As part of the 'City Culture' course from the Kastamonu University Common Elective Courses group, students had the opportunity to discover the historical and cultural richness of Kastamonu on site with the 'Let's Get to Know Our City' event held on 3 November 2024.
The event started with information about the İsmail Bey Complex, built by Kemaleddin İsmail Bey, the uncle of Mehmet the Conqueror, and the important buildings around it. The students went to Toprakçılar Mansion, one of the historical Turkish houses and mansions, and learned about the history and architectural features of the mansion. In the continuation of the event, Mufessir Alaeddin and Aşıklı Sultan Tombs were visited, and these areas' historical and cultural importance were explained.
During the tea break at Akif Bey Mansion, the participants tasted Kastamonu's famous sesame-free bagel and learned about the region's food culture. Afterward, a tour of the Anatolian Seljuk monuments, including the Honsalar Mosque, Ballık Mansion, Bediüzzaman House, Araba Pazarı Bath, and Ottoman Palace, was organized. In the event, Yakup Aga Halimi Çelebi Mosque was also visited, and the history and surroundings of this mosque, known for its acoustic feature, were introduced.
After watching and tasting the production process of Kastamonu's famous 'Çekme Helva' in a halvahan, a visit was made to the Tomb of Hüsamettin Çoban Bey, the Conqueror of Kastamonu, and information was given about Atabey Gazi Mosque. The students were informed about the Ibn-i Neccar Mosque and Foundation Bath bypassing the historical street where the mansions are. The history of the Companion Kaysu'l Hemedânî El-Asğar was visited in the treasury of Hepkebirler Mosque.
In the last part of the event, the mansion where our national poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy is known to have stayed in Kastamonu was visited, Küpçeğiz Mosque and Abdulfettah-ı Veli Tomb were visited. Information was also given about the Yılanlı Mosque and Pervaneoğlu Ali Dâruşşifa, one of the first Seljuk hospitals of Anatolia. Finally, Âşir Efendi Khan and Kurşunlu Khan were visited, and these buildings and their outbuildings were introduced.
