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Boğazkale

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Boğazkale ("Gorge Fortress") is a town of Çorum Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey, located 87 kilometres (54 mi) from the city of Çorum. It is the seat of Boğazkale District. Its population is 1,203 (2022). Formerly known as Boğazköy ("Gorge Village"), Boghaz Keui or Boghazköy, this small town (basically one street of shops) sits in a rural area on the road from Çorum to Yozgat. The town consists of 4 quarters: Yekbas, Çarşı, Hattusas and Hisar. Boğazkale is the site of the ancient Hittite city Hattusa and its sanctuary Yazılıkaya. Because of its rich historic and architectural heritage, the town is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions (EAHTR).

Rank

—

Coordinates

40.02, 34.61

Source

WBP almanac

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

From Wikipedia

154 words · source ↗

WBP editorial

A quiet base for the ancient capital

Boğazkale’s single‑street layout lends itself to a leisurely rhythm that few modern towns can match. Arriving early, you can wander past the modest cafés that serve strong Turkish tea alongside locally baked gözleme, then step onto the dusty path that leads toward the Hittite ruins. The town’s modest size means you can ask the shopkeeper about the seasonal hay fairs that still punctuate the agricultural calendar, giving you a glimpse of how the surrounding plateau continues to sustain itself much as it did centuries ago. This unhurried approach lets you linger over the horizon, where the silhouette of the ancient stone walls rises against the summer sky.

Seasonal light for photography

The continental climate of Boğazkale creates stark contrasts between summer heat and winter chill, and each season paints the landscape differently. In late spring, the low-lying steppe blooms with wildflowers, softening the harsh stone of Hattusa and providing a pastel backdrop for sunrise shots. Autumn brings a crisp, bronze hue to the surrounding hills, while the low sun casts long shadows across the relief carvings at Yazılıkaya, enhancing texture. Photographers who time their visit for the golden hours of either season will find the interplay of light and shadow far more dramatic than the flat daylight of the high summer months.

Beyond the ruins: local culinary trails

While the archaeological sites dominate travel guides, Boğazkale’s culinary footprint is quietly distinctive. The region is known for its peppered “çörek” – a dense, slightly sweet bread often served with a drizzle of walnut oil harvested from nearby groves. Small family-run eateries also preserve a centuries‑old tradition of cooking lamb with boiled chickpeas, a dish that traces its origins to the Hittite practice of combining meat with legumes for sustenance on long journeys. Sampling these dishes offers a sensory link to the daily lives of people who have inhabited the steppe for millennia, adding depth to the historical narrative.

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