Discover Kırşehir: Astronomy, History and Regional Cuisine

Kırşehir offers fascinating insights into Seljuk science, craft traditions and regional cuisine. The city’s distinctive features include the Cacabey Astronomy Medrese, several historic buildings, the collections of the Kırşehir Museum and the province’s geothermal character. You can plan your trip around whether you are mainly interested in history, culture or local dishes.

City centre or orientation around the bus station

Several of the places mentioned are in the city centre: the Ahi Evran Complex in the Ahi Evran neighbourhood, the Melikgazi Kümbet and the Neşet Ertaş Gönül Sultanları Cultural House. Terme Thermal Spa is also in the centre. If these places are important to your trip, you can consider the city centre as a possible search area when looking for a holiday rental. The bus station is about 2 km from the city centre and is served by city buses, minibuses and private taxis. This approximate distance helps you get your bearings between the two locations.

The history of science and craft traditions

The Cacabey Astronomy Medrese was built in 1272. It was commissioned by the governor at the time, Nureddin Cibril bin Cacabey; construction took place during the reign of the Seljuk sultan Kılıç Arslan oğlu II. Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev. The medrese was used to teach mathematics, natural sciences and astronomy. Its small interior columns symbolise the planets of the solar system. Other features described include an observation shaft, a lantern and an observation tower. The medrese is among the first and possibly the most significant centres for teaching astronomy. It therefore connects a specific building with a history of scientific learning.

Another historical highlight is the Ahi Evran Complex, which includes the tomb of Ahi Evran-ı Veli. During the Ottoman Empire, the complex was a spiritual centre for Turkish tanners and craftspeople. The Melikgazi Kümbet in the city centre was built between 1240 and 1250: the wife built it for Melik Muzaffereddin Behram Şah of the Mengücek dynasty. At the Aşık Paşa Mausoleum, it is the location that stands out: it lies on a hill beside the Ankara–Kayseri road, in the large cemetery in the Aşık Paşa neighbourhood.

Museum and cultural house

The Kırşehir Museum’s collections include coins, ethnographic objects and archaeological finds, with a total of 5,453 objects. The exhibition spans from the Early Bronze Age to the present and is spread across two floors; the museum also has two storage rooms. For culturally curious travellers, it offers a broad historical perspective across a range of collections. The museum opened to visitors in 1997.

The Neşet Ertaş Gönül Sultanları Cultural House was created by restoring a building that was formerly used as the governor’s residence. It commemorates the late musician Neşet Ertaş and is located on Atatürk Caddesi in the centre. The house presents poets and revered figures chronologically, from Dede Korkut to the present day. The focus is therefore both on the building’s former use and on its chronological presentation of cultural figures.

Geothermal energy and regional dishes

Terme Thermal Spa is in the city centre of Kırşehir and is one of the province’s most significant geothermal areas. The Terme geothermal field is used for thermal tourism, greenhouse cultivation and municipal heating. These varied uses make geothermal energy another topic to consider when exploring Kırşehir.

The local cuisine also offers two distinctive dishes to discover. Çullama is made with boiled meat, flour, meat broth and salt. The meat and flour mixture is cooked and then topped with pepper fried in butter. Boranı combines sautéed diced meat with sliced quince. If your family has different interests, you can choose culture, architectural history and regional dishes as separate focuses when planning your trip.

Find more local pages for Kaman, Demirli and Kartalkaya.

For the broader travel overview: Kırşehir.