Zonguldak is a valuable city to see its historical and natural beauties, thousands of years old caverns and infinitive green, which has a rich ancient history.
How to Get
Road Zonguldak coach station is 1 km. away from the city, and transportation is maintained via taxi, minibus or municipality buses.
Coaching Station Tel: (+ 90 – 372) 257 13 11
Railway Transportation to Zonguldak station is maintained via taxi, minibus or municipality buses, its distance to city center is approximately 1 km.
Maritime Lines Ferry voyages organized from Zonguldak port are maintaining the transport between Istanbul and Hopa only between May and September.
WHERE TO VISIT
ANCIENT CITIES
Most important antic cities within the territories of the city, are Ereğli (Herakleia Pontike) and Filyos (Teion). Ereğli, which is founded by Mariandines, who were the successors of Frigs, during the 6th century B. C., and was an important commercial wharf (emperion), had taken its name from the famous hero of the mythology, Hercules (Heracles). City had preserved its importance during Roman, Byzantium, Seljukian, Otooman periods. Important historical ruins of the region are leading Acheron Valley Ruins, in which Cehennem Ağzı Caverns are present, Helen, Roman, Byzantium and Ottomans periods’ products, rampart ruins, Ereğli castle, Heracles (Hercules) palace, Çeştepe lighthouse tower, Byzantium water cistern, Krispos mausoleum, Byzantium church, Hagia Sophia Church and Halil Paşa Mansion.
Filyos, other antic city of the city is known as Teion (or Tion) during antic period. Ruins within the region, holds the signs of Roman, Byzantium and Genevan periods. Antic port, castle, aqueducts, open – air theater and church ruins are remained from this period
| Beaches |
| There are lots of natural beaches and sands through the 80 km of coastal band. Beginning from the east, Sazköy, Filyos, Türkali, Göbü, Hisararkası, Uzunkum, Kapuz, Karakum, Değirmenağzı, Ilıksu, Kireçlik, Armutçuk, Black Sea Ereğli, Mevreke, Alaplı and Kocaman sites are the beaches filled with regional residents during summer.
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| Promenade |
| Ulutan Dam Lake at the center, Kızılcapınar Dam Lake and Gülüç Dam Lake in Ereğli, Dereköy Pond at Çatalağzı borough and Çobanoğlu Pond (18 ha.) at Karapinar borough are drinking water or industrial aimed artificial lakes. Environs of these lakes are used as daily recreation areas by regional residents. Harmankaya at Center Kokaksu site, Değirmenağzı at Kozlu borough and Güneşli Waterfalls at Ereğli, are the most important waterfalls of the city, and used for trekking |
| Caves |
| Cehennemağzı Cavern, Gökgöl, Kızılelma, İnağzı and Cumayanı Caverns should be seen. |
| Cehennemağzı Caverns (Karadeniz (Black Sea) Ereğli): Cehennemağzı Caverns, which are also mentioned as “Caverns at Acheron – Akheron Valley” in the archeological sources of antic age, (Kehanet Caverns) is at the İnönü District, which is formerly named as Ayazma, of Ereğli, and is the mutual name of four caverns. Cehennemağzı Caverns, with being subjected to Greek Mythology, during the periods when Christianity was prohibited, is one of the worshipping places, thought to be used for secret worshipping. |
Gökgöl Cave
Location: Zonguldak
It is situated on the road at Üzülmez district at the 4th km. of Zonguldak way of Zonguldak-Ankara highway. Water coming out of the cave drains into the Üzülmez Creek.
Properties: It is entered out of a huge fossil inlet through the rock blocks. The siphon is reached after 250 meters by walking. Although the siphon has a length of 10 meters, it can be passed especially in summer. After this point, the cave continues as two branches in the direction of water entrance along with the extremely beautiful formations. The cave continuing for 1200 meters and ends with a sediment filling. (The port after this point is not known, yet.)
While the creeks and inner lakes are passed easily by walking, sudden flood occurs during big rains. Because of this danger, it is suitable to enter the cave in summer and autumn seasons.
Kızılelma Cave
Location: Zonguldak
The cave, which is situated in Kizil Elma quarter of Ayiçi Village of Gelik District of Zonguldak Province can easily be reached by cars.
Properties: Water of Aydin Creek ve Büyük Ay Creek sinks at the active inlet. The cave is entered through the fossil inlet (30x10m.) located at the upper part, and after 100 meters water is met. The cave continues horizontally together with the water. After the first 100 meters, it is possible to go by creeping for 400 meters, a siphon of 10 meters exists. This siphon can be passed in the Autumn. The gallery in the cave has great dimensions after the siphon.
At the 3200th m. of the cave which continues as a single active gallery basically, there is a chimney with the height of 80 meters which is enough to illuminate the lake at the base. The cave continuing 3 km. along with the lakes ends with the 2nd siphon. The researches related with some branches and the last siphon in the cave has not been concluded, yet. It has been determined via the researches carried out by paint experiments that the sunk water appears in Cumayani Cave after 2 km.
Thus, the total length of the underground system (Kizilelma – Cumayani) reaches to 10kms. Once, it was the longest cave system of Turkey. However, when it has been discovered that Pinargözü Cave has a length of 12 km. in 1991, this cave has been placed in the 2nd order. Its siphons, areas of crippling, lakes and funnel of 80 meters are the characteristics, or perhaps the most exciting aspects of the cave. As there is a danger of flood in the rainy periods, the season and the weather forecast should be taken into consideration while entering the cave.
İnağzı Cave
Location: Zonguldak
It is a cave situated in the city of Zonguldak province at the sea coast at the 15th km of Kilimli road.
Properties: The entry to the cave with a total length of 800m is made from the fossil inlet facing the sea. After a hole one man can hardly pass at the 50th meter it continues sporadically with fossils and rich formations and sporadically with an underground creek. There exists a siphon at the 400th meter, and it can be distinguished by walking in the period when water is drawn. From here, it ends with the siphon after 400 meters.
Cumayanı Cave
Location: Zonguldak, Çatalağzı District
It is situated in Cumayani quarter at 3 km. distance from Çatalagzi district of Zonguldak province.
Properties: It forms the outlet of Kizilelma -Cumayani underground water system. It is opened to outside with many inlets. The hall is reached through a active gallery of 100 meters from the lower inlet or by walking for 75 meters from the upper fossil dry inlet. The hall begins with a travertine offering an extraordinary beauty and functioning as a bridge on the underground creek. The base of the hall, which has a height of 60 meters and a length of 70 meters, is covered with a thick sea layer and ends with a siphon. Upon going in the direction of water entrance to the left of the travertine, the siphon is reached in the direction of Kizilelma Cave. A boat is necessary in this gallery.
As flood occurs in the rainy periods or at the times of a sudden rain, there is mortal danger.
Zonguldak – Çitdere Nature Reserve
Location: The area is in Sekermese, in the Yenice area of Zonguldak, in the western Black Sea region.
Transportation: The area can be reached via the Zonguldak-Ankara state highway, then turning off at Yenice for 45km.
Highlights: The area has a unique ecosystem containing many species of forest trees, like the rare istanca oak. There are also beech, horn-bean, fir, ash, silver birch, black pine, Scotch pine, lime, dog rose, and alder. Some of the wild animals living in the area are under threat of extinction, like wild cat, deer, bear, pig, wolf, fox and lynx
Sports Activities
Hunting Our city is also varying and affluencing in connection with hunting and wild life. Especially in the forest areas around Merkez, Devrek, Gökçebey and Black Sea Eregli environs bear, boar, wolf, fox badger, jackal, goat, red squirrel, roe, rabbit like wild animals and wild duck, wild pigeon, woodcock and bakal like bird kinds are being hunted. In the rivers carp, trout, black trout and coral fish and in the sea horse mackerel, anchovy, whiting, tunny fish, red mullet like fishes are being fished. While hunting in connection with wild life are generally performed as a hobby or evaluation of spare time, fishing in seas is realized as commercial function.
Bicycle Tours Natural visits via bicycles are organized at Eregli and its environs. There are both an appropriate inclination having road for cycling through Ereğli – Armutçuk, Gökçeler and natural beauties and historical values watching and seeing possibility throughout road route.
Line Fishing Firstly Black Sea, Ulutan Dam Lake, Kizilcapinar Dam Lake as well as Filyos River, Devrek Stream, Gülüç Stream and Alaplı Stream are the favorite places for line fishing fans. Also line fishing is performed in rivers at Bostandüzü and Ilıksu regions.
Trekking Bacaklı Plateau, Bölüklü Plateau and Kız Kulağı Plateau in Alaplı, Göldağı, Esenlik, Beycuma Plateau Region in Center, Bostandüzü, Dirgine Valley and Yedigöller in Devrek, Pamukdüzü Region in Gökçebey are favorite places of trekking fans. Also, natural route in which there are Harmankaya, Güneşli and Değirmenağzı waterfalls, are the first places for trekking aimed voyages.
Yachting Yachts participating to rally under International Black Sea Yacht Rally (Kayra) annually organized by Ataköy Marina are visiting to Zonguldak
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Geography |
| Black Sea climate is dominant in Zonguldak. It has a raining during every season. Sea temperature between May and August months is 20 C. |
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History |
| Zonduldak and environs had lived Hittite, Frig, Persia, Roman, Byzantium, Seljukian, Danişmend, Candaroğulları and Ottoman periods. Zonguldak city center is started to settle in 1849 as a settlement place as a result of founding the mining coal. |
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Where to Eat |
| Regional kitchen is composed of meal kinds generally cooked from floury (wheat and corn flour) products. Layered pastry, pastry with marrow, bazlama, cizleme, pancake, kömeç bread, pitta bread types, tarhana soup, ugmaç soup, göce soup, malayi can be mentioned among regional meals. Ereğli pitta bread and Ottoman’s strawberry, Çaycuma yogurd, Devrek bun and simit as well as Zonguldak forests cultivated kuzu kestanesi are the meals which become identical with the name of the region. |
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What to Buy |
| Devrek Walking Stick, elpek gland, miner statues are the preferred souvenirs |
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Don’t Leave Without |
| – Seeing the statue constructed in memory of Uzunmehmet on Zonguldak – Kozlu highway,
– Seeing a natural miracle, Harmankaya Waterfalls, which is reached as a result of an approximate 4 km. of trekking voyage, – Giving a break and taking a photo at Devrek province, Bostandüzü Forest Recreation area, – Visiting Cehennemağzı Caverns, which are in demand due to religious and mythological characteristics at Ereğli province, – Visiting Ereğli Museum. |
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Sites |
| Registered Immobile Cultural and Natural Heritages in Zonguldak Sites Archaeological Sites: 20 Other Sites Archaeological and Natural Sites: 1 Cultural (at Single Construction Scale) and Natural TOTAL: 173 |
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Contact Information |
| Provincial Cultural Directorate
Tel: (372) 253 54 36 State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate Tel: (0 372) 251 82 89 Museum Ereğli Museum Detailed Information Address: Atatürk Kültür Sitesi Ereğli – Zonguldak Tel: (372) 312 03 62 Governorship : (+90-372) 253 46 86 |
