Discover Kütahya

In Kütahya, you’ll encounter tile art, different historical perspectives, and a viewpoint overlooking the city. Museums and cultural sites bring craftsmanship, architecture, and biographies to life, from ceramic objects spanning several centuries to a house associated with the Hungarian politician Lajos Kossuth. You can tailor your stay to the subjects that interest you most.

Çini art, from exhibits to craftsmanship

The Çini Museum arranges its collection chronologically. On display are architectural elements, inscriptions, vases, plates, panels, and ceramic household objects made in Kütahya and İznik from the 14th century to the present day. The exhibition thus showcases both the tradition’s long time span and two places associated with this ceramic art. The museum is considered Turkey’s first and only tile museum. One notable exhibit is the text of the first known collective bargaining agreement, signed by master potters and journeymen on July 13, 1766. This also brings the history of work in the craft to the fore, alongside its artistry.

Tile making is one of Kütahya’s most important art forms and also a significant source of livelihood for the local population. The garden of the City History Museum offers another way to explore this tradition, with demonstrations of the production steps involved in traditional Kütahya tile art. The historic building next to the Evliya Çelebi Culture and Art House is also connected to crafts: it was converted into a center for preserving traditional crafts. The collection, production, and preservation of crafts illuminate the tradition from different perspectives.

Houses and museums tell stories of history

The Kossuth Museum is an 18th-century Turkish residence. Lajos Kossuth stayed in Kütahya and worked on a draft of the Hungarian constitution during his time there. The museum displays objects from his personal collection as well as ethnographic items from a traditional Turkish home. Political history and domestic culture sit side by side here, and the site is not limited to just one of these perspectives.

The Evliya Çelebi Culture and Art House is considered the birthplace of the traveler Evliya Çelebi. It was rebuilt next to the mausoleum of his grandfather, Kara Ahmet Bey. The Çinili Mosque is another historical landmark: the painter and ney player Ahmet Yakupoğlu built it in 1973. Together, these places illustrate the different influences that have shaped Kütahya’s cultural heritage.

Archaeology, cityscape, and historic buildings

The Archaeology Museum is housed in the Umur-bin-Savcı Madrasah, a building erected in 1314 by the Germiyan prince Umur bin Savcı. The finds on display there include an Amazon sarcophagus discovered during a rescue excavation at Çavdarhisar-Aizanoi. The exhibit thus connects an archaeological site outside Kütahya with the museum’s collection.

The two bedestens can also be distinguished by their histories. Gedik Ahmet Paşa had both built in the 15th century. The Great Bedesten was restored in 2008 with funds from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; the Kütahya Municipality restored the Small Bedesten. For a different view of the city, visit the Hıdırlık Mescid on the hill south of the Ulu Mosque: from there, the view stretches across Kütahya.

A taste of traditional cuisine

Kütahya Usulü Kavurma is part of Kütahya’s traditional cuisine. The dish adds a culinary connection to the city to its cultural and historical attractions. If you choose Kütahya for a hotel stay, you’ll find a variety of themes to explore on your trip: Çini art and its production, museum exhibits and architectural history, city views, and regional cuisine.

Discover more destinations: Kayaköy/Kütahya, Kütahya, Çavdarhisar, Emet, Simav, Kızılcakaya, Gediz, Alikahya Köyü, Altıntaş, Tavşanlı.

View the broader travel overview: Turkish Aegean.