The History of Bursa
If you’re on the look out for one of Turkey’s oldest cities, look no further than Bursa!
Dating back to around 200 BC, at the very least, the history of Bursa is a rich and fascinating one, which leads it to its old versus new vibe today. These days, Bursa is one of the country’s riches and most prosperous cities, and is home to some big named international brands, including Renault and Fiat factories, amongst many others. A big university city, Bursa is also home to Turkey’s premier ski resort, Uludag, which is situated around 12km away from the main city centre. During the winter months, Bursa is a hot spot for nature tourism, but even away from the cold months, the city is booming with history lovers and youngsters seeking out their new education.
Bursa was, according to current legend, established by the King of Bithynia, Prusias, before falling under the rule of the Roman Empire, as most cities across the region did at that time. The thermal baths and hot springs of Cekirge brought many visitors to Bursa at that time, but as the Byzantine Empire later collapsed, the city was highlighted as a major prize.
The fact that Bursa has close proximity in location to Istanbul, then Constantinople, it was considered to be a jewel-like city to own. At this time, Bursa was called Prusa, and the Seljuks seized the city, ruling for just over 20 years. After this, the First Crusade came to be, and the city changed hands several times over the next century.
Of course, as with most of Turkey, and indeed this entire region within Europe and the Middle East, the Ottoman Empire really changed Bursa into what we know much of it to be today. Ertugrul Gazi, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, founded a state close to the city’s walls. The city was seized in 1326 by Osman Gazi’s forces, son of Ertugrul, and became under Osman’s rule. From there, the city became the capital of the Ottoman Empire, until the title moved to Edirne, in 1402. Even after that time, Bursa was still considered an important prize, and the tombs of both Osman and Orhan Gazi are buried there.
Modern Day Bursa
After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, and the beginning of the Turkish Republic, many changes were made. Of course, Constantinople was renamed Istanbul, the capital was moved to Ankara, and modern day life began to shape and thrive. As the 1970s arrived, big named international businesses set up factories in Bursa, including e two big car names we mentioned earlier. This brought many jobs to the people of the city, and a huge international recognition for Bursa itself.
The city is now known as one of Turkey’s biggest university cities, as well as being a very green, environmentally friendly location. Its close proximity to Uludag also brings a huge number of visitors to the city every single year, and many of them also enjoy exploring the many historic monuments and buildings which stand proud as a window to the past.
The fact that Bursa is so close to Istanbul, at around two hours by road, also means that visitors enjoy day trips out to Bursa, or perhaps weekend breaks. Many locals also enjoy weekends out to this region as part of the natural landscape, with walking, mountain biking and even camping top activities to enjoy during the summer months.
Bursa certainly isn’t just about a ski resort, and it shouldn’t have to play second fiddle to its bigger neighbour. In terms of history, Bursa packs a punch.
