Edremit: the Cradle of Civilizations
With lush nature, clean air, historical and cultural assets, Edremit retains its popularity among the vacation destinations of the Aegean Region. Edremit, which is the third largest district of Balıkesir, becomes a touristic destination attracting thousands every year, especially with its towns Altınoluk and Akçay.
Edremit is a district full of natural, historical and cultural riches. Adramytteion -now Edremit-, which is the third largest district of the Balıkesir Province, has a deep-rooted history, according to some sources, dating back to 1443 and was home to numerous civilizations throughout history from the Lydians, the originators of money, to the Persians, the Macedonians ruled by Alexander the Great to the Anatolian Seljuks. Altınoluk and Akçay, two of the first and pivotal domestic tourism destinations, are also in Edremit. You have the Edremit Gulf on one side and the Ida Mountains on the other, with the deepest of blues and greens at either end... This is actually one of the things that make Edremit special: It provides the ideal getaway for those who want peace and quiet during their trips.
If you are looking for a place with lots of things to see, where you can push the limits of your storage space with the photos you take and enjoy both the air coming from the mountains and the spectacular beaches, Edremit, and especially Altınoluk, is your ideal destination. Not to mention the delicious olives and healing hot springs!
Where to Go and What to Do
Altınoluk
A seaside town surrounded by lush flora between Edremit and Küçükkuyu... Located on the coast of the Aegean Sea and completely covered with olive trees, Altınoluk becomes the primary attraction for many visitors every year with its natural beauty and historical texture.
In mythology, the Aegean coast between Troy and Atarneus, now Dikili, was called the "Coast of Lights". Altınoluk, located right in this region, is a fascinating place with its 43 km-long coastline and clean sea. Daily or overnight boat tours are very popular local touristic attractions, as there are many coves and beaches in Altınoluk where you can enjoy the moonlight. The headlands Mıhlı and Fener and the coves Narlı and Avcılar are just some of them. Seven of Altınoluk's more than 10 beaches boast a Blue Flag, which is an international recognition awarded based on a series of cleanliness and environmental criteria. The most popular one is Özdemir Sitesi Beach, a public beach.
Should you happen to pass by this charming town, which is a 1.5-hour drive away from the city center and half an hour from Edremit, make sure to check out its market, which is set up on Tuesdays and offers a wide array of organic products, and do not miss out on the opportunity to buy olive oil, pickles and especially sea beans.
The Ancient City of Antandros
The ancient city of Antandros, which is only four kilometers away from Altınoluk, is frequented by domestic and foreign tourists. Antandros, which is located on the skirts of Mount Ida and the establishment of which is said to date back even before the Trojan War, is also an open-air museum with magnificent mosaics and artifacts that have survived to this day.
Akçay
Located 8 km from Edremit and on the skirts of Ida Mountains, Akçay is one of Turkey's first tourism centers. With its clean sea, healing air, peaceful atmosphere and thermal springs, Akçay is a center of attraction for local and foreign tourists who would like to distance themselves from the hustle and bustle of the city.
With access to sea from virtually anywhere on the coast lined with one public beach after another, Akçay offers the opportunity to enjoy all the shades of blue and bright sunshine. One of the most famous beaches of the area is Altınkum Beach. The Zeytinli Stream originating from Hasan Boğuldu and Sutüven Waterfalls in Ida Mountains meets the sea in Altınkum.
Hasan Boğuldu/Sutüven Waterfall
Hasan Boğuldu Pond, located in the Ida Mountains National Park along the Akçay-Altınoluk route, offers a breath of fresh air to its visitors. There is also a picnic area at this pond, where those who want to cool off in the summer jump into the ice-cold water.
The legend that gave the pond its name is as follows: Beyobalı Emine and Hasan from the plains fall in love with each other when they meet at the Edremit market. However, their dream of crowning their love with marriage is short-lived as Emine’s parents do not consider Hasan from the plains to be a good fit for their daughter who lives a nomadic life and challenge Hasan to carry a 50 kg salt sack on his back from the plains to their tents to be able to marry Emine.
Hasan sets off with the sack on his back, but it is heavier than he can handle. Realizing the impossibility of the task, Hasan asks Emine to elope with him. However, Emine, who is confident that Hasan will succeed, does not want to run away and insists that Hasan completes the challenge. She believes that Hasan will succeed and that they will reach the village with their heads held high.
As Hasan, who is not used to hard labor, passes through the pond, he falls in the water out of exhaustion and drowns. Still walking unaware of the tragedy and going all the way to the village, Emine realizes that Hasan is not behind her anymore, goes back and searches everywhere for him. When she reaches the pond only to see that the scarf she gave Hasan as a gift is floating in the pond, she loses her mind with grief, and hangs herself on the tall plane tree next to the pond using the scarf. From that day on, the plane tree branches of which extend over the pond has been called the Emine Plane Tree and the pond has been called the Hasan Boğuldu (lit. Hasan Drowned) Pond. Sabahattin Ali also wrote a poem titled Hasan Boğuldu.
Şahindere Canyon
Şahindere Canyon, which is also within the borders of Ida Mountains National Park, is one of the most popular attractions in the area. Offering an enchanting atmosphere where the smell of pine trees and thyme blend together, this 26 km-long canyon can be visited with a tour guide. Şahindere Canyon also offers a feast for the eyes with the beautiful shades of blue on its lime-free stream. Collecting medicinal plants or lighting a fire in the canyon is forbidden.
Tahtakuşlar Village
Connecting Balıkesir to Güre, Tahtakuşlar is the first village in Anatolia with an ethnography gallery. The founder of the gallery is Alibay Kudar, a retired primary school teacher who was born in this village. The gallery features a wide variety of objects, from traditional wear to shamanic items. The largest leatherback turtle exhibited in the world with a weight of 360 kilograms and a 105-year-old Caretta Caretta (Loggerhead) may also be found here. There is also a monumental oak tree, estimated to be 180 years old, in the Tahtakuşlar Village.
Darıdere Nature Park
Located 13 km from the Narlı Village, this park is surrounded by several species of trees such as red pine, oak, chestnut and black pine. Darıdere Nature Park, which has many areas for picnic and camping, also features a football field, basketball and volleyball courts. When visiting Narlı Village, make sure to try the tea made from the fir cones of Mount Ida and pine jam.
EDREMİT
Region: Aegean
Province: Balıkesir
Area: 708 km²
Average temperature: 16.1 C
Altitude: 25 m
Population: 144,995 (2016 TURKSTAT)
Location: The Aegean Sea, Ayvacık and Ezine district are in the west; the Yenice and Bayramiç districts in the north, the Havran district in the east and the Burhaniye district in the south.
Distribution: 15 neighborhoods, 5 towns and 20 villages
Transportation: Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport is 4 kilometers from Edremit. Transit minibuses and municipality-owned transit buses are the transportation options within the district. There are regular bus and minibus services to nearby towns such as Akçay, Altınoluk, Güre and Küçükkuyu departing from Edremit.
Festivals in Edremit: Zeytinli Rock Festival (August), Olive Harvest Festival (February)