Discover Burdur: Archaeology and Ottoman Architecture

Archaeological collections, historic houses and a mosque with distinctive architectural details give Burdur a diverse cultural profile. This raises a practical question as you plan your trip: would you mainly like to discover artefacts and their origins, or are you particularly interested in the history of architecture? These priorities can also help you tailor your search for a holiday rental to your own interests.

Archaeological Finds at the Burdur Museum

A description updated in 2018 lists more than 60,000 cultural artefacts at the Burdur Museum. These include finds from excavations at Hacılar, Kuruçay, the Höyücek mounds, Boubon, Kibyra and Sagalassos. Other pieces entered the collection through confiscation and purchase. The collection therefore brings together objects from various excavation sites and acquired in different ways. Finds from the ancient city of Sagalassos are on display at the museum.

The museum’s history can also be traced through specific dates: it was founded in 1956 and redesigned in 2001. In 2008, it received the “Gezilip Görülmeye Değer Müze” award. For travellers interested in archaeology, it combines the history of a collection with finds from several of the excavation sites mentioned above.

Ottoman Architecture and Building Styles

Taş Oda Konağı in Burdur is a two-storey building and an example of 17th-century Ottoman civil architecture. The Ulu Cami offers another architectural detail: its entrances are on the north, east and west sides. The Piribaşlar Kültür ve Sanat Evi adds another cultural dimension, serving as a cultural and arts centre. Together, these sites offer different points of interest during a stay, from architectural history to culture and art.

More Cultural History in the Burdur Destination

Beyond the city, the wider Burdur destination offers further perspectives on architecture and history. Burdur’s Natural History Museum is housed in a former Greek Orthodox church building, constructed in the first half of the 19th century. At the Tobacco Hammam, you can visit a bathhouse from the Ottoman period, also popularly known as “Taksi Hamamı”. Both examples link their present-day names to an earlier use or building history.

Bakibey Mansion is also an example of 17th-century Ottoman civil architecture. It is located in the Değirmenler neighbourhood of Burdur Merkez. Its Başoda features gold and silver gilding, hand-painted ornaments and high-quality woodwork. The open-air area of the Burdur Archaeological Museum offers a further contrast in period: it displays stone works, stelae, tombstones, sculptures and architectural fragments from the Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. These include monumental statues of the Roman emperors Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius from the ancient city of Sagalassos.

Choose the Focus of Your Trip

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Burdur, you can start by considering which cultural interests you would like your trip to focus on. The museum’s finds lead into archaeological topics and span a wide range of periods; Taş Oda Konağı, Bakibey Mansion and Ulu Cami turn your attention to architecture and individual design details. For a family trip, you can make this choice together based on the interests of everyone travelling with you.

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View the wider travel guide: Burdur.