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Beypazarı, ancient Lagania, is a town and district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, approximately 100 km west of the city of Ankara. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 51,841 of which 34,441 live in the town of Beypazarı. The district covers an area of 1,814 km² (700 sq mi), and the average elevation in the center is 675 m (2,215 ft). The district contains three other small towns (Karaşar, Uruş, Kırbaşı) and 64 villages. It used to be an important city in Asia Minor in ancient times.
The name Beypazarı means The Bey's market in Turkish, as in the Ottoman period this was an important military base and the cavalry stationed here were an important element of the local economy.
Beypazarı today is a small town in a rural district famous for its carrots, (producing nearly 60% of Turkey's carrots), silverwork (Telkari), and a high quality natural mineral water. The crystal mineral trona, a kind of natural soda used in glass-making is extracted in Beypazarı.

With its rich history, architectural heritage and attractive rocky countryside Beypazarı is becoming increasingly attractive to visitors, especially day-trippers from Ankara. The cobbled streets of white Ottoman period buildings are particularly attractive; many of the old houses have been restored as hotels and restaurants (and are also popular with Turkish film directors looking for authentic locations. Every June the town holds its popular Traditional Historical Houses, Handicrafts, Carrot and stew Festival. The visitors of course are bringing valuable income to the town, shopping for silverware and providing good custom for the food markets and restaurants
For many visitors a major attraction is the cuisine, which includes typical Turkish dishes such as the yoghurt drink ayran, tarhana, stuffed vine leaves, home-made sausage mumbar, and a stew cooked in a stone-oven güveç. Sweets include the sweet cream pudding called höşmerim and pastries including a dry buttery biscuit called Beypazarı kurusu, and a renowned 80-layer baklava. They are also very inventive with their carrots, drinking carrot juice and producing carrot-flavoured Turkish Delight and carrot ice-cream. Beypazarı is surrounded by good farmland and the fresh ingredients are a large part of why Beypazarı's cooling is so popular with visitors. One of the best-known eateries is the restored Ottoman house, the Taş Mektep restaurant. A popular gift to take back home is the sticky sausage-shaped fruit and walnut sweet sucuk.

Photo Information
  • Copyright: Gurkan Akcakir (izmirli) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2866 W: 0 N: 400] (3269)
  • Genre: Pessoas
  • Medium: Cor
  • Date Taken: 2008-02-10
  • Categories: Comida
  • Exposição: f/3.2
  • More Photo Info: view
  • Versão da Foto: Versão Original
  • Date Submitted: 2008-08-06 5:08
Viewed: 791
Points: 44
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Additional Photos by Gurkan Akcakir (izmirli) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2866 W: 0 N: 400] (3269)
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