Yeşilüzümlü: Dastar, Forest and Lycian History

Yeşilüzümlü combines a distinctive textile tradition with woodland landscapes and traces of Lycian history. The village lies 700 metres above sea level. During hot summers, it is considered significantly cooler and fresher than the coastal strip. Pine forests on the slopes of Geyran Dağı offer shelter from the summer heat. The woodland around Yeşilüzümlü is also home to orchid species that are among the region’s endemic plants. Morels also grow in nearby pine forests and attract the interest of botanists. So your trip can take in both the landscape and the village’s cultural heritage.

Dastar: a fabric with its own tradition

Dastar is a traditional handwoven cotton fabric unique to Yeşilüzümlü. It is still made on looms in private homes and passed down from mother to daughter. The fine Yeşilüzümlü Dastarı is woven on handlooms from 100% cotton yarn; distinctive motifs and a unique weaving technique define the fabric. Those interested in how it is made will encounter not just a finished textile, but a craft tradition passed down through generations. The Fethiye Lycian Women's Cooperative also makes Dastar fabric at the Dastarhane in Yeşilüzümlü.

Üzümlü Dastarı, also known as Yeşilüzümlü Dastarı, has been protected as a geographical indication under registration number 599 since 20 November 2020. The associated geographical area is Yeşilüzümlü Mahallesi in the Fethiye district of Muğla Province. The name thus explicitly connects the fabric with this place. For your holiday plans, Dastar offers a tangible way to connect with local culture, alongside the landscape and historic buildings.

Local history and Lycian traces

At the centre of Yeşilüzümlü stands Selçuk Cami, an old building that has survived from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Beside the mosque is a small tomb containing sandukalar. Stonework, old houses and winemaking are also considered cultural heritage from before the population exchange between Greece and Turkey. These different traces give the village a cultural character distinct from its woodland and hiking experiences.

Cadianda, an ancient Lycian city, lies three kilometres from Yeşilüzümlü and is known for its Cyclopean walls. The Yeşilüzümlü-Cadianda archaeological site can also be explored in the surrounding area along the Lycian Way long-distance trail. Yeşilüzümlü itself is part of an alternative route within this trail. When choosing what interests you, you can therefore distinguish between local history, archaeological traces and a hiking route, without combining them into a single outing.

Festival, wine and activities

The Kuzugöbeği Morel Festival has been held every April in Yeşilüzümlü since 2008. The annual Yeşilüzümlü Morel Festival includes a regional wine tasting and a wine competition. The programme of the Yeşilüzümlü Dastar and Kuzugöbeği Festival has also included a bicycle tour and a nature walk to the ancient city of Kadyanda. These activities appeal to different interests: you may be interested in the local textile tradition and the connection with morels, or consider the cycling and hiking activities mentioned as separate aspects of the festival.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel interests

Villas and houses are rented in Yeşilüzümlü for short stays by tourists.

Discover other places

More destinations: Palamutbükü Adası, Datça, Çandır, Akarca, Mergenli, Fethiye, Güvercinlik, Akkaya.

For the main travel overview: Mugla.