Bera Ankara

The utilization of the castle with the purposes of defence and settlement in Ankara which is the capital city of the civilization forms throughout the history has enabled the repair and the maintenance of the castle at each period and thereby to stand until today. It is well-known that the internal ramparts of the current two rows of ramparts which exist from 7th century have been built before the external ones. The information related to the physical structure of the castle which is one of the visit points of both the European and Turkish excursionists beginning from 16th century points out that the white stone with four layers have been used by superposing and the height of the each stone is 4,5 m and wide houses are located at the Internal Castle. Most of the structures which are located at the Region of Public Houses have been constructed between 16th and 17th centuries when the Ottoman Empire was powerful. The increase in the merchant caravans which were traveling at the old Silk Road around the Ankara Castle between China and Europe at that era has caused the formation of the Region of Public Houses. The area at the front of the gateway which is at the south of the Ankara Castle and the level area between the existing Cengelhan is called as At Pazari which has been used as market place at 13th and 14th centuries. The industrial revolution has affected the economy of the Ottoman Empire negatively. Ankara textiles have lost its competitive capacity against the English textiles and other export goods of European countries.

The section between the Misak-i Milli and Inkilap towers are determined as museum in compliance with the Project Contest conditions of Mausoleum of Ataturk. For that purpose, the Mausoleum of Ataturk Ataturk Museum is opened on 21st June 1960. Ataturk’s belongings, the gifts which are presented to him and his clothes are exhibited there. Ataturk’s medals and badges and Ataturk’s belongings which are presented to the museum by his fosters A.Afet Inan, Rukiye Erkin, Sabiha Gokcen are also exhibited at the museum.

It was designed as Cumhuriyet Halk Fırkası but used as Turkish Grand National Assembly by modifying due to the insufficiency of 1st Grand National Assembly building and not meeting the requirements of the developing Turkish Republic’s Assembly. The interior sections of the two-storey structure over the basement have been lined at three sides of the middle Assembly Lounge ascending along the two-storey. The assembly Meeting Room with its original goods, the rooms where the Ataturk’s principles and revolutions were told, the documents, photos and some personal belongings of the first three Presidents of the Republic; Ataturk, Ismet Inonu and Celal Bayar are exhibited. A part of the Great Allocution which was read by Ataturk on 15-20 October 1927 is recreated at the meeting lounge with the wax sculptures.

Ethnography is located at the Namazgah district of Ankara, at the hill of Muslim cemetery. The museum has been opened to visitors on 18th July 1930 and the interior courtyard of the Museum has been kept as open until it has been separated as the temporary grave in November 1938. The body of Ataturk has been kept there until it has been transferred to Mausoleum in 1953. That section is still protected as a symbolic grave in homage to the memory of Ataturk. The Ethnography Museum has been used as Mausoleum for 15 years.

The Roman Baths which is located at the Cankiri Main Street from Ulus Square to Yildirim Beyazit Square, and approximately 400 m far from Ulus Square, 2,5 m high from the main street at the west side of the road was constructed at 3rd Century by the Roman Emperor Caracalla, son of Septimis Severus (212-217) on behalf of Health God Asklepion.

Ankara has many parks and open spaces mainly established in the early years of the Republic and well maintained and expanded thereafter. The most important of these parks are: Gençlik Park (houses an amusement park with a large pond for rowing), the Botanical Garden, Seğmenler Park, Anayasa Park, Kuğulu Park (famous for the swans received as a gift from the Chinese government), Abdi İpekçi Park, Güven Park (see above for the monument), Kurtuluş Park (has an ice-skating rink), Altınpark (also a prominent exposition/fair area), Harikalar Diyarı (claimed to be Biggest Park of Europe inside city borders) and Göksu Park. Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo (Atatürk Orman Çiftliği) is an expansive recreational farming area which houses a zoo, several small agricultural farms, greenhouses, restaurants, a dairy farm and a brewery. It is a pleasant place to spend a day with family, be it for having picnics, hiking, biking or simply enjoying good food and nature. There is also an exact replica of the house where Atatürk was born in 1881, in Thessaloniki, Greece. Visitors to the "Çiftlik" (farm) as it is affectionately called by Ankarans, can sample such famous products of the farm such as old-fashioned beer and ice cream, fresh dairy products and meat rolls/kebaps made on charcoal, at a traditional restaurant (Merkez Lokantası, Central Restaurant), cafés and other establishments scattered around the farm.

Foreign visitors to Ankara usually like to visit the old shops in Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu (Weavers' Road) near Ulus, where myriad things ranging from traditional fabrics, hand-woven carpets and leather products can be found at bargain prices. Bakırcılar Çarşısı (Bazaar of Coppersmiths) is particularly popular, and many interesting items, not just of copper, can be found here like jewelry, carpets, costumes, antiques and embroidery. Up the hill to the castle gate, there are many shops selling a huge and fresh collection of spices, dried fruits, nuts, and other produce. Modern shopping areas are mostly found in Kızılay, or on Tunalı Hilmi Avenue, including the modern mall of Karum which is located towards the end of the Avenue; and in the Atakule Tower at Çankaya, the quarter with the highest elevation in the city, which commands a magnificent view over the whole city and also has a revolving restaurant at the top where the complete panorama can be enjoyed in a more leisurely fashion. As Ankara started expanding westward in the 1970s, there are several modern, suburbia-style developments and mini-cities along the western highway, also known as the Eskişehir Road. The Armada and CEPA ,Kentpark malls on the highway, the Galleria in Ümitköy,the Panora in Oran and a huge mall in Bilkent Center offer North American and European style shopping opportunities (these places can be reached following the Eskişehir Highway). There is also the newly expanded Ankamall at the outskirts, on the Istanbul Highway, which houses most of the well-known European brands. This mall is the largest throughout the Ankara region.