Soccer, soccer, soccer
In Turkey, soccer is king! The overheated atmosphere of the stadiums (especially in Istanbul) has no equivalent in Europe. We no longer count the players of the visiting teams explaining that they could not communicate on the field because the noise falling from the stands was deafening. The leading clubs are all domiciled in Istanbul, starting with the iconic clubs of Turkish soccer: Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş, located itself on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Apart from Trabzonspor's six league titles in the 1970s and 1980s and Bursaspor's in 2010, the three Istanbul clubs have shared all the championships at stake since the creation of the Süper Lig in 1959!
On the prestigious European stage, only Galatasaray, led by Turkish soccer superstar Hakan Şükür, has made a lasting impression by winning the UEFA Cup against Arsenal in 2000. Before, a few weeks later, winning the European Supercup against Real Madrid. Even if they are now in decline on the international scene, the great Turkish clubs continue to attract crowds and attending a match in Istanbul will delight all fans of football.
As for the national team, it has lived its golden age between its qualification to the Euro 1996 and itsthird place in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Despite a great semi-final loss to Germany at Euro 2008, the Red and Whites are struggling to remain consistent. Although, it should be noted, the Turks gave the French world champions a hard time in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, beating the Mbappé band in June 2019 in Konya. While they finished the qualifiers behind Les Bleus, they were invited to the big European rave in the summer of 2020 but finished in last place in their group without any wins, and also did not qualify for the last World Cup in Qatar.
Ancestral disciplines
Wrestling. The whole Turkish nation, men, women and children, love wrestling, respect it and have a special cult of pehlivan (wrestlers). The word pehlivan is of Persian origin. According to the historian Burhan-Katia, its real meaning is "brave". But the word has always had different meanings: in the Seljuk era, it was used for warriors, skilled shooters and wrestlers, while in the early 16th century it was used only for sportsmen.
Every year, in the presence of the President of the Republic, the city of Edirne elects a new chief pehlivan. For it is in this municipality, located 2.5 hours from Istanbul, that the Kırkpınar wrestling tournaments are organized every year, usually in the second half of June. To the sound of flutes and bass drums, each wrestler, coated with oil, goes in search of the golden belt of Kırkpınar and the title of chief pehlivan. Listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, the tournament is open to all men and is held in front of thousands of spectators.
Various legends surround the origin of the historical Kırkpınar wrestling. The most popular is the following. During Orhan Gazi's expeditions in 1346 to seize Rumelia, his brother Süleyman Paşa marches with 40 soldiers on Domuzhisar, which then belongs to the Byzantines. They seize this place. And after taking the other fortresses, the troop of 40 soldiers returns, but makes a break at the village of Samona, which is located in Greek territory nowadays. The 40 soldiers begin to fight among themselves. During these fights, which last for hours, two brothers, Ali and Selim, fail to prevail over each other. Later, on a day of Hıdırellez (spring festival), the two brothers decide to fight again. But in vain. For a whole day, neither manages to triumph over the other. With that, they continue throughout the night by the light of candles and oil lamps. Finally, out of breath, they die. Their companions bury them on the spot, under a fig tree, and leave. Years later, they return to the site and find that a fountain has sprung up on the site of the grave. Thereupon, the local population gives the area the name Kırkpınar ("the spring of the 40") in memory of the warriors and the two brothers. Evoked in the legend, the village of Samona, Greece, is actually the meadow of Kırkpınar.
At the end of the Balkan War and the First World War, the struggles of Kırkpınar are organized in Virantekke, between the road to Edirne and Mustafâpacha. After the proclamation of the Republic, in 1924, the struggles of Kırkpınar are held in Sarayiçi, depending on the province of Edirne. And it was in 1946 that the tournaments started to be organized by the Edirne City Hall.
Tavla, the local backgammon, is omnipresent in Turkey. It is a real institution and any occasion is good to play it. Gathered around an çay in the famous Turkish cafes or while waiting for the customers in their stores, Turks take advantage of the slightest free moment to play. Tavla, whose name means "table" in Turkish, comes from ancient Rome, where it was already played. However, backgammon is even older, with its origins in Mesopotamia, more than 5,000 years ago, which brings us closer to Turkey, although many people still believe that backgammon is an English game. Far from being out of fashion, tavla remains one of the favorite pastimes of the locals, closely followed by dominoes and card games.
In terms of activities, there is a coastline of... four different seas!
The Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea promise exceptional seaside vacations. Relaxation and swimming of course, sometimes surfing, but also all kinds of water sports (motorized or not) in the tourist spots like Bodrum, Kemer, Izmir or Antalya. Jet-skiing, water-skiing, wake-boarding, towed buoys, parasailing: if there is something to do, fishing, sailing and diving remain the most popular activities.
Fishing. In the non-prohibited areas, fishing in the sea or in the river is authorized without a special permit. And it's a good thing, because the coasts are particularly full of fish. Among the most common species: tuna, red mullet, mullet, sea bass, mackerel, sea bream, but also lobsters, crabs and shrimps. And for the amateurs, as soon as you get off the plane in Istanbul, the Galata Bridge will offer you a free space with other Stamboulian fishermen.
Sailing. Turkey is a treasure trove of coves, bays and beaches where boaters can anchor every night. But Turkey's sailing paradise is the blue voyage, a cruise along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts (or "turquoise coast") in a caïque, the typical Turkish sailing boat. The ideal sailing period is from May to October. And, from the coasts, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the mountains that are more than 3,000 meters above the sea.
Scuba diving. With an unparalleled historical and archaeological wealth, caves and canyons, typical fish of the eastern Mediterranean, a diverse underwater fauna, scuba diving in Turkey is a must.
The water temperature is warm (from 19 to 29°C from March to early November and from 11 to 13°C the rest of the year), the visibility good and the currents weak, this activity is accessible to all, beginners or not. And the sea is also a witness of the past. More than 200 Turkish cities have ancient Greco-Roman sites by the sea.
Jars and amphorae, underground cities, planes dating from the Second World War, boats and cargo ships dating back a century, ancient wrecks: the relics of history are numerous to be hidden under water. Caves, chimneys dating back 3 to 4 million years, caves that contain fresh water, such as the Gok cave in Finike: caving enthusiasts will not be outdone. As far as organization is concerned, the quality of the equipment on site is irreproachable and you can rent everything you need without any problem. There are diving centers everywhere.
Inland, a relief that is just waiting to be discovered
If, while walking among the natural wealth of Turkey, you have the opportunity to practice golf throughout the country, the interior is especially an invitation to quickly take the height.
Hiking. Once you put on your walking shoes, you can enjoy beautiful hikes on Mount Taurus, in the Antalya region, in Uludağ, near Bursa, or in Kaçkar Dağları, in the Black Sea. Beware, we might as well remind you, it is better to refrain from trekking in the mountains near the borders of Iraq. Excursions of several days are often organized locally, and the tourist offices will be able to inform you before leaving.
Mountaineering. A glance at a topographic map of Turkey immediately reveals that it is a country of mountains. Rising from the four cardinal points, they encircle the Anatolian peninsula. And these magnificent mountains and forests are for the most part little exploited and constitute marvelous natural reserves where the wild flora and fauna present an extraordinary diversity. Two of the country's most famous peaks are inactive volcanoes; Mount Erciyes (3,917 m) in Kayseri, in the central Anatolian plain, and Mount Ağrı (Ararat 5,137 m) in the east. Other well-known mountain ranges include Rize-Kaçkar (3,932 m) in the eastern Black Sea region, Niğde-Aladağ (3,756 m) in the central Toros (Taurus) region, and the Cilo and Sat Mountains (4,136 m) near Hakkari in the eastern Toros. The Palandöken mountain (3,271 m) in Erzurum is a popular ski resort.
In short, Turkey is a real treasure trove for mountaineers. Glaciers, volcanoes and curious geological formations such as karsts (which also attract researchers and students from all over the world); this challenging terrain offers excellent opportunities for aficionados.
Winter sports. Finally, the country has several winter sports resorts. These are located in the forested, mid-altitude mountain ranges and are easily accessible by road or domestic flights. These forested and mountainous regions, which offer an average of three meters of snow throughout the winter, provide all the necessary conditions for downhill skiing. The main ski resorts are: Elmadağ, Erciyes, Uludağ, Ilgaz Dağı, Saklıkent, Gümüş, Hane-Zigana, Kartalkaya, Bingöl, Bolkar, Bitlis-Sapgör, Palandöken, Ağrı Bubi and Sarıkamış.
