About Bursa

Bursa, Turkey's 4th largest city, is located at the south-eastern end of the Marmara Sea, on the north-western slopes of Uludağ. Bursa was established on the north-western slopes of Uludağ in the South Marmara section of the Marmara Region. It is surrounded by the Marmara Sea and Yalova to the north, Kocaeli and Sakarya to the northeast, Bilecik to the east, Kütahya and Balıkesir to the south. Our city was established and developed along the slopes of Uludağ. Due to its suitability for defence, it took its first settlement on the rocks on the slopes. After the city was taken from the Byzantines, it was the scene of great public works, especially as the Ottoman capital.
Bursa has expanded towards the plain especially after the 1940s. Our city, which is located on the first-degree earthquake belt, suffered great damage from the earthquakes of 1855 and 1905. Bursa developed rapidly after it became the Ottoman capital and the roads coming from Middle Eastern countries across Anatolia were directed towards this centre. As a result, the city became one of the world's leading trade, industry and culture cities in the 15th century. According to some sources, its population exceeded 100.000 in that period. The highest elevation in the province is Uludağ with 2543m. There are two important lakes within the borders of Bursa. One of them is Lake Iznik, the largest lake in the Marmara Region, and the other is Lake Ulubat. The most important river of our city is Nilüfer Stream, a branch of Susurluk Stream. Nilüfer Stream, which originates from the southern slopes of Uludağ and is fed by many small streams originating from Uludağ, irrigates the Bursa Plain. There are many large and fertile plains within the borders of Bursa. The most important of these is Bursa Plain. Yenişehir, İnegöl, Karacabey, Orhangazi and İznik plains with their fertile soils are the places where crop production is concentrated.

In addition to its natural richness, green texture, healing waters, summer and winter tourism opportunities, Bursa, which carries the spatial and architectural features of the Byzantine, Ottoman and Republican periods to the present day, has a rare cultural and historical heritage.

Having 27 archaeological, 1 natural, 3 urban protected areas and 2042 monumental, religious, cultural and civil buildings that need to be protected, our city has been known as ‘GREEN BURSA’ for years with its green texture, spring waters and healing hot springs and has been visited by many travellers and historians in the past as well as today with its otherworldly structure that keeps the Islamic culture alive. Uludag (Mount Olympus), on the foothills of which the city is built, is one of the first settlements where the first Christian monks in history retreated and is also Turkey's largest winter and extreme sports centre. Iznik, one of the districts of Bursa, is today considered the most important Christian centre after the Vatican and Jerusalem.

Must See!
Uludağ National Park, Çekirge, Armutlu, Oylat, Gemlik Spas, Kumla, Kurşunlu Beaches, Prusa City Walls, Nikaia (İznik), Miletopolis (Karacabey), Mirlea (Mudanya), Kirmastı (Mustafa Kemal Paşa), Atranos (Orhaneli), Neopolis (Yenişehir) Ancient Cities, Hagia Sophia, Koimesis, Hagios Churches, Nikaia Necropolis, Palace and Hypogeum, Orhan Mosque and Complex, Yıldırım, Yeşil, Hüdevendigar, Muradiye, Koca Sinan Pasha, İshak Pasha Complexes, Grand Mosque of Bursa and Karacabey, Yıldırım Bedesten, The Museum of Bursa Archeology, Bursa Atatürk, Bursa Turkish Islamic Arts, Mudanya Armistice, Iznik and City.