Bursa, the 5th biggest city of Turkey, is located on the north-west skirts of the Mount Uludağ and the south-east of The Marmara Sea.

Bursa is settled on the north-west slopes of the Mount Uludağ in the South of Marmara Region. It is bordered by The Marmara Sea and Yalova on the north, Kocaeli and Sakarya on the north-east, Bilecik on the east and Kütahya and Balıkesir on the south.

Our city was founded and developed on the slopes of the Mount Uludağ. Since it is a convenient place for defence, the first settlement was on the rocks of the slopes. After the city was captured from the Byzantine Empire, many structures were built especially when it was the capital city of the Ottoman Empire. After 1940s, it has expanded towards the plain. Being on the first degree earthquake zone, it was widely affected by the earthquakes which took place in 1855 and 1905. After becoming the capital of the Ottoman Empire, it had developed rapidly and the roads coming from the Middle East countries via Anatolia were headed towards it. As a result, the city had become one of the main centres of trade, industry and culture in the 15th century. Some sources indicate that its population was over 100.000 even then. Being 2543 m. The Mount Uludag is the highest point of the city. There are two big lakes within the borders of the city. One of them is Lake İznik, the biggest lake of the Marmara Region, and the other is Lake Ulubat. The major river of the city is Nilüfer Brook, which is a branch of Susurluk River. Nilüfer Brook, which joints many small streams all of which spring from Mount Uludağ, waters the Bursa Plain. There are many large and fertile plains within the borders of Bursa. The major one of them is the Bursa Plain. Also, Yenişehir, İnegöl, Karacabey, Orhangazi and İznik Plains with their fertile soils are the places where the vegetal production is intensive.

Besides it natural riches, green texture, healing waters, and summer and winter tourism opportunities, Bursa, which carries the residential and architectural characteristics of the Ottoman and Republic periods into the present, has a unique cultural and historical inheritance.

Having 27 archaeological, 1 natural, 3 urban cite areas, 2042 memoir, religious and civil structure requiring protection, Bursa has been known as "GREEN BURSA" with its green texture, spring waters and healing thermal springs and it has been frequented by many travellers and historians charmed by its spiritual structure that keeps the Islamic culture alive in our day as well as in the past. Uludağ (Mount Olympos), on whose slopes the city was founded, is one of the places where the first Christian priests retired into seclusion. At the same time it is the biggest winter and natural sports centre of Turkey.

Also, İznik, one of the towns of Bursa, is considered as one of the most important centres for Christians after Vatican and Jerusalem.

TOWNS: Osmangazi, Yıldırım, Nilüfer, Gürsu, Gemlik, Kestel, Mudanya, İznik, Orhangazi, Karacabey, Mustafa Kemal Paşa, İnegöl, Yenişehir, Keles, Orhaneli, Büyükorhan, Harmancık.

PLACES OF INTEREST: Natural Park of Uludağ; Çekirge, Armutlu, Oylat, Gemlik Thermal Springs; Armutlu, Kumla, Kurşunlu Beaches; city walls of Prusa; Nikaia (İznik), Miletopolis (Karacabey), Mirlea (Mudanya), Kirmastı (Mustafa Kemal Paşa), Atranos (Orhaneli), Neopolis (Yenişehir) ancient cities; Ayasofya, Koimesis, Hagios Churches, Necropol, Palace and Hipogeum of Nikaia; Orhan Mosque and Complex; Bursa and Karacabey Ulumosques; Yıldırım Bedesten; Yıldırım, Yeşil, Hüdavendigar, Muradiye, Koca Sinan Paşa Complexes; Bursa Archeological, Bursa Atatürk, Bursa Turkish Islamic Art, Mudanya Armistice Museums.

The great amount of population in Bursa lives in the settlements around the center of the city. It is aimed that the population in the center is drawn to the recently developing regions in the west and east according to the city plans. In all the planning studies realized, the protection of the Bursa plain, which is located in the north is taken into consideration, and it is suggested not to settle down in these areas.

Within the borders of the Municipality of Bursa, there are still empty residential areas for 641,000 people. In Bursa, the young population requires various demands from education to work as well as providing dynamism. The average of people housed is 461.550 according to the data gathered in 1994. According to the census in 1990, one of every two people in the working population aged 12 and older is receiving payment. In terms of bank investments per person, Bursa is the 6th biggest city, and in terms of the number of vehicles in traffic, it is the 4th in Turkey.

According to the census in October 1996, the total population in the city is 2,416,193, and in the city center 1,211,688.

Having an important place in automotive sector, the most developed sector in Turkey, in machinery, textile, and food industry sectors, Bursa comes the 3rd after Kocaeli and İstanbul considering the proportion of general budget expenses to incomes in the country. Organized Industry Area established in 1962 and Demirtaş Industry Area, which was established later, and particularly the area around Ankara and İzmir roads are where industrialization is dense.

Besides these areas mentioned above, industrialization in various densities can also be observed in the districts of Mudanya, Gemlik, Orhangazi, Inegöl, Kemalpaşa, and Karacabey as well. With the projects related to the construction of new seaports with large capacities, airports, railway connection, and the establishment of a free area in the near future, the ties of the city with the world economy will become much stronger, and, an increase will be observed in tourism movements. In Bursa agriculture and industry are in a very strong relation, and a considerable part of the industry in the city is using the agricultural crops grown in Bursa. The export rate of industrial products is 50-60%, of agricultural products 30-40%, and of mining products 10 %. Bursa produces 94% of automobiles, and 26% of minibuses in Turkey.

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF BURSA

The museum, opened in 1972 in a building within the Culturepark, exhibits artifacts which were found in the Bythinian and Mysian regions and date from ca. 3.000 B.C. until the end of Byzantine period. The first hall contains various bowls, figurines and bronz works found on the site of the ancient city Antandros. Works of art dating from the Ancient Bronze Age are also found in this hall. The second hall contains objects from the Hellenistic period, and stone objects mostly Roman origin. The Kybele statues, the Athena bust and the bronze Apollon statue are of exceptional beauty. The third hall contains objects from the 7th century BC until the end of the Byzantine period. Glass objects, gold jewellery, various receptacles and, on the second floor, bronze objects from the Roman period and Byzantine objects are among the exhibits. The fourth hall contains gold, silver and bronze coins from the Roman, Hellenistic and Byzantine periods. Various architectural works, sarcophagi and headstones can be found in the museum garden.

THE ATATÜRK MUSEUM

The Atatürk Museum, located on Çekirge Avenue, is actually a 19th century mansion. The building was bought from its owners by the Municipality of Bursa, and presented to Atatürk during his second visit to the city. Atatürk, who visited Bursa 13 times, often resided here. The mansion was transformed into a museum on the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic in 1973.
Most of the furnishings and objects were used by Atatürk. Two floors of the three-storey building are open to visitors. The mansion is one of the most important examples of civil architecture in Bursa.

THE MUDANYA HOUSE OF ARMISTICE MUSEUM

The armistice documenting the victorious end of the Turkish War of Liberation was signed in this house on October 11th, 1922. The house is of Ottoman construction, built at the end of the 19th century. Two floors are accessible to visitors. The first floor contains the room the armistice was signed in and studies whereas the bedrooms of İsmet İnönü and Asım Gündüz Pasha are located on the second floor.

THE YEŞİL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

After passing the Yeşil Hamam, the complex is located on the right, next to Çanlı Stream. This building complex is currently used as the Turkish and Islamic Art Works Museum. The construction of the Yeşil Complex, also known as the Sultaniye complex, was commenced in 1419 by Çelebi Sultan Mehmet together with the other buildings within the complex. The complex remained incomplete due to the sudden death of the Sultan.

The entrance is from the north, through the eyvan covered with diagonal vaults. In the centre is a spacious courtyard, with a marble pool in the middle. On the south side you find a classroom with a high and open eyvan, and on either side a small eyvan and 13 cells. The wide eyvan is placed upon an octagonal rim and covered by a lead plated dome. The remaining eyvan are covered by brick roofs and ciliary's eaves.

The two staircases, each 1,2 meters wide, placed on either side and incomplete sections suggest that the complex was planned as a two storey building. The arcade in the garden contains 18 columns of marble and granite taken from various edifices. The cell ceilings are diagonally vaulted. The one to the west is covered with turquoise and white tiles. The ceiling is decorated with geometric braid motifs in white, dark blue and yellow. The window panels are decorated with tiles in a chessboard pattern.

The Yeşil complex has been serving as the Turkish and Islamic Works Museum since 1975. The museum contains exhibits dating from the thirteenth to the twentieth century, including Seljuk, Principality and Ottoman period tile and ceramic works, wooden, carved and inlaid works, examples of the Turkish metal art, tombacs and other metal works, Seljuk and Ottoman coins, and traditional Turkish handicrafts and apparel.

THE YENİŞEHİR ŞEMAKİ HOUSE MUSEUM

This house was constructed by the families of the village of Şemaki in Iran, who emigrated to Anatolia and settled in Yenişehir.
The house, that may even be called a mansion, has two storeys. On the ground floor, paved with stones, there is the kitchen and storeroom to the right and two rooms on the left. The second floor is reached by a wooden staircase.

THE 17th CENTURY OTTOMAN HOUSE MUSEUM

This museum is located opposite the Muradiye School of Theology. It is commonly believed to have been the house in which Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror was born, or the house of Murat II. The entrance to the two-storeyed house is through the garden on the west side. The house is of great interest because of the painted decoration typical of the period, the woodwork embellishing the ceilings as well as the wooden wardrobes and cupboards. These works are from the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century.

MUDANYA TAHİR PAŞA RESIDENCE

It is a two-storey house. Its plan has been changed a lot and it has lost its original state. The main room in the second floor is ornamented with pen-work. In the two sides of the room there are lower and upper windows and they are colored. The walls are covered with trowel works. The inside of the panels is ornamented with flower motifs. The porter�s knot that covers one wall of the room is ornamented with pen-work. On the front door of the room, the date of 1138 H./1725 M has been printed.

BURSA CITY LIBRARY

The old Setbaşı Wedding Hall is restored to gather not only social, cultural, and artistic activities but also update documents in one center. The library has a General Reading Saloon, Private Group Study Room, Periodicals Center, Archive Center of Bursa, Children�s Books center, Children�s Play Hall, Handwritten Books Center, and Museum of Handicrafts.

UMURBEY GENERAL READING HALL

Basic information sources, literature products and updated publishings are sorted out according to the subjects and served for the society. All readers can easily reach the sources consisting of 25.000 books exhibited on open-shelves. In addition, search for information is available through an automated system consisting of 43 terminals which are all connected to a center.

AHMED-İ DAİ PERIODICALS HALL

In this hall, magazines and daily newspapers for different age groups and interests serve readers which enable them to follow the latest daily events all over the World.


LAMİİ ÇELEBİ ARCHIVE HALL OF BURSA

In this center all kinds of documentaries such as books, journals, posters, reports, maps, models serve to introduce the city of Bursa. As well as CD-Rom and Internet Search, microfilms which have Cadi Records of Bursa are available for researchers.

CHILDREN KNOWLEDGE PARK LIBRARY

The library has consulting sources for ages 6-12 as well as children's literature and periodicals. The Hall also has a play center for pre-school children where facilities such as story-telling , clown shows and interviews with writers of children's books are organized.

ÜFTADE HALL

This hall is aimed for cultural activities such as conferences and shows.

KAZIM BAYKAL SEMINAR HALL

In this center, activities such as conferences, meetings and seminars are organized.

Bursa is a city which has trained artists in many branches of arts from music to theatre, and from drawing to modern literature. Many celebrities such as Ahmet Vefik Paşa, who established the second theatre of Turkey; Cemal Nadir Güler, who is one of the first cartoonists; artist Şefik Bursalı, artist Balaban, masters of Turkish art music Zeki Müren and Müzeyyen Senar; pop music composer and singer İlhan İrem, writers of modern literature Pınar Kür and Nezihe Meriç are from Bursa.

The first theatre of Bursa was established by Ahmet Vefik Paşa in 1879 as the first modern theatre of that period after İstanbul. Theatre houses such as Millet, Şark, Şafak, and Saray opened their doors to the public with the support of the government and importance given to theatres in the Republic era. However, later these buildings either burned down or collapsed. The present  theatre called Ahmet Vefik Paşa is the biggest theatre of the city. It has one big theatre hall, two chamber theatres, and a provisional stage. AVP State Theatre performs its plays between October 1 and May 31. The theatre building of Tayyare was opened for movie and theatre shows in 1932. It was restored in 1995, with no change in its architecture. Tayyare Culture Centre has become a place that lovers of arts and artists highly appreciate. It has one show hall and two exhibition halls.

Bursa conservatory, affiliated to Bursa Municipality, gives instruction under the direction of the conductor Erdinç Çelikkol.

Besides, there are other culture centers as well, such as the theatre group of Osmangazi Municipality, Ekim Theatre, Bakış show group, Karagöz Public Theatre, and Evrensel Culture Centre. These groups rather employ amateur artists.

Art and culture activities in Bursa increase in June and July, when International Bursa Culture and Art Festival is held. This festival is organized by Bursa Culture Art and Tourism Foundation affiliated to Bursa Municipality. Every year a great number of local and foreign artists, theatre groups, and orchestras equally attend this festival.

Local Celebration Days

• Commemoration of Ulubatlı Hasan, Village of Ulubat May 29
• Atatürk's arrival in İznik , İznik July 15
• Atatürk's arrival in Bursa, Bursa October 16

Independence Days:

• Conquest of Bursa by Ottomans, Bursa (Centre) April 6
• Independence of İnegöl, İnegöl - in front of the government building September 6
• Independence of Yenişehir, Yenişehir, September 6
• Independence of Orhaneli, Orhaneli, September 9
• Independence of Bursa, Bursa (Centre), September 11
• Independence of Gemlik, Gemlik, September 11
• Independence of Orhangazi, Orhangazi, September 10
• Independence of Mudanya, Mudanya, September 12
• Independence of M. Kemalpaşa, M. Kemalpaşa, September 14
• Anniversary of Mudanya Armistice, Square of Mudanya, October 11
• Independence of Karacabey, Karacabey, September 14
• Independence of İznik, İznik, November 7-8

Fairs:

• Bursa Clothing and Textile Fair, Bursa 3rd week of May
• Bursa Book Fair, Bursa April 17-23
• Bursa National Fair, Bursa July 7-31
• Bursa Furniture, Decoration and Carpet Fair, Bursa August 8-14
• Bursa Flower Fair, Bursa 1st week of May
• Bursa Food and Agriculture Fair, Bursa September 19-25

Festivities:

• Hıdırellez Culture and Spring Festivity, May 5-6
• 3rd International Orhangazi Folk Dance Festivity, Orhangazi October
• Kocayayla Festivity, Keles June the 3rd Sunday
• Orhangazi Folk Dans Festivity, Orhangazi October
• Yenişehir Pepper Festivity, Yenişehir September 28 - October

Festivals:

• Orhaneli Strawberry �Cherry Festival, Orhaneli June
• Orhangazi Folk Dance Festival, Orhangazi in September
• Gemlik Culture and Art Festival, Gemlik July 5-7
• 32nd International Bursa Festival, Bursa June 20-July 7
• Orhangazi Olive Festival, Orhangazi in November
• Orhangazi G.Belen Strawberry Cherry Festival, Orhaneli-G.Belen J