Eskişehir
Metropolitan municipality
Clockwise from top: Eskişehir Fairy Tale Castle in Sazova Park, Lion Statue in Eskişehir, Porsuk River, Porsuk Bridge, Eskişehir Tram, Eskişehir Municipality
Official logo of Eskişehir
Emblem of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality
Eskişehir is located in Turkey
Eskişehir
Eskişehir
Location within Turkey
Eskişehir is located in Asia
Eskişehir
Eskişehir
Location within Asia
Eskişehir is located in Earth
Eskişehir
Eskişehir
Location within the world
Coordinates: 39°47′N 30°31′E / 39.783°N 30.517°E / 39.783; 30.517
Country Turkey
RegionCentral Anatolia
ProvinceEskişehir
Government
 • Metropolitan MayorYılmaz Büyükerşen (CHP)
Area
 • Metropolitan municipality2,678.00 km2 (1,033.98 sq mi)
Elevation
788 m (2,585 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Metropolitan municipality898,369
 • Density335/km2 (868/sq mi)
 • Metro
797,708
Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)
Postal code
26 xxx
Area code(+90) 222
Registration plate26
Websitewww.eskisehir-bld.gov.tr

Eskişehir (US: /ˌɛskɪʃəˈhɪər/ ES-kish-ə-HEER,[2][3] Turkish: [esˈciʃehiɾ]; from eski 'old' and şehir 'city')[4] is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. The urban population of the city is 898,369 with a metropolitan population of 797,708.[1] The city is located on the banks of the Porsuk River, 792 m above sea level, where it overlooks the fertile Phrygian Valley. In the nearby hills one can find hot springs. The city is 233 km (145 mi) to the west of Ankara, 330 km (205 mi) to the southeast of Istanbul and 78 km (48 mi) to the northeast of Kütahya. It is located in the vicinity of the ancient city of Dorylaeum.[5] Known as a university town; Eskişehir Technical University, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, and Anadolu University are based in Eskişehir. The province covers an area of 2,678 km2 (1,034 sq mi).[6]

Etymology

The name Eskişehir can be literally translated as 'Old City' in Turkish.[4] The name has been documented in Ottoman records since the late 15th century.[7]

History

Cybele Statue (30 BC - 395 AD) excavated from the Ancient City of Pessinus exhibited in the Eskişehir Archeology Museum.
Miniature view of Eskişehir in the 16th century during the Ottoman Empire.

The city was founded by the Phrygians in at least 1000 BC, although it has been estimated to be older than 4000 years old. The current city lies about a mile from the ancient Phrygian city of Dorylaeum.[8] Many Phrygian artifacts and sculptures can still be found in the city's archeological museum. There is also a museum of meerschaum stone, whose production remains still notable, used to make high quality meerschaum pipes. In the fourth century AD the city moved about ten km northeast, from Karacahisar to Şehirhöyük. The region was originally inhabited by Hittites.

Many ancient geographers described the city as one of the most beautiful in Anatolia.

As with many towns in Anatolia, Christianity arrived after Constantine the Great legalized the religion in the Roman Empire. Beginning in the 4th century, records exist of bishops holding office in Eskişehir. The city was known as Dorylaeum (Δορύλαιον) in Greek in that period. One of these bishops, Eusebius, was heavily involved in shaping the evolving dogma of the church.

It was called Sultanönü during the Seljuk period.[9] In 1097 it was the site of a battle of the First Crusade in which the Crusaders defeated the Seljuk Turkish sultan Kilij Arslan I; the town later fell to the Turks in 1176, or the 13th century.[8] From 1867 until 1922, Eskişehir was part of Hüdavendigâr vilayet. In 1921, it was captured by the invading Greek Army.

Geography

The city of Eskişehir is sited on the banks of Porsuk River, which flows into the Sakarya River. Porsuk Dam, located near the Eskişehir-Kütahya border controls the flow of the water in the river.

Climate

Köppen map of Eskişehir Province and surrounding regions:[11]
  •   BSk
  •   Dsb

Eskişehir has a cold semi-arid climate (BSk) under the Köppen climate classification, and a temperate continental climate (Dc) under the Trewartha climate classification.[12][13] The city features cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. Rainfall occurs mostly during the spring and autumn. Due to Eskişehir's high altitude and its dry summers, nightly temperatures in the summer months are cool. Precipitation levels are low, but precipitation can be observed throughout the year.

Climate data for Eskişehir (1991–2020, extremes 1928–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.2
(66.6)		 22.3
(72.1)		 29.1
(84.4)		 31.2
(88.2)		 35.3
(95.5)		 36.6
(97.9)		 39.2
(102.6)		 38.7
(101.7)		 38.0
(100.4)		 34.4
(93.9)		 25.6
(78.1)		 21.1
(70.0)		 39.2
(102.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.3
(39.7)		 8.0
(46.4)		 13.1
(55.6)		 18.1
(64.6)		 22.9
(73.2)		 27.0
(80.6)		 30.2
(86.4)		 30.6
(87.1)		 26.4
(79.5)		 20.0
(68.0)		 13.0
(55.4)		 6.6
(43.9)		 18.4
(65.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.8
(33.4)		 3.3
(37.9)		 7.3
(45.1)		 11.6
(52.9)		 16.4
(61.5)		 20.3
(68.5)		 23.0
(73.4)		 23.3
(73.9)		 19.2
(66.6)		 13.5
(56.3)		 7.5
(45.5)		 2.9
(37.2)		 12.4
(54.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.8
(28.8)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 2.5
(36.5)		 5.9
(42.6)		 10.6
(51.1)		 14.4
(57.9)		 16.6
(61.9)		 17.0
(62.6)		 13.0
(55.4)		 8.4
(47.1)		 3.3
(37.9)		 0.0
(32.0)		 7.5
(45.5)
Record low °C (°F) −23.6
(−10.5)		 −23.8
(−10.8)		 −16.5
(2.3)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 −1.0
(30.2)		 0.5
(32.9)		 5.0
(41.0)		 2.2
(36.0)		 −3.7
(25.3)		 −7.1
(19.2)		 −16.7
(1.9)		 −26.3
(−15.3)		 −26.3
(−15.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 39.6
(1.56)		 31.1
(1.22)		 32.6
(1.28)		 31.9
(1.26)		 38.1
(1.50)		 44.1
(1.74)		 12.5
(0.49)		 15.7
(0.62)		 16.0
(0.63)		 35.3
(1.39)		 25.0
(0.98)		 40.7
(1.60)		 362.6
(14.28)
Average precipitation days 11.9 10.1 11.8 9.4 11.8 10.2 3.4 3.1 5.4 9.2 7.4 11.1 104.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 74.4 93.2 142.6 177.0 244.9 288.0 331.7 316.2 246.0 179.8 111.0 68.2 2,273
Mean daily sunshine hours 2.4 3.3 4.6 5.9 7.9 9.6 10.7 10.2 8.2 5.8 3.7 2.2 6.2
Source: Turkish State Meteorological Service (sun 1928–2020)[14][15]

Economy

Traditionally dependent on flour milling and brickyards, the city expanded with the building of railway workshops in 1894 for work on the Berlin–Baghdad railway.

As of 1920, Eskişehir was one of the major locations for meerschaum mining. At that time, most of the mining sites were owned by the state.[16]

Devrim, the first Turkish automobile, was produced in 1961 at the TÜLOMSAŞ factory in Eskişehir. Devrim never put into mass production and stayed a concept study and can be viewed in TÜLOMSAŞ factory Eskişehir. In addition to production, first Turkish steam powered locomotive called Karakurt was produced at the TÜLOMSAŞ in 1961. Eskişehir was also the site of Turkey's first aviation industry (Aeronautical Supply Maintenance Centre) and its air base was the command center of Turkey's first Tactical Air Force headquarters on NATO's southern flank during the Cold War.

Eskişehir railway station

Eskişehir produces trucks, home appliances, railway locomotives, fighter aircraft engines, agricultural equipment, textiles, brick, cement, chemicals, processed meerschaum and refined sugar. Eti, one of Turkey's largest food brands (mostly producing biscuit, chocolate and candy varieties) is based in Eskişehir. Arçelik, a major Turkish home appliances and consumer electronics manufacturer, has one of its production plants in Eskişehir. Eskişehir was the first stage of High-speed rail in Turkey from Ankara. This service improved the travel and commerce between Eskişehir and Ankara, thanks to reduced journey time. GKN, a major global automotive supplier for passenger and commercial car powertrain systems has a plant in Eskişehir.

The city is served by the Anadolu Airport.

Education

Library of the Anadolu University
Ottoman architecture in Odunpazarı, Eskişehir
Streets of Odunpazarı, Eskişehir
Ulus Monument in the city representing Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

There are three universities in Eskişehir. These are the Anadolu University, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, and the Eskişehir Technical University which is the first university in the world that gained the privilege of managing airports. Anadolu University, in addition to its on-campus studies, started open university courses through TV broadcasts in the 1980s. Allowing access to tertiary education for thousands of students who otherwise would not have been able to benefit from any. The current Metropolitan Mayor of Eskişehir, Yılmaz Büyükerşen, was formerly the rector of the Anadolu University.

Culture

The city has a significant population of Turkic Crimean Tatars. It also attracted ethnic Turks emigrating from Balkan countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia, North Macedonia and the Sandžak region of Serbia, who contributed to the development of the city's metalworking industries. Eskişehir also hosted the inaugural Turkvision Song Contest in 2013, which aims to highlight music and artists from various Turkic-speaking regions. The city is also home to the Dünya Müzeleri Müzesi or Museum of World Museums.

Other museums in the city are Eti Archaeology Museum, Aviation Museum, Meerschaum Museum, Museum of Independence, Museum of Modern Glass Art, Tayfun Talipoğlu Typewriter Museum, Yılmaz Büyükerşen Wax Museum and the Odunpazarı Modern Museum.

Attractions

Statue of Yunus Emre in Eskişehir.
One of Eskişehir's many bridges across the Porsuk River.

Most of modern-day Eskişehir was rebuilt after the Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923), but a number of historic buildings remain, such as the Kurşunlu Mosque. The archaeological site of the ancient Phrygian city of Dorylaeum is close to Eskişehir. The city is noted for its natural hot sulphur springs.

Sports

Shopping Mall in Eskişehir
Eskişehir Modern Glass Art Museum
Odunpazarı Modern Arts Museum by the architect Kengo Kuma.
Odunpazarı Modern Arts Museum Exhibition.

Association football club Eskişehirspor, founded in 1965, plays in the TFF Second League after being relegated during the 2021-22 TFF First League. It plays its home games in the New Eskişehir Stadium.

Notable natives

Non-natives

Fikri Cantürk, Professor of Painting, Anadolu University

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Eskişehir is twinned with:[17]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Turkey: Major cities and provinces". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "Eskisehir". Lexico US English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "Eskisehir". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 Lewis Thomas (1 April 1986). Elementary Turkish. Courier Dover Publications. p. 12. ISBN 978-0486250649.
  5. ↑ E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936. BRILL. 1987. ISBN 978-90-04-08265-6.
  6. ↑ Statoids. "Statistical information on districts and town centers in Turkey". Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  7. ↑ Nişanyan, Sevan. "Eskişehir". nisanyanmap.com. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 Chisholm 1911.
  9. ↑ Türkiye İller Ansiklopedisi 1.Cilt s.409
  10. "Present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution". Nature Scientific Data. DOI:10.1038/sdata.2018.214.
  11. ↑ "Present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution". Nature Scientific Data. DOI:10.1038/sdata.2018.214.
  12. ↑ Öztürk, Mehmet Zeynel; Çetinkaya, Gülden; Aydın, Selman. "Köppen-Geiger İklim Sınıflandırmasına Göre Türkiye'nin İklim Tipleri/Climate Types of Turkey According to Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification". Coğrafya Dergisi – Journal of Geography. 35 (2017): 17–27. doi:10.26650/JGEOG295515. Retrieved 23 June 2020. (in Turkish and English)
  13. ↑ Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification - Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions
  14. ↑ "Resmi İstatistikler: İllerimize Ait Mevism Normalleri (1991–2020)" (in Turkish). Turkish State Meteorological Service. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  15. ↑ "İllerimize Ait Genel İstatistik Verileri" (in Turkish). Turkish State Meteorological Service. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  16. ↑ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Anatolia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 105.
  17. ↑ "Kardeş Şehirler". eskisehir.bel.tr (in Turkish). Eskişehir. Retrieved 18 January 2020.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eskişehir.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Eskişehir.

39°46′36″N 30°31′14″E / 39.77667°N 30.52056°E / 39.77667; 30.52056

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