, where the silhouette of the ancient stone walls rises against the summer sky.
Seasonal light for photography
The continental climate of Boğazkale creates stark contrasts between summer heat and winter chill, and each season paints the landscape differently. In late spring, the low-lying steppe blooms with wildflowers, softening the harsh stone of Hattusa and providing a pastel backdrop for sunrise shots. Autumn brings a crisp, bronze hue to the surrounding hills, while the low sun casts long shadows across the relief carvings at Yazılıkaya, enhancing texture. Photographers who time their visit for the golden hours of either season will find the interplay of light and shadow far more dramatic than the flat daylight of the high summer months.
