Kirklareli province sits on the border of Turkey and Bulgaria Thrace and is surrounded by the provinces of Edirne, Tekirdag, and Istanbul. It is bisected by the Yildiz (Istranca) mountain range, with the districts to the north being the least populated and underdeveloped. At the same time, those to the south have the land and climate suited for agriculture and industrial development.
Archeological excavations show that Kirklareli city may be one of the earliest locations with organized settlements in Europe. This is shown by the artifacts discovered here, dating to the paleolithic and neolithic periods. By 550 BCE, the settlements had grown large enough to attract conquest from the Persians under the reign of King Darius I.
Not much history is available in between, but like much of Turkey, Kirklareli was then occupied by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and then the Ottomans. It was also briefly captured by the Bulgarians in 914 CE. The Byzantine Greeks called the city Saranta Ekklisies, meaning forty churches, while the Bulgarians called it Lozengard, meaning vineyard town. Both names have stuck to date.
On the other hand, the Ottoman Turks called the city ‘Kirk Kilise.’ The city was occupied by the Bulgarians during the Balkan Wars and then the Greeks in the aftermath of World War I. Much of the region’s Bulgarian population had emigrated to Bulgaria due to the Greek occupation.
The Turks recaptured the city during the Turkish War for Independence, and a year later, in 1923, the Greek population of the city was exchanged for the Muslims living in Greece. Its name was then changed from Kirk Kilise to Kirklareli when Turkey became a republic. Kirklareli means ‘the place of the forties,’ about the forty Ottoman generals sent to capture the region during the conquest.
Kirklareli province offers many hidden gems best explored as part of a private guided tour. You also want to pack your hiking and swimming gear, sunscreen, hats, a good camera, and any other stuff you may need for this bespoke adventure.
Summers in Kirklareli is warm, dry, and mostly clear. Thus, the best time to visit the province for hot-weather activities is between early July and late August. On the other hand, winters are frigid and snowy, with the lowest temperatures in January (average low of 29°F and high of 43°F). The skies are typically cloudy in such months.
You’ll rarely ever find any if you’re worried about crowds, even in the peak summer months.
Apart from its unique dishes such as labada borani, papara, pekmezli kacamak, kaymacina, manca and kupriva, Kirklareli is bordered on the east by the Black Sea region, an area famous for delicious foods, like muhlama, a meal gotten when you combine corn, cheese, and butter. There is also anchovy, cornbread, Laz boregi, black hive honey, pide, and the good old Turkish tea.
The busiest months of the region is when the Oil Wrestling Festivals take place in May-June and September.
Kirklareli city will serve as your base for exploring the region. The city itself is home to several incredible attractions and monuments left behind from its time under Ottoman occupation. These include mosques, Turkish baths, Jewish quarters, and a museum.
Your city tour will take you through Hizir Bey Kulliye, an Ottoman religious complex that consists of the Hizir Bay Bath, Hizir Bey Mosque, and Arasta (Bazaar). The mosque was constructed in 1383 by the architect Kose Mihal Zada Hizir Bey. It’s built of cut stone and a square plan and has only one minaret. The mosque was restored in 1824 by Yusuf Pasha of Aydost, and today makes for an excellent example of early Ottoman architecture.
Next to the mosque is an old Ottoman bath, Hizir Bey Bath, constructed at around the same time by the same architect. It features the ever-impressive traditional Ottoman architectural style with regular outer walls built from coarse sandstone. There are two entrances, one for women and another for men; such baths are known as ‘Paired Baths.’ The Hamam was restored in the late 17th century by the architect Huseyin Aga.
The last building in the complex is the Arasta (Bedesten), which sits adjacent to the bath in a “T” form. It features arch-type walls with a 15-meter vault. The bazaar was restored in 1704 and today hosts 12 shops.
You’ll also visit the Jewish quarter, where you will experience Jewish life and culture in a historic neighborhood. From here, proceed to the Kirklareli Museum for a glimpse into the natural history and ethnography of the region. There are also interesting archeological findings from several historical sites in the province.
These include some from the Demirkoy Foundry, an archeological site where cannonballs used during the capture of Constantinople were manufactured. You can also visit the iron foundry and see for yourself.
Kirklareli is also home to the only cave open to tourists in Thrace. This is known as the Dupnisa Cave and is believed to have formed between 1.8 million and 4 million years ago. In ancient times, it was used for Dionysian Rituals (for Dionysius, the wine and party god) by the Greek population of the region.
Finish your tour of the province in Igneada, Kiyikoy, or Kastros, where you will enjoy sunbathing on sandy beaches and swimming in the clear waters of the sea. The small towns have affordable accommodation facilities, so you can spend a night or two enjoying the area’s warm sun and delicious seafood.
Luleburgaz is another city in the province worth a day’s tour. You can then continue your tour by visiting other provinces and regions. These include Edirne and Thrace in general, which are full of historical, natural, and cultural attractions.
