( grc-gre, Προῦσα, Proûsa,

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

: Prusa, ota, بورسه, Arabic:بورصة) is a city in northwestern

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...

and the administrative center of

Bursa Province Bursa Province ( tr, ) is a province in Turkey along the Sea of Marmara coast in northwestern Anatolia. It borders Balıkesir to the west, Kütahya to the south, Bilecik and Sakarya to the east, Kocaeli to the northeast and Yalova to the ...

. The fourth-most populous city in Turkey and second-most populous in the

Marmara Region The Marmara Region ( Turkish: ''Marmara Bölgesi'') is a geographical region of Turkey. Located in northwestern Turkey, it is bordered by Greece and the Aegean Sea to the west, Bulgaria and the Black Sea to the north, the Black Sea Region to th ...

, Bursa is one of the industrial centers of the country. Most of Turkey's automotive production takes place in Bursa. As of 2019, the Metropolitan Province was home to 3,056,120 inhabitants, 2,161,990 of whom lived in the 3 city urban districts (

Osmangazi Osmangazi is one of the central metropolitan districts of the city of Bursa in Bursa Province, as well as the fourth largest overall municipality in Turkey. The municipality has a population of approximately 778,843 as of 2012. On its own, it wo ...

, Yildirim and Nilufer) plus Gursu and

Kestel Kestel is an archaeological site in the Taurus Mountains in Turkey, with important finds related to the study of Tin sources and trade in ancient times. Archaeology Kestel is a probable site of Bronze Age tin mining in the Bolkar range of the ...

, largely conurbated. Bursa was the first major and second overall capital of the

Ottoman State The Ottoman Empire developed over the years as a despotism with the Sultan as the supreme ruler of a centralized government that had an effective control of its provinces, officials and inhabitants. Wealth and rank could be inherited but were j ...

between 1335 and 1363. The city was referred to as (, meaning "God's Gift" in Ottoman Turkish, a name of

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

origin) during the Ottoman period, while a more recent nickname is ("") in reference to the parks and gardens located across its urban fabric, as well as to the vast and richly varied forests of the surrounding region. Mount Uludağ, the ancient Mysian Olympus, towers over it, and has a well-known

ski resort A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area – a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In Nort ...

. Bursa has rather orderly urban growth and borders a fertile plain. The

mausoleums A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be consi ...

of the early

Ottoman sultans The sultans of the Ottoman Empire ( tr, Osmanlı padişahları), who were all members of the Ottoman dynasty (House of Osman), ruled over the transcontinental empire from its perceived inception in 1299 to its dissolution in 1922. At its hei ...

are located in Bursa, and the city's main landmarks include numerous edifices built throughout the Ottoman period. Bursa also has

thermal bath A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneoth ...

s, old Ottoman mansions, palaces, and several museums. The

shadow play Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim. The cut-o ...

characters

Karagöz and Hacivat Karagöz (literally ''Blackeye'' in Turkish) and Hacivat (shortened in time from "Hacı İvaz" meaning "İvaz the Pilgrim", and also sometimes written as Hacivad) are the lead characters of the traditional Turkish shadow play, popularized during ...

are based on historic personalities who lived and died in Bursa in the 14th century.

History

The earliest known human settlement near Bursa's current location was at Ilıpınar Höyüğü around 5200 BC. It was followed by the

ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic p ...

city of

Cius Cius (; grc-gre, Kίος or Κῖος ''Kios''), later renamed Prusias on the Sea (; la, Prusias ad Mare) after king Prusias I of Bithynia, was an ancient Greek city bordering the Propontis (now known as the Sea of Marmara), in Bithynia and i ...

, which

Philip V of Macedon Philip V ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος ; 238–179 BC) was king ( Basileus) of Macedonia from 221 to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of the Roman Republic. He would lead Macedon ag ...

granted to

Prusias I Prusias I Cholus (Greek: Προυσίας ὁ Χωλός "the Lame"; c. 243 – 182 BC) was a king of Bithynia, who reigned from c. 228 to 182 BC. Life and Reign Prusias was a vigorous and energetic leader; he fought a war against Byzantium ...

, the King of Bithynia, in 202 BC. King Prusias rebuilt the city with the advice of general Hannibal of Carthage, who took refuge with Prusias after losing the war with the

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Ki ...

and renamed it Prusa ( grc, Προῦσα; sometimes rendered as ''Prussa''). After 128 years of Bithynian rule,

Nicomedes IV Nicomedes IV Philopator ( grc-gre, Νικομήδης Φιλοπάτωρ) was the king of Bithynia from c. 94 BC to 74 BC. (''numbered as III. not IV.'') He was the first son and successor of Nicomedes III of Bithynia. Life Memnon of Heraclea wro ...

, the last King of Bithynia, bequeathed the entire kingdom to the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post- Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediter ...

in 74 BC. An early Roman Treasure was found in the vicinity of Bursa in the early 20th century. Composed of a woman's silver toilet articles, it is now in the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

. Under Byzantine rule, the town became a garrison city in 562 AD, where imperial guards were stationed there. Already by the mid-6th century, Bursa was known as a famous silk textile manufacturing centre. Bursa (from the Greek "Prusa") became the first major capital city of the early

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

following its capture from the

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

s in 1326. As a result, the city witnessed a considerable amount of urban growth such as the building of hospitals,

caravanserais A caravanserai (or caravansary; ) was a roadside inn where travelers ( caravaners) could rest and recover from the day's journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across the network of trade routes covering ...

and madrasas throughout the 14th century, with the first official Ottoman mint established in the city. After conquering

Edirne Edirne (, ), formerly known as Adrianople or Hadrianopolis ( Greek: Άδριανούπολις), is a city in Turkey, in the northwestern part of the province of Edirne in Eastern Thrace. Situated from the Greek and from the Bulgarian borders ...

(Adrianople) in East Thrace, the Ottomans turned it into the new capital city in 1363, but Bursa retained its spiritual and commercial importance in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman sultan

Bayezid I Bayezid I ( ota, بايزيد اول, tr, I. Bayezid), also known as Bayezid the Thunderbolt ( ota, link=no, یلدیرم بايزيد, tr, Yıldırım Bayezid, link=no; – 8 March 1403) was the Ottoman Sultan from 1389 to 1402. He adopted ...

built the Bayezid Külliyesi (Bayezid I theological complex) in Bursa between 1390 and 1395 and the Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque) between 1396 and 1400. After Bayezid was defeated in the

Battle of Ankara The Battle of Ankara or Angora was fought on 20 July 1402 at the Çubuk plain near Ankara, between the forces of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I and the Emir of the Timurid Empire, Timur. The battle was a major victory for Timur, and it led to the ...

by the forces

Timur Timur ; chg, ''Aqsaq Temür'', 'Timur the Lame') or as ''Sahib-i-Qiran'' ( 'Lord of the Auspicious Conjunction'), his epithet. ( chg, ''Temür'', 'Iron'; 9 April 133617–19 February 1405), later Timūr Gurkānī ( chg, ''Temür Kü ...

in 1402, the latter's grandson,

Muhammad Sultan Mirza Muhammad Sultan Mirza (1375 – 1403) was a member of the Timurid dynasty and a grandson of its founder, the Central Asian conqueror Timur. As Timur's favourite grandson, Muhammad Sultan served as one of his principal military commanders, he ...

, had the city pillaged and burned. Despite this, Bursa remained as the most important administrative and commercial centre in the empire until Mehmed II conquered

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...

in 1453. The population of Bursa was 45,000 in 1487. During the Ottoman period, Bursa continued to be the source of most royal

silk Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the ...

products. Aside from the local silk production, the city imported raw silk from

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

, and occasionally from China, and was the main production centre for the

kaftan A kaftan or caftan (; fa, خفتان, ) is a variant of the robe or tunic. Originating in Asia, it has been worn by a number of cultures around the world for thousands of years. In Russian usage, ''kaftan'' instead refers to a style of men's ...

s, pillows,

embroidery Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen ...

and other silk products for the Ottoman palaces until the 17th century. Devshirme system was also implemented in Bursa and its surroundings where it was negotiated between the authorities and locals. For example, during the 1603-4 levy, the villagers of a Christian village called Eğerciler, in Bursa, declared that they were responsible for providing sheep to the capital, and the children of the village were very much needed as shepherds. They asserted that even though they were not obliged to give any children for the army, the officers took some anyway, and that they should be returned. The villagers’ claim that it was in tremendous need of future shepherds was taken seriously by the state, and a decree commanded the return of the children. Bursa was also notable for its numerous hammams (bath) built during the reign of Suleiman such as the Yeni Kaplıca. As it was a significant cultural and trade hub, traders, most of whom were Armenians, became very wealthy. However, this legacy of cultural pluralism in Bursa almost entirely ended due to the events that took place from 1895 to 1925, namely the Hamidian massacres, the

Armenian genocide The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was implemented primarily through t ...

, and the

population exchange Population transfer or resettlement is a type of mass migration, often imposed by state policy or international authority and most frequently on the basis of ethnicity or religion but also due to economic development. Banishment or exile is a ...

. The most influential study of Bursa's

silk trade The Silk Road () was a network of Eurasian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles), it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and rel ...

and economic history is the work of Ottomanist

Halil İnalcık Halil İnalcık (7 September 1916 – 25 July 2016) was a Turkish historian. His highly influential research centered on social and economic approaches to the Ottoman Empire. His academic career started at Ankara University, where he completed h ...

. Following the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, Bursa became one of the industrial centres of the country. The economic development of the city was followed by population growth and Bursa became the 4th most populous city in

The city has traditionally been a pole of attraction, and was a major centre for refugees from various ethnic backgrounds who immigrated to

Anatolia Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The ...

from the

Balkans The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

during the loss of the

Ottoman territories in Europe Rumelia ( ota, روم ايلى, Rum İli; tr, Rumeli; el, Ρωμυλία), etymologically "Land of the Romans", at the time meaning Eastern Orthodox Christians and more specifically Christians from the Byzantine rite, was the name of a hist ...

between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The most recent arrival of

Balkan Turks The Balkan Turks or Rumelian Turks ( tr, ) are the Turkish people who have been living in the Balkans since the Ottoman rule as well as their descendants who still live in the region today. The Turks are officially recognized as a minority in Bos ...

took place between the 1940s and 1990s, when the

People's Republic of Bulgaria The People's Republic of Bulgaria (PRB; bg, Народна Република България (НРБ), ''Narodna Republika Balgariya, NRB'') was the official name of Bulgaria, when it was a socialist republic from 1946 to 1990, ruled by the ...

expelled approximately 150,000

Bulgarian Turks Bulgarian Turks ( bg, български турци, bŭlgarski turtsi, tr, Bulgaristan Türkleri) are a Turkish ethnic group from Bulgaria. According to the 2021 census, there were 508,375 Bulgarians of Turkish descent, roughly 8.4% of t ...

to Turkey. About one-third of these 150,000 Bulgarian Turkish refugees eventually settled in Bursa (especially in the Hürriyet neighborhood). With the construction of new industrial zones in the period between 1980 and 2000, many people from the eastern provinces of Turkey came and settled in Bursa.

Geography

Bursa stands on the northwestern slopes of Mount Uludağ (known as the

Mysian Olympus Mysians ( la, Mysi; grc, Μυσοί, ''Mysoí'') were the inhabitants of Mysia, a region in northwestern Asia Minor. Origins according to ancient authors Their first mention is by Homer, in his list of Troy, Trojans allies in the Iliad, and ac ...

in classical antiquity), on the banks of the

Nilüfer River The Nilufer or Niloufer River ( tr, Nilüfer Çayı) is a river in Turkey. From its source near Mount Uludağ (the classical Mysian Olympus) and flowing past Bursa, the river tends to the northwest along its course of . The Nilufer was the cla ...

, in the southern

. It is the capital city of

, which borders the

Sea of Marmara The Sea of Marmara,; grc, Προποντίς, Προποντίδα, Propontís, Propontída also known as the Marmara Sea, is an inland sea located entirely within the borders of Turkey. It connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea via t ...

and

Yalova Yalova is a market-gardening town located in northwestern Turkey on the eastern coast of the Sea of Marmara. The town has a population of 156,838, while the population of the surrounding Yalova Province is 291,001 . A largely modern town, it is ...

to the north; Kocaeli and

Sakarya Sakarya may refer to: Places * Sakarya Province, in Turkey ** Sakarya (electoral district) ** Sakarya University * Sakarya (continent), a small continent 90 million years ago * Sakarya River, in Turkey * Sakarya, Polatlı, a village in Ankara Pr ...

to the northeast; Bilecik to the east; and Kütahya and

Balıkesir Balıkesir () is a city in Turkey and is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is located in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 338,936. Between 1341–1922, it was the capital of Karasi. History Close to ...

to the south.

Climate

Bursa has a

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

: Csa) under the

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...

classification, and dry-hot summer subtropical climate (Csa) under the Trewartha classification. The city has hot, dry summers that last from June until September. Winters are cool and damp, also containing the most rainfall. There can be snow on the ground which will last for a week or two.

Air pollution Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. There are many different typ ...

is a chronic problem in Bursa.

Economy

Bursa is the largest production centre of the Turkish automotive industry. Factories of motor vehicle producers like Fiat,

Renault Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufacture ...

and

Karsan Karsan ( tr, Karsan Otomotiv Sanayii ve Ticaret A.Ş. English: Karsan Automotive Industry and Trade Joint-Stock Company) is a Turkish commercial vehicles manufacturer, based in Akçalar, Nilüfer, Bursa Province. "Karsan" is an acronym for "Kar ...

, as well as automotive parts producers like Bosch,

Mako , better known by the mononym name Mako (sometimes stylised MAKO), is a Japanese voice actress, singer and a member of the band Bon-Bon Blanco, in which her prominent role is as the maraca player. She has also performed in a Japanese television ...

Valeo Valeo is a French global automotive supplier headquartered in France, listed on the Paris Stock Exchange ( CAC-40 Index). It supplies a wide range of products to automakers and the aftermarket. The Group employs 113,600 people in 33 countries wo ...

Johnson Controls Johnson Controls International is an American Irish-domiciled multinational conglomerate headquartered in Cork, Ireland, that produces fire, HVAC, and security equipment for buildings. As of mid-2019, it employed 105,000 people in around 2,00 ...

, Delphi have been active in the city for decades. The

textile Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...

and food industries are equally strong, with

Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlant ...

Pepsi Cola Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by PepsiCo. Originally created and developed in 1893 by Caleb Bradham and introduced as Brad's Drink, it was renamed as Pepsi-Cola in 1898, and then shortened to Pepsi in 1961. History Pepsi was ...

and other beverage brands, as well as fresh and

canned food Canning is a method of food preservation in which food is processed and sealed in an airtight container ( jars like Mason jars, and steel and tin cans). Canning provides a shelf life that typically ranges from one to five years, although ...

industries being present in the city's organized industrial zones. Apart from its large automotive industry, Bursa also produces a substantial amount of dairy products (by

Sütaş Sütaş Süt Ürünleri A.Ş (English: ''Sütaş Dairy Products S.A.'') is a Turkish company that specializes in milk products such as yogurt, ayran, cheese, strained yogurt, kaymak, kefir and butter. History Sütaş was founded in 1975 in ...

), processed food (by ), and beverages (by ). Hudavendigar Park and Nilufer River in Bursa

Traditionally, Bursa was famous for being the largest centre of

trade in the

and later the Ottoman empires, during the period of the lucrative Silk Road. The city is still a major centre for textiles in Turkey and is home to the Bursa International Textiles and Trade Centre (, or ). Bursa was also known for its fertile soil and agricultural activities, which have decreased in the recent decades due to the heavy industrialization of the city. Bursa is a major centre for tourism. One of the most popular

skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee ( ...

resorts of Turkey is located at Mount Uludağ, just next to the city proper. Bursa's thermal baths have been used for therapeutical purposes since

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

times. Apart from the baths that are operated by hotels,

Uludağ University Uludağ (), the ancient Mysian or Bithynian Olympus (Greek: Όλυμπος), is a mountain in Bursa Province, Turkey, with an elevation of . In Turkish, ''Uludağ'' means "great mountain". In ancient times the range of which it is a part, ext ...

has a physical therapy centre which also makes use of thermal water.

Transportation

Bursa has a

metro Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to: Geography * Metro (city), a city in Indonesia * A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center Public transport * Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urb ...

(

Bursaray Bursaray (sometimes stylized as ''BursaRay'') is a rapid transit system in the city of Bursa, Marmara Region, Turkey, built in 2000 by TÜVASAŞ, and operated by Burulaş. The name ''Bursaray'' is a portmanteau of ''Bursa'', and ''Ray'', the Tur ...

trams A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport ar ...

and bus system for inner-city public transport, while taxi cabs are also available. Bursa's

Yenişehir Airport Yenişehir Airport is an international airport in the city of Yenişehir in the Bursa Province of Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country ...

is away from the city centre. The citizens of Bursa also prefer Istanbul's airports such as

Istanbul Airport Istanbul Airport ( tr, İstanbul Havalimanı, ) is the main international airport serving Istanbul, Turkey. It is located in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of the city. All scheduled commercial passenger flights were transfer ...

and

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Sabiha is an Arabic word () meaning "Morning" and a female given name. In Urdu it (خوبصورت، گوری چٹی) refers to beautiful, and blonde hair. People with the name include: People Given name *Sabiha Sultan ota, رقیه صبیحه س� ...

for flights to foreign countries, due to Istanbul's proximity to Bursa. There are numerous daily bus and ferry services between the two cities. Teleferik,_Uludağ

The long

Bursa Uludağ Gondola The Bursa Uludağ Gondola ( tr, Bursa Teleferik Hattı), or simply ''Teleferik'' as called locally, is an aerial lift line in Bursa Province connecting the city of Bursa with the nearby ski resort area and national park at Mt. Uludağ. Initial ...

( tr, Teleferik) connects Bursa with the ski resort areas high on the mountain

Uludağ Uludağ (), the ancient Mysian or Bithynian Olympus ( Greek: Όλυμπος), is a mountain in Bursa Province, Turkey, with an elevation of . In Turkish, ''Uludağ'' means "great mountain". In ancient times the range of which it is a part, e ...

. The only railway station in Bursa is the

Harmancık Harmancık is a town and district of Bursa Province in the Marmara region of Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on th ...

station on the

- Kütahya railway, which was opened in 1930. The average amount of time people spend commuting with public transit in Bursa, for example to and from work, on a weekday is 62 min. 12% of public transit riders ride for more than 2 hours every day. The average amount of time people wait at a stop or station for public transit is 18 min, while 31% of riders wait for over 20 minutes on average every day. The average distance people usually ride in a single trip with public transit is , while 17% travel for over in a single direction.

Education

BursaTeknikÜniversitesi_MimarSinanYerleşkesi

Bursa has two public universities and one private university.

, founded in 1975 in Görükle, is the oldest institution of higher education in the city. Founded first as the Bursa University then renamed Uludağ University in 1982, the university has a student body of 47,000, one of the largest in Turkey. Bursa Technical University is the second public university of Bursa and was established in 2010, beginning education in the 2011–2012 academic year. The first private university of Bursa was the

Bursa Orhangazi University Bursa Orhangazi University ( tr, Bursa Orhangazi Üniversitesi), named after Ottoman bey Orhan Gazi, was a private university in Bursa, Turkey. Established in 2011, the university was one out of fifteen private universities that were closed by ...

, which started education in the 2012–2013 academic year. However, Orhangazi University was shut down by the Turkish government after the failed coup attempt of July 2016.

Istanbul Commerce University Istanbul Ticaret University (Turkish: ''İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi'') is a foundation university which was founded in 2001 by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Education and Social Services Foundation. Istanbul Ticaret University, which p ...

has opened graduate programs in Bursa in 2013. The Bursa Sports High School is located in

district.

Sports

Bursa Büyükşehir Belediye Stadium 20181026 (2)

The city has one professional football club,

Bursaspor Bursaspor Kulübü Derneği (), commonly known as Bursaspor, is a Turkish sports club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, the club colours are green and white, with home kits usually featuring both colours in a striped pattern. In t ...

, which formerly competed in the

Süper Lig The Süper Lig (, ''Super League''), officially known as Spor Toto Süper Lig for sponsorship reasons, is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system and is run by the ...

(Super League), the top-tier of Turkish football, until finishing 16th at the end of the 2018–19 Süper Lig season and being relegated to the

TFF First League The TFF 1. Lig, officially known as Spor Toto 1. Lig for sponsorship reasons, is the second level of the Turkish football league system. The league was founded in 2001 as the ''Turkish Second League Category A'' after the reorganization of the ...

. A few years earlier, Bursaspor had managed to become the Turkish champions at the end of the

2009–10 Süper Lig The 2009–10 Süper Lig (known as the ''Turkcell Süper Lig'' for sponsorship reasons) was the 52nd season since its establishment. The season commenced on 7 August 2009 with Istanbul B.B. hosting defending champions Beşiktaş at Atatürk Oly ...

season, thereby becoming the second Anatolian club to ever win the Süper Lig championship title after Trabzonspor. Henceforth, Bursaspor was often considered to be one of the five biggest football clubs in Turkey, along with Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor. The club's relegation to the TFF First League at the end of the 2018–19 season was a major shock for its fans and became a first in the history of Turkish football: Never before a club which had won the Süper Lig championship title was relegated. Bursaspor plays its home games at the

Timsah Arena The Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Stadium ( tr, Bursa Büyükşehir Belediye Stadyumu) is a stadium in Bursa, Turkey. It has a capacity of 43,761 spectators and is home to Bursaspor of the TFF Second League TFF 2. Lig (Turkish Football Federa ...

(meaning "Crocodile Arena", crocodile being the mascot of the team), which has a seating capacity of 45,000. The city has a professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...

team in the

Turkish Basketball League Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and ...

, Tofaş S.K., which is among the most successful teams. The club plays its games at the Tofaş Nilüfer Sports Hall.

Politics

The current Mayor of the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality is Alinur Aktaş from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), in office since 2019, the AKP coalition won 49.6% of the vote against the CHP coalition which got 47% of the vote.

Main sights

Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque)

Ulu Cami A congregational mosque or Friday mosque (, ''masjid jāmi‘'', or simply: , ''jāmi‘''; ), or sometimes great mosque or grand mosque (, ''jāmi‘ kabir''; ), is a mosque for hosting the Friday noon prayers known as ''jumu'ah''.* * * * * * * ...

is the largest mosque in Bursa and a landmark of early

Ottoman architecture Ottoman architecture is the architectural style that developed under the Ottoman Empire. It first emerged in northwestern Anatolia in the late 13th century and developed from earlier Seljuk Turkish architecture, with influences from Byzantine a ...

, which incorporated many elements from

Seljuk Seljuk or Saljuq (سلجوق) may refer to: * Seljuk Empire (1051–1153), a medieval empire in the Middle East and central Asia * Seljuk dynasty (c. 950–1307), the ruling dynasty of the Seljuk Empire and subsequent polities * Seljuk (warlord) (di ...

architecture. Ordered by Sultan

, the mosque was designed and built by architect Ali Neccar in 1396–1400. It is a large and rectangular building, with a total of twenty domes that are arranged in four rows of five, and are supported by 12 columns. Supposedly the twenty domes were built instead of the twenty separate mosques which Sultan

had promised for winning the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396. The mosque has two minarets. Bursa_Atatürk_Müzesi

Inside the mosque there are 192 monumental wall inscriptions written by the famous calligraphers of that period. There is also a fountain ( şadırvan) where worshipers can perform ritual ablutions before prayer; the dome over the şadırvan is capped by a skylight which creates a soft, serene light below; thus playing an important role in the illumination of the large building. Bursa_Yeşil_Camii_-_Green_Mosque_(25)

The horizontally spacious and dimly lit interior is designed to feel peaceful and contemplative. The subdivisions of space formed by multiple domes and pillars create a sense of privacy and even intimacy. This atmosphere contrasts with the later Ottoman mosques (see for example the works of

Suleiman the Magnificent Suleiman I ( ota, سليمان اول, Süleyman-ı Evvel; tr, I. Süleyman; 6 November 14946 September 1566), commonly known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the West and Suleiman the Lawgiver ( ota, قانونى سلطان سليمان, Ḳ ...

's chief architect

Mimar Sinan Mimar Sinan ( ota, معمار سينان, translit=Mi'mâr Sinân, , ) ( 1488–1490 – 17 July 1588) also known as Koca Mi'mâr Sinân Âğâ, ("Sinan Agha the Grand Architect" or "Grand Sinan") was the chief Ottoman architect ( tr, l ...

.) The mosques that were built after the

conquest of Constantinople The Fall of Constantinople, also known as the Conquest of Constantinople, was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire by the Ottoman Empire. The city fell on 29 May 1453 as part of the culmination of a 53-day siege which had begun o ...

(

Istanbul ) , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = 34000 to 34990 , area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side) , registration_plate = 34 , blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD , blank_i ...

) by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, and influenced by the design of the 6th century Byzantine basilica of

Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia ( 'Holy Wisdom'; ; ; ), officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque ( tr, Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi), is a mosque and major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. The cathedral was originally built as a Greek Ortho ...

, had increasingly elevated and large central domes, which create a vertical emphasis that is intended to be more overwhelming; in order to convey the divine power of Allah, the majesty of the Ottoman Sultan, and the governmental authority of the Ottoman State. Botanik_park_-Bursa_

Places of interest

A brief list of the places of interest in and around Bursa is presented below. For a longer list, see the places of interest in Bursa.

Mosques and külliye complexes

Bursa Grand Mosque The Grand Mosque of Bursa ( tr, Bursa Ulu Camii) is a historic mosque in Bursa, Turkey. It was commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I to commemorate his great victory at the Battle of Nicopolis and built between 1396 and 1399. The mosque i ...

and *

Yeşil Mosque The Green Mosque ( Turkish: ''Yeşil Camii''), also known as the Mosque of Mehmed I, is a part of a larger complex (Turkish: külliye) on the east side of Bursa, Turkey, the former capital of the Ottoman Turks before they captured Constantinopl ...

and * Bayezid I Mosque and * Muradiye Complex, Muradiye Mosque and * Emir Sultan Mosque and * Orhan Gazi Mosque and * Hüdavendigar Mosque and * Koca Sinan Paşa Mosque and * İshak Paşa Mosque and * Karacabey Grand Mosque * Karabaş-i Veli Cultural Centre * Somuncu Baba Mosque * Üftade Tekkesi Mosque and complex * Babasultan Mosque and complex

Bazaars and caravanserais

* Yıldırım Bazaar (''bedesten'') * Koza Han * Pirinç Han * İpek Han

Other historic monuments

* Bursa Castle * Irgandı Bridge * İnkaya Sycamore, very big and impressive 600-year-old tree (Platanus orientalis)

Museums

* Bursa Archaeological Museum * Bursa Atatürk Museum, * Bursa City Museum, * Bursa Energy Museum * Bursa Forestry Museum * Bursa Karagöz Museum * Bursa Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art * Bursa Turkish Architecture Museum * İznik Museum * Mudanya Armistice House * Museum of Ottoman House * Tofaş Museum of Cars and Anatolian Carriages

Parks and gardens

* Uludağ National Park * Bursa Zoo and Botanical Garden * Bursa Hüdavendigar Kent Park

Hot springs and thermal baths

* Keramet hot spring * Çekirge hot spring * Armutlu hot spring * Oylat hot spring * Gemlik hot spring * Çelik Palas thermal bath

Beaches

* Armutlu beach * Kumla beach * Kurşunlu beach * Orhangazi beach * Mudanya beach

Gallery

File:Bursa Turkey 2013 1.jpg, Bursa Citadel Main Gate File:Bursa Orhan Gazi Mosque.jpg, Orhan Gazi Mosque File:EMİRSULTAN_CAMİİ_BURSA_-_panoramio_(2).jpg, Emir Sultan Mosque File:Bursa Koza Han (Silk Bazaar) 2.jpg, Koza Han (Silk Bazaar) in Bursa File:Bursa001.jpg, Entrance of the Yeşil Mosque, Yeşil Cami (Green Mosque) File:Muradiye Complex, exterior.jpg, Muradiye Complex, Muradiye Mosque and Külliye in Bursa File:Bursa, Governorate.jpg, Governorate of Bursa File:Uludag range.JPG, Uludağ, Mt. Uludağ is a popular ski destination File:Bursa 7059.jpg, Statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Atatürk in Bursa File:Şehreküstü Mosque, Bursa.jpg, Şehreküstü Mosque File:Yeşil Cami Bursa.jpg, Interior of Yeşil Mosque File:Französische Kirche in Bursa.jpg, Bursa French Catholic Church File:Bursa Kalesi 1.jpg, Saltanatkapı (Citadel Main Gate) File:Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyesi.jpg, Old City Hall File:Clock Tower, Bursa.jpg, Tophane Clocktower File:Türbe of Osman I, Bursa.jpg, Tomb of Osman Gazi File:Türbe of Orhan Gazi, Bursa.jpg, Tomb of Orhan Gazi File:Innenansicht Große Moschee in Bursa PIC 2004-08-24 19-22 0227.JPG, Interior of the Grand Mosque File:Bursapnc1.JPG, Koza Han (Silk Bazaar) File:Irgandı_köprüsü_bursa_-_panoramio.jpg, Irgandı Bridge File:View of the city, Bursa, Turkey LOC 4211210430.jpg, A view of Bursa in the late 19th century File:Bursa, Turkey, ca. 1895.jpg, Bursa, circa 1895 File:Atatürk 1924'te Bursa halkına hitap ediyor.jpg, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Atatürk delivering a speech in Bursa, 1924 File:View of Bursa from the hills of Mount Uludag.jpg, A view of Bursa from the foothills of Uludağ, Mt. Uludağ

Twin towns – sister cities

Bursa is Sister city, twinned with: * Darmstadt, Germany (1971) * Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1972) * Oulu, Finland (1978) * Kairouan, Tunisia (1987) * Anshan, China (1991) * Bitola, North Macedonia (1996) * Ceadîr-Lunga, Moldova (1997) * Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan (1997) * Mascara, Algeria, Mascara, Algeria (1998) * Kulmbach, Germany (1998) * Pleven Municipality, Pleven, Bulgaria (1998) * Plovdiv, Bulgaria (1998) * Tirana, Albania (1998) * Košice, Slovakia (2000) * Vinnytsia, Ukraine (2004) * Pristina, Kosovo (2010) * Bakhchysarai, Ukraine (2010) * Momchilgrad Municipality, Momchilgrad, Bulgaria (2010) * Mogilev, Belarus (2013) * Hebron, Palestine (2014) * Herzliya, Israel (2014) * Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria (2017) * Galkayo, Somalia (2018)

Metropolitan Muncipality Mayors of Bursa

* 1984 Turkish local elections, 1984-1989 Turkish local elections, 1989 Ekrem Barışık Motherland Party (Turkey), ANAP * 1989 Turkish local elections, 1989-1994 Turkish local elections, 1994 Teoman Özalp True Path Party, DYP * 1994 Turkish local elections, 1994-1999 Turkish local elections, 1999 Erdem Saker Motherland Party (Turkey), ANAP * 1999 Turkish local elections, 1999-2004 Turkish local elections, 2004 Erdoğan Bilsener Democratic Left Party (Turkey), DSP * 2004 Turkish local elections, 2004-2009 Turkish local elections, 2009 Hikmet Şahin AK Party * 2009 Turkish local elections, 2009-2017 Turkish constitutional referendum, 2017 Recep Altepe AK Party * 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum, 2017-present Alinur Aktaş AK Party

References

External links

Bursa Metropolitan Municipality

Bursa Governorship
{{Authority control Bursa, Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Turkey Greek colonies in Anatolia Bithynian colonies Cities in Turkey Populated places along the Silk Road Populated places in Bursa Province