Karamanlı: Landscape, History and Culture

Karamanlı lies at the foot of Ardıçlıtepe, overlooking the Karamanlı Plain. Asartepe, Ardıçlı Tepe and Menekşe Sivrisi are also among the mountain ranges at whose foot the town lies. The landscape also includes the Koca Plain, which covers more than 30,000 dönüm. Karamanlı is therefore defined by a combination of plains and prominent elevations. If you are planning a trip, you can first get your bearings by looking at these geographical features, then decide which cultural and historical topics matter to you during your stay.

Landscape and Regional Orientation

Lake Karataş is nearby: this small, shallow freshwater lake lies on the Burdur–Karamanlı road, with Karataş Tepesi and the Kağılcık Mountains in front of it. The lake’s sub-basin is an important habitat and breeding ground for birds; 121 species have been recorded there in total. The lake thus adds an ecological point of reference to the surrounding mountain ranges. Karamanlı is also at the junction of the Burdur–Fethiye and Denizli–Antalya transport links. These two routes provide a clear indication of the town’s regional location.

Historical Traces

Karamanlı’s historical heritage includes settlement traces dating to the Neolithic period. The caves at Ardıçlıtepe are considered historical traces; inscribed stones and sarcophagus lids at Kocapınar are also regarded as historical evidence. Nearby, on the high plateaus above the Karamanlı Dam, are open-air rock-cut tombs. These, too, are historical evidence. The geographical locations differ: the caves and traces at Kocapınar are distinct from the stone tombs located nearby above the dam.

Festivals and Local Traditions

Cultural traditions include festivals, dances and farewell customs. Gıncırık is considered one of Karamanlı’s best-known festival entertainments and was set up in some squares on holidays. Sallengeç swings were traditionally attached to tall trees in squares. Girls and boys took turns using them, and the entertainment continued throughout the holidays. Local asker uğurlaması, the send-off for young men before they were called up for military service, involved processions through the streets lasting three to five days, accompanied by davul and zurna. The local Zeybek variations passed down through the generations include Tek Zeybek and Guluman Zeybeği, variations of Tavas Zeybeği. These examples range from square entertainments to processions and dance forms.

One specific historical festival date is the 15th Karamanlı Highland Walnut and Marble Festival: it was scheduled for 17–19 August 2018 and organized by the Municipality of Karamanlı.

Regional Products, Handicrafts and Forest Landscapes

Karamanlı Cevizi is a regional product. The walnut from the Karamanlı district received protection effective 21 May 2018 and was registered as a product with a geographical designation of origin on 28 August 2020. The district’s Halk Eğitim Merkezi also offered courses in Kilim-Zili-Cicim weaving, where handmade textiles were produced using original wool and natural dyes. Walnuts and weaving add regional product and handicraft connections to the area’s historical and cultural themes.

The Eşeler Plateau and its forests lie within the municipal boundaries of Karamanlı. The area is 20 km deep and 10 km wide; three quarters of it are covered with forest and various trees. These dimensions and the forest coverage give a concrete impression of this landscape within the municipality.

Discover more destinations: Ağlasun, Yeşilova, Heybeli, Karacaören, Bucak, Tefenni, Kızılkaya, Gölhisar

For the broader travel overview: Burdur.