Seydiler: Memorial Sites, Hiking Tradition and Regional Cuisine

In Seydiler, memorial sites, a recurring hiking tradition and regional dishes come together as distinct aspects of a stay. The town’s history also offers specific points of interest: it stretches from a historic minaret and the legend surrounding a tomb to Seydiler’s location on the so-called Silk Road before the Republic was established.

Memorial Sites and Historic Traces

In 1973, the municipality had a relief of Şehit Şerife Bacı installed in front of the town hall. Another monument to Şehit Şerife Bacı and the martyrs stands at the entrance to Seydiler from the direction of İnebolu. This places two memorial sites at different points in the town: one in front of the town hall, the other at the entrance from this direction.

In the Merkez-Çayır neighborhood, a minaret built in 1691 stands next to the Seyyid-i-Zülfikar Mosque. The town’s historical context also includes Seydiler’s former role as a settlement on the so-called Silk Road, before the Republic was established. According to local tradition, the tomb of Seyyid-i Zülfikar is located in the center of Seydiler District. This location is associated with a local tradition. The Şehit-Şerife-Bacı Public Library is also in Seydiler; its opening was marked with a ceremony.

Hiking Tradition and Remembrance

Seydiler takes part every year in the traditional İstiklal Yolu hiking event. Refreshments are offered to hikers and guests in front of the town hall. Another traditional Şehit-Şerife-Bacı event commemorates both Şerife Bacı and Atatürk’s arrival in the town. The two occasions have different emphases: the hiking event is connected with a route and its tradition, while the other event focuses on remembering these historical figures and events.

Hikers were also welcomed at the town entrance and treated to refreshments at the Şehit-Şerife-Bacı Cultural House during an earlier İstiklal Yolu hike. Built in 2012, the cultural house has served as a venue for various events. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the specific dates in advance.

Regional Dishes and How They Are Prepared

To make Banduma, homemade yufka is dipped in hot turkey broth and layered with melted butter and walnuts. Tarhana differs in its ingredients and preparation: flour, yogurt, hot pepper, herbs and vegetables are combined, then fermented and dried. The two preparations thus offer a contrast between a layered dish and a fermented one.

Etli Ekmek consists of thin dough filled with minced meat and onions. The dough is folded over and baked on a hot griddle. Cizleme is made with yeast dough, baked on a greased griddle and brushed with butter. Ekşili Pilav combines bulgur, yogurt, butter and vegetables such as mallow or nettle. Tirit is made by pouring a cooked mixture of meat or sausage and vegetables over pieces of bread, then adding a garlic yogurt sauce. The dishes can also be distinguished by how they are prepared: layered, fermented, griddle-baked, or served with a cooked mixture and sauce.

Getting There and the Regional Setting

Seydiler is on the Kastamonu–İnebolu route. Vehicles to Kastamonu and İnebolu depart from there every half hour. As schedules can change, check departure times locally if you are planning your journey around them.

When considering the landscape, it is helpful to distinguish between the town and the district: the Devrekâni River crosses Seydiler District from east to west. If you are considering Seydiler as a destination when looking for a hotel, its memorial sites, hiking tradition and regional dishes offer different points of interest for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Akbayır Köyü, Tosya, Saraçlar, Taşköprü, Ovacik, Kasaba, Bostan, Daday

For the main travel overview: Kastamonu.