“Tell me, the goddess, a thousand and one tidy men, had razed the holy Troy, then she had crawled from place to place, how many places she saw, how many people knew…” Homer began, in Odyssey, where he told what happened after everything was over. . And everything actually started with Eris's Apple: He started the story by saying "To the most beautiful...". What happened next, we all know more or less.
At the beginning of the mare stretching from Asia to Europe, Troas, which has not lost its importance for centuries, dazzling with its natural beauties and wealth; It hides a 6,500-year-old chain of stories right next to two continents, two islands and a Bosphorus. Archaeological excavations and surface researches in the region continue to introduce us to the new links of this chain day by day.
The Troas Cultural Routes Project shows how the region has a wide range of historical time, its natural beauties, historical richness, unique life, tastes and unique landscapes; It aims to explain to the visitors through thematic routes with a historical background. Troas Culture Routes actually leaves an apple as in the story. Apple, this time not war and conflict; It will be instrumental in discovering this geography, which has deep-rooted values and riches.
Starting from Güzelyalı, four different ancient cities, the water sources that gave life to these cities, the people who continue to live in the region and their stories, the flavors that have not spoiled for centuries and enchanted the palate, the transitions between green and blue, and the 11 routes that make you feel deeply the distinctions and intersections of historical periods; It has a length of about 270 kilometers. For example, starting from Dalyan, passing the ancient cities of Alexandria Troas and Neandrai and photographing many beautiful landscapes that nature offers you, you go down to Babakale, the westernmost part of Asia, and experience the story of St. Paulus on the route where the sun sets. You have the opportunity to experience the Ottoman traces in the region and the story of these traces, by walking the And while doing this, you can reach all the information you need thanks to the mobile application prepared beforehand within the scope of the project.
After the Troas Cultural Routes Project was received with favor and appreciation after the presentations made to the relevant institutions and organizations, it was decided to carry out preliminary studies by the Çanakkale Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism under the auspices of the Çanakkale Governorate, with the support of the South Marmara Development Agency, and feasibility studies began in November 2018. Within the scope of these studies, mapping studies of 11 routes were carried out. In order to determine the final routes by applying the prepared maps in the field, a large team with ideas and experience in the field of eco tourism and cultural routes completed the feasibility studies until January 2019.
Starting from Çanakkale Güzelyalı region, the first 11 stages, 270 kilometers in total, extending to the Ancient City of Troy, then passing through many historical and natural points to the Ancient City of Assos, and then proceeding along the Kaz Mountains to the Historical Roman Bridge at the provincial border of Balıkesir. It has been made ready for all hiking enthusiasts. In this sense, wooden-equipped and qualified, nature-appropriate direction, information and visibility signs, entrance arches, observation decks, direction markers have been applied in the field. As a result, the project work of 11 stages of 270 kilometers, which is the first presentation of the Troad Cultural Routes Project and which is the first part of Turkey's longest walking route with a total length of more than 800 kilometers that will cover two continents, two islands and two seas, has been completed.
Prepare to feel, explore and touch the rich heritage of Helen, Lydia, Persia, Alexander the Great, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires and the unique beauty of nature in a historical time warp.
Troas is waiting for you!