Nilüfer
Summary
Nilüfer is one of the central cities of Bursa, Turkey's 4th largest province, neighboring the southeastern shores of the Marmara Sea and the northwestern hills of Mount Uludağ. Located in the western half of Bursa, the city is the 3rd largest among 17 cities of the province. Following the declaration of the metropolitan status of Bursa according to Law 3391 Nilüfer, Osmangazi, and Yıldırım acquired city rights, thus the municipal body of Nilüfer established in 18th of June, 1987.
Mysia Ways Nature, History, and Culture Routes created by Nilüfer Municipality are the most organized hiking trails and cycling routes in Bursa so far. Mysia Ways offer 44 hiking and cycling routes on a 750-kilometer coverage. The route starts at the village of Misi, named after the ancient Mysian civilization, and continues to the ancient town of Apollonia dating back to the 7th century BC, today known as the touristic village of Gölyazı. Uluabat Castle, the ancient port of Kapanca, and the old settlement of Kite `{`Ürünlü`}` -which was the first administrative center of the Ottomans in the Bithynia region before the conquest of Bursa- are some of the historical sites that can be visited within routes.
Detailed Description
Located in the western part of the province, Nilüfer was designated as the sprawl area of Bursa at first, to meet the growing housing demand. Nilüfer named after the Nilüfer River passing through the city is the most well-planned settlement of Bursa nowadays. The city planned 12,755 hectares of its 50,757 area as urban zones. Bursa, the 4th largest province of Turkey and the ``industrial city``, faces an intense growth of migration each year, and Nilüfer became the center of attraction for citizens as the newest, well-planned settlement with housing estates. Nilüfer is neighboring the cities of Osmangazi, Orhaneli, Mustafakemalpaşa, Karacabey and Mudanya and home of historic and touristic spots like Misi and Gölyazı.
At the time of the establishment of the local government, the urban population of Nilüfer was 32.483 and reached 56.131 by including rural settlements. Back then Nilüfer only had 13 neighborhoods and 7700 hectares of land area. After the local elections of 2009 town municipalities were incorporated into the city, and Nilüfer's population reached 257.248 with a land area of 50.757 hectares. In 2014 following the enactment of new local government law, all rural villages earned neighborhood status and the number of neighborhoods in Nilüfer reached 64. According to 2022 data, Nilüfer's population is 536.365.
Nilüfer ranks first among the cities of Bursa and one of the top cities in Turkey considering the economic inputs. The land area of the city multiplied 6 times and its population multiplied 10 times since the foundation of local government in 1987. Turkey's first organized industrial zone (BOSB) was founded in Nilüfer. 9 of the 18 Organized Industrial Zones of Bursa are located in Nilüfer. Nilüfer's contribution to the Turkish economy, which creates employment opportunities for 80% of Bursa's population, is undeniably great.
History
Bearing the traces of the city of Prusa of the Kingdom of Bithynia of late antiquity, and home of Kite [Ürünlü] the first administrative center of Ottomans in the Bursa region, Nilüfer has a historical importance with its natural riches, cultural heritage, and archaeological artifacts, even though it is the most modern settlement of Bursa today.
The city was named after Nilüfer River, which took its current name by the bridge established by “Nilüfer Hatun”, the wife of the second ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Orhan Bey, who conquered Bursa and designated it as the capital. The history of the city can be traced back to 8,500 years ago, locating the oldest known village settlements. Nilüfer with its multi-layered structure bearing a rich heritage and was home to various beliefs and cultures such as; the ancient Anatolian Mysian people, the old settlement of “Apollonia ad Rhyndacum (Gölyazı)” dating back to the 7th century BC and founded in the name of Greek god Apollo, and several Eastern Roman settlements, tekfurluks and later kadiliks.
From the prehistoric ages to the Ottomans, and centuries-old villages to the modern city, Nilüfer has been always vibrant and diverse. Keeping the urban memory alive and growing with respect to the past is challenging for modern urban centers. Nilüfer Municipality enriches the destinations, historical places, and sites with its works on cultural heritage and museums.
Museums, historical buildings, and heritage sites, which are the main content of cultural heritage tourism, aim to maintain the cultural, social, and historical characteristics of the local people living in the destination. The museums founded by the Nilüfer Municipality with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage and transferring it to future generations, continue working on a line that brings the traces of the past together with the lines of the future.
Accomodation
There are several tourism facilities serving as boutique hotels in Misi and Gölyazı. On the Mysia Ways project, Nilüfer Municipality opened Ertan Ayçetin Cycling Guesthouse at Başköy and Üçpınar Guesthouse at Üçpınar, for welcoming cyclers, hikers, campers, and nature lovers.
For detailed information; https://mysiayollari.com/
Transport
Please check BURULAŞ transport company’s website for bus routes in Nilüfer, Mudanya, Mustafakemalpaşa, Karacabey and Osmangazi; https://www.burulas.com.tr/otobus/
Point of Interest
Gölyazı (Apollonia)
The 6 km winding road extending from the 35th km of the Bursa-İzmir highway to the south takes its visitors to Gölyazı. Located on the peninsula on the shores of Uluabat Lake and is one of the important wetlands of Europe and the Middle East in terms of bird population. This small village was populated by the Ottoman Greeks until the signature of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, and it is built over the foundations of the 2,600-year-old ancient town, which is called ``Apollonia ad Rhyndacum``, meaning ``Apollonia on the Mustafakemalpaşa Stream`` in order to distinguish it from other towns with the same name in Anatolia. Apollonia takes its old name from Apollo, the ancient god of the Sun and light.<br /> 'Apollonia', 'Apollonias', 'Apolyont', and 'Gölyazı' are among the names respectively used for the settlement founded at the tip of a peninsula on the northeastern shore of Uluabat Lake. The inhabitants of ancient Apollonia believed that their town, like other settlements founded on the shores of the Marmara Sea (Lapseki/Lampsakos, Belkıs/Kyzikos at Kapıdağ peninsula, and Gemlik/ Kios) was founded by the Milesians during the colonization period in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Uluabat, a shallow freshwater lake with a surface area of 160 km², frequented by migratory birds and ecologically rich in food, makes the village bridge connecting the island to the peninsula invisible from time to time when its waters rise to 4 meters high in stormy winters. Storks nesting on rooftops and lamposts, and hospitable villagers; are just some of the beauties of Gölyazı. Apart from the ancient ruins, Gölyazı is also famous for its 750-year-old plane tree on the islands bridgehead. The name ``Crying Sycamore`` was given to the old tree because of the red liquid flowing from its branches at certain periods during the year. Gölyazı, one of the richest ancient settlements in the region with a history dating back to the 7th century BC also offers accommodation facilities. This historical settlement nicknamed ``Little Venice`` in recent years has a high tourism potential, and hosts photography enthusiasts from all around the world, besides daily visitors from the city.
Gümüştepe (Misi)
Misi is one of the oldest settlements of Bursa and is very close to the old town. Located on the 5th kilometer of the Bursa-Orhaneli route, it welcomes visitors with historical houses on the sloping land. Surrounded by four foresty hills and the Nilüfer River winding down from the foothills of Uludağ. The tea gardens by the stream are one of the most frequented places for citizens who are tired of the city crowd and want to be intertwined with nature.<br /> Misi reminds the name of the Mysia region of ancient Anatolia mentioned in the historical texts of Homer, Herodotus, and Strabo. According to a local legend recorded in the 1930s, Misi was founded by a Christian named “Misyon” by “filling of the narrow strait between Beyduran Hill and Hasankaya and connecting two hills with a dam” during the Eastern Roman age. Misi was registered on the written records of the foundation of Sultan Murad Hüdavendigar's complex in Çekirge, stating that 6 Muslim households produced grain in 1530. In the 19th century lands of Misi were covered with vineyards and the majority of the locals were engaged in viticulture and sericulture. Misi is also famous for its houses standing for centuries with original architectural features. The settlement was declared an urban protected area for protecting civilian architectural examples mostly built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nilüfer Municipality carried out the ``Misi Conservation and Sustainability Project`` between 2006-2016 for the protection and restoration of the historical structures, and to make them functional again. The long-term project was awarded by the National Historic Cities Union with the ``Encouragement Prize``. Various registered buildings were restored and transformed into new functioning facilities such as the Directorate of Culture and Social Affairs Cultural Heritage and Tourism Office, Children's Library, Misi Village Ethnography Museum, Cocoon House, Silk House, Misi Writer's Residence, Photography Museum, Literature Museum, and Nilüfer Art House opened its doors in the neighborhood, brought into urban culture and tourism.
Ürünlü (Kite)
Ürünlü (Kite) is a historical settlement in Nilüfer, dating back to the Eastern Roman period. Kite was recorded in the 1960 census as a village of Görükle town. The name of the village later changed to Ürünlü, gained neighborhood status, and was incorporated into the city of Nilüfer in 1987. Ürünlü `{`Kite`}` was an independent district adjacent to the Bursa district until the end of the 19th century. It was the administrative center of the Ottoman sultans before the conquest of Bursa, the first foundation charters of the Ottoman dynasty were approved by the Kadı `{`judge`}` of Kite. Until the middle of the 16th century administrative area of Kite was covering the important towns of Tirilye, Mudanya, and Gemlik. Kite Castle located northeast of Ürünlü today, is a rare castle structure because of its construction on a flat plain. The castle was most likely built during the Nicaean Empire around the 13th century, ceramic tiles found on the ground are dated to the 14th century. In the documents, it is understood that the castle had several bastions of various shapes until the beginning of the 20th century. Kite Castle is famous for being home to the legendary events that took place in the first years of the Ottoman expansion.<br /> The first version of the Ürünlü Public Bath, located on the eastern side of the settlement and on the way to Kite Castle, may belong to the era of Çelebi Sultan Mehmet, but the current bath building is probably built between 18th-19th century. The bath was restored by the Nilüfer Municipality in 2015 and allocated for the use of the Ürünlü Village Women's Solidarity Association. You can visit the Nilüfer Municipality City Gardens the north of Ürünlü, and get information about ecological agriculture products and services for encouraging the expansion of ecological agriculture.