İskilip (District)

İskilip is a very old and beautiful district belonging to Çorum, surrounded by high mountains. Have you ever imagined a town where all its streets, historic houses, and natural landscape resemble a vast open-air museum? Researchers have named this place “Museum Town” due to its historical structures, natural environment, and unique character. Let us explore this exciting town together!

Looking at the map, İskilip lies precisely at the point where the Central Anatolia Region meets the Black Sea Region, serving as a transition zone. As a result, it combines the characteristics of both regions: the hot and dry continental summers of Central Anatolia and the mild climate of the Black Sea. The Kızılırmak River, one of our country’s most famous rivers, flows from the south. The surrounding area is covered with lush green high mountains and plateaus adorned with pine, fir, linden, and oak trees.

^{Exploring Nature (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)}

The history of İskilip is so ancient that it extends back to around 3000 BCE, to the Hittite period. It is believed that its name derives from the ancient term “Asklepios”, meaning “god of health.” Throughout history, this region has been home to many different civilizations and cultures including the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans.^【1】

Our famous 17th-century traveler Evliya Çelebi also visited İskilip. In his travelogue, he described in great detail how large and well-organized İskilip Castle was, and how the entrance to the town was lined with beautiful houses adorned with gardens and vineyards.

At the very center of the town stands the historic Ottoman castle known as İskilip Kalesi, built atop a massive natural rock formation 100 meters high. At the base of this steep cliff lie mysterious rock tombs dating back to the Roman era. Columns at the entrances of these tombs feature carved reliefs of winged lions holding swords. Additionally, in the area known as Yivlik Kayası, geometric patterns and grooves believed to originate from very ancient times can be observed. Walking through streets where old mansions have been converted into artisan workshops is a delightful experience.^【2】

^{İskilip Kalesi (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)}

For centuries, the people of İskilip have been engaged in crafts and arts requiring manual skill. Wooden spoons, wooden toys, baskets, and handcrafted shoes made by local artisans are particularly famous. The town also offers unique dishes that delight the palate. Among them are only a few of the locally registered (geographically indicated) specialties: İskilip Dolması, İskilip Turşusu, Ramazan Keşkeği, and İskilip Çileği.