Kırşehir Historical and Cultural Gems Route

Kaman Kalehöyük Archaeological Museum

There are over 100 mounds identified and registered in Kırşehir; these offer evidence that Kırşehir was used as a settlement in every period of history. Kalehöyük is in the Kaman district of Kırşehir. The Kaman Kalehöyük Archaeological Excavation began in 1986; excavations conducted in Kalehöyük, a typical Anatolian mound, offered insight into the earliest settlement history of Kırşehir, dating from the Early Bronze Age. The Kaman Kalehöyük Archaeological Museum (Kaman Kalehöyük Arkeoloji Müzesi) is next to the excavation site. Inspired by the rounded form of the Kalehöyük mound, the museum itself is built in the form of a mound. The design allows visitors to observe the excavation methods and the artifacts unearthed at the same time. Next to the Kaman Kalehöyük Archaeology Museum (Kaman Kalehöyük Arkeoloji Müzesi) is the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology. The institute was established to conduct archaeological excavations and analyse information and artifacts obtained from research and excavations. Adjacent to the excavation quarters is the Japanese Garden (Mikasanomiya Memorial Garden), the largest such botanical garden outside Japan, built by Japanese archaeologists working in Kalehöyük.

Kentpark

This contemporary promenade area is in the centre of Kırşehir, and within walking distance to important historical destinations. While it is a more recent addition to the city, it is immensely popular.

Kaman Çağırkan Japanese Garden

The garden is next to the Kalehöyük excavation quarters in the Kaman district. It was built by the Japan Middle East Cultural Centre (Japon Ortadoğu Kültür Merkezi) in 1993, to commemorate the commencement of the Kalehöyük excavations by Altes Prince Takahito Mikasa, and to create a recreation area for the people of the region. The Japanese garden (Japon Bahçesi) is the largest such botanical garden outside of Japan and attracts more and more visitors each year.

Ahi Evran Social Complex

The Ahi Evran Social Complex (Ahi Evran Külliyesi), which includes the tomb of Ahi Evran-ı Veli and is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, is located in the Ahi Evran neighborhood in the center of Kırşehir. The Complex, believed to have been established in the 14th century as a simple zawiyah (zaviye), was the spiritual centre of Turkish craft specialists during ruling of the Ottoman Empire.

Cacabey Madrasa

Among the important historical structures in Kırşehir, the Cacabey Astronomy Madrasa (Cacabey Gökbilim Medresesi) was built by Nureddin Jibril bin Cacabey, the Governor of Kırşehir, in 1272. The madrasa offered studies in mathematics, astronomy and science. The Cacabey Astronomy Madrasa attracts attention due to its unique architecture, featuring internal colonnettes representing the planets within the solar system, an observation shaft, a lightning torch and a 21-meter-high observation tower. It was one of the first centres to offer education in astronomy, and may even have been the most important of such centres. The three colonnettes on the exterior of the madrasa are believed to represent the firing and launching positions of a rocket. The figures engraved on the crown gate of the madrasa are believed to symbolize the moon and the sun, while comments on the circular shapes on the right and left lower corner of the pediment illustrate the equatorial line and the skew of the axis. The Madrasa, also the site of Cacabey’s tomb, is used as a mosque today. It is called the Cıncıklı (Glassy) Mosque (Cıncıklı Cami) by local residents. In 2014, the Cacabey Astronomy Madrasa was included in the UNESCO Temporary World Heritage List under Anatolian Seljuk madrasas.

Ağalar Mansion Culture House

The mansion is a rare example of civil architecture in Kırşehir that can still be seen today. It now serves as a Culture House (Kültür Evi), where Kırşehir culture and knowledge is kept alive for present and future generations. Visitors can enjoy the local specialties of Kırşehir at the restaurant adjacent to the mansion.