| MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL
- End of June
Because of its unique landscape, Cappadocia is ideal for
mountain-biking. With its long-distance dirty roads &
topography, you do not have to pedal for kilometers
to see something attractive. Every year, at the end
of June or July an international mountain bike festival
takes action. Whether you are a professional or amateur,
you are invited as well.
HACIBEKTAS FESTIVAL - 16 /18 August
Mystic, humanist, philosopher, Saint Haci Bektas Veli,
the founder of the influential Bektasi sect of dervishes
and the leader of an Islamic philosophy and social class
in the 13th century. He had great impact on Anatolian
humanism. His teachings become know as Bektasism. Haci
Bektas Veli was the one who dedicated himself to the
people, the rural society, thus serving as a promoter
of Turkish language and literature. During the 3 days
festival from 16th to 18th of August, he is recalled
at his hometown Hacibektas.
AVANOS INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND HANDICRAFTS
FESTIVAL - Aug 31/ Sep 01
The old city of Avanos (called Venessa in the past) overlooks the longest
river of Turkey: the Kizilirmak (Red River). The most
famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still
relevant and very visible today, is its production of
earthenware pottery. The ceramic trade in this district
and its countless pottery factories date right back
to the Hittites, and the ceramic clay from the red silt
of the Kizilirmak has always been used. The International
Tourism and Handicrafts Festival is held in Avanos every
year on August 31 – September 1.
WINE FESTIVAL - End of October
The mineral-laden volcanic soil is very fertile and
Cappadocia is a prime agricultural region with many
fruit orchards and vineyards.
Every year in October an International Wine Festival
is held in Urgup, the center of a successful wine producing
region. Several small wineries in Cappadocia organize this
wine tasting event.
GRAPE HARVEST FESTIVAL - Beginning
of October
The traditional Urgup Grape Harvest Festival is held
every year on 3-5 or 4-6 October. Urgup, is a lively
tourist centre and has all the characteristics of the
region. Besides this, it is the centre of an important
grape and wine producing region of Central Anatolia.
MEVLANA COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES AND FESTIVAL
- 10 / 17 December
Mevlana, who is also known as Rumi, was a philosopher
and mystic of Islam, but not a Muslim of the orthodox
type. His doctrine advocates unlimited tolerance, positive
reasoning, goodness, charity and awareness through love.
To him and to his disciples all religions are more or
less truth. Looking with the same eye on Muslim, Jew
and Christian alike, his peaceful and tolerant teaching
has appealed to men of all sects and creeds. Every year
during 10th and 17th of December in Konya, all the whirling
dervishes perform sema which is part of the inspiration
of Mevlana as well as of Turkish custom, history, beliefs
and culture.
Come!
Come whoever you are
Doesn’t matter if you are an unbeliever
Doesn’t matter if you have fallen
a thousands times
Come!
Come whoever you are. For this is
not the door of hopelessness
Come, just as you are!
My God has created me from the wine of love
Even if I die and rot, he will still be my love.
(Mevlana, from Divan-i Sems)
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