Discover Dörtyol: Coast, History and the Amanos Mountains

Dörtyol brings together coastal scenery, archaeological traces, historic buildings and the heights of the Amanos Mountains. This diversity comes to life at Kinet Höyük, Kırık Köprü, the İlk Kurşun Müzesi and the district’s recreation areas. You can use these to decide whether history, the coast or mountain scenery should be the focus of your trip.

Kinet Höyük: Settlement History on the Gulf

Kinet Höyük is located in the Yeşilköy neighborhood of Dörtyol district, on the eastern shore of the Gulf of İskenderun and 500 meters from the sea. The mound, which covers more than 3.3 hectares and is 26 meters high, has a settlement sequence spanning 5,000 years and 20 layers. It is considered the largest ancient settlement in eastern Cilicia, or Kizzuwatna—the ancient names for Çukurova.

The area’s former coastline is also part of the site’s history: in antiquity, Kinet Höyük used two harbors, a natural bay to the north and what was then the mouth of the Deliçay to the south. The river mouth has since shifted 2.5 kilometers. Iron Age finds have also been made at Kinet Höyük, and excavations are ongoing.

Another historical story is connected with the plain. In 333 BC, Alexander the Great defeated the Persian king Darius on the Plain of Issos; Karakese is identified as the specific site. Kinet Höyük may have given its name to the dominant city on the plain. It may also be identified with ancient Issos, known as Izziya in Hittite.

The Museum and the District’s History

In the Özerli neighborhood, the İlk Kurşun Müzesi and Atatürk Evi welcome visitors on weekdays and weekends from 08:00 to 17:00. The İlk Kurşun Müzesi is three stories tall and opened on January 9, 2014, in memory of the Turkish War of Independence. Its collection includes historical photographs and paintings, Independence medals, official documents, daggers, historical swords, bayonets, weapons and wedges. Also on display are images of Turkish women in the National Liberation Struggle, as well as wax figures of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Selim Çavuş, Hacı Emin Hoca, Mustafa Deliağa, the Çifte Tabancalı Müftü, Mehmet Kara and Karahasan Paşa.

Kara Hasan Paşa is also part of Dörtyol’s history: he founded the first Kuvva-yı Milliye organization of the National Liberation Struggle there. The museum’s exhibits offer a distinctive perspective on this period, while Kinet Höyük tells the story of a much longer history of settlement.

Kırık Köprü and the Amanos Landscape

Kırık Köprü spans the Deliçay, also known as Pinaros. The river flows into the sea two kilometers north of Dörtyol railway station. The bridge is 64 meters long, 2.25 meters wide and 2.70 meters high. Four arched openings remain; the others have been dismantled. It is also called Roma Köprüsü; the name Kırıkköprü is said to refer to parts of the bridge having been broken off and removed. The bridge is believed to have been built between the 6th and 8th centuries and to date from the Roman period.

A different kind of scenery awaits you at Mancınık Kalesi in the Amanos Mountains. The castle stands on a rocky, elevated hill at an altitude of 700 meters and is surrounded by cliffs, steep rocks and maquis. It lies along an old Roman road, and its entrance is on the north side. A path branches off the main road and leads to the castle. From Konaklı (Rabat), the drive there is about six kilometers. Check current route conditions before visiting.

The Coast, Picnic Areas and Highlands

Yeniyurt Sahili is described as an area for summer tourism. Yeşilköy Sahil Park is a picnic and recreation area for the people of Dörtyol district. Kuzuculu Zübeyde Hanım Park also serves as a picnic and recreation area in the district. There are also highland and recreation areas surrounded by forests, with pines, junipers, maquis and wildflowers. Topaktaş and Çökek are among the 50 highland areas named in the Amanos Mountains.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it is worth deciding first what matters most to you: the coast and summer tourism, archaeological and historical sites, or the highland scenery of the Amanos. Kinet Höyük is in Yeşilköy, the museum and Atatürk Evi are in Özerli, and Mancınık Kalesi is located in the Amanos Mountains. Compare the locations of specific holiday apartments with the places you plan to visit.

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Iskenderun, Altınözü, Paşaköy, Belen, Hatay, Kelli, Karakese Belediyesi, Payas Belediyesi

For the main travel overview: Hatay.