Karabağlar

It is surrounded by populated districts such as Gaziemir on the south, Buca on the east, Konak on the north and Balçova on the west. Are you ready to visit Karabağlar to see the Kavacık Village which famous for its gorgeous nature and grapes?

Historical places in Karabağlar

Akçakale (Akçakaya) Archeological Site is the place to go if you’d like to know more about the history of Karabağlar. Akçakaya, the southern and western fortress of Izmir, lies on a reef 430 meters from the sea on the hills of Kızıldağ (Mastousia) that overlooks the İzmir Gulf. From far away, it looks like a limestone paleness and therefore, has been named “Akçakaya” (White Stone). The archeologic site in the district is the oldest settlement of the district and has been deemed as a first-degree archeological site in 1990. The research conducted has shown that there was a castle in the region.

Kavacık Village

The most famous village in Karabağlar is Kavacık. You can reach Kavacık through a road surrounded by pine forests that overlooking the Gulf. It is a small village with only 200 households and untouched natural beauty. It was established by Yoruks in the first half of the 19th century, and it is rumored that there are 200-year-old tombs in the area. The historical mosque and stone houses are other striking architectural ruins in the village. Kavacık village is suitable for day trips, camping, and trekking. There are various waterfalls on the mountain trekking routes as well. Along with the cultural and natural beauties of Kavacık Village, the Kavacık Grape Festival is organized each year to promote the Kavacık grapes grown in this area and is a lively festival with thousands attending.

Discover the traveling routes

Karabağlar is surrounded by natural beauties all around. There are close to 30 walking tracks and traveling routes around Kavacık Village. To get more information about these routes and choose the one that suits you the best, you can check our traveling routes page.

Reşat Nuri Güntekin Children’s Library

Reşat Nuri Güntekin, one of the most important authors of the Republic Period Turkish literature once lived in Karabağlar. The house where Güntekin wrote one of his most famous novels “Çalıkuşu” in 1922 is at the Kilimtepe Park in Bozyaka. The structure was restored in 2004 to become Reşat Nuri Güntekin Children’s Library. It has an archive of 3.500 books from both Turkish and World literature.

Where to visit

We recommend you to visit Kavacık Village which will fascinate you with its lush nature and historical texture. In the village, there are 200 gravestones, stone houses, and historical mosques worth seeing. If you want to explore the historical texture of Karabğalar, you can visit the Akçakoca Archeological Site, also known as Akçakale. The ruins of Akçakoca, built by the Persians as a defensive fortress, are rich in history and are located close to the town center. Reşat Nuri Güntekin Children's Library, which was restored and organized as a library and an art center, is another place you can visit.

What to do

If you like hiking, we recommend you to check the moderate and difficult hiking trails in and around Kavacık Village. If you come across Kavacık Grape Festival, Uzundere Village Festival, Fairy Tale Wednesdays, and Karabağlar Bicycle Festival, we recommend you not to miss these joyful and fun activities. At these events where the producers’ markets also are established, you can taste the delicious dishes of the region.