Termal – Thermal Baths, History and Landscape

Termal combines a historic thermal bath with buildings from several eras and a valley landscape on Samanlı Mountain. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between different interests: thermal waters and bathing history, memories of Atatürk and other historic buildings, as well as the plants and water in the surrounding area. A market selling produce from nearby villages is also part of the local scene. You can give these themes different weight depending on your personal interests.

Thermal Baths and Thermal History

Termal’s historic open-air thermal bath is considered Türkiye’s first registered open-air thermal bath and has an integrated children’s pool. The thermal water comes from a depth of 2,200 metres and won first prize in 1911 at a global thermal water assessment in Rome. The bath and its water represent two aspects of thermal history: the facility with its children’s pool and the water’s historic award.

Buildings from Several Eras

The Termal Atatürk Köşkü was built in 38 days in 1929 by Prof. S. Hakkı Eldem, on Atatürk’s instructions. After its restoration, the Köşkü opened as a museum in 1984 and continues to serve as a museum today. If you are planning a visit, please check the current opening arrangements.

Kurşunlu Hamamı takes the story further back: it was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and remained buried underground for centuries as a result of natural disasters and wars. Yaver Köşkü adds to the historic picture as a protected mansion from the Republican era in the Termal Thermal Springs complex. Ata Park was also created during the Republican era in memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; it includes a pool with a bust. While the Köşkü’s construction date and use as a museum are its main features, Kurşunlu Hamamı’s Byzantine-era construction and long period buried underground are part of its history. Ata Park adds a different note through its dedication.

Valley, Waterfall and Plant Life

Termal Thermal Springs is located in a valley on the slope of Samanlı Mountain. Yedi Havuzlar Waterfall is at the entrance to the Termal complex. The plant life includes 39 deciduous tree species and 26 evergreen tree species. There are also 25 deciduous and evergreen shrub species, as well as 18 climbing and ground-cover species. These four separate figures provide an overview of the different plant groups. Termal’s natural landscape thus ranges from the valley setting and waterfall to its diverse trees, shrubs and climbing plants.

Market and Getting Around

There is usually a local market on Aşıklar Yolu. Local residents sell fresh fruit and nuts from the surrounding villages there. If you want to plan your visit around the market, check in advance when it takes place. Termal Thermal Springs is located in the centre of Termal district, 12 kilometres from Yalova city centre. When planning your trip, you can decide whether your main interest is thermal history and buildings, the valley and its plant life, or the local market.

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