Doğanbey: Architectural History and Cultural Traces

Doğanbey reveals itself through traces of its architectural and cultural history: a mosque with dated building elements, a protected area of old houses, archaeological evidence and a local type of vessel. The religious landscape in the surrounding area is also part of the picture. If you are looking for a holiday rental for a trip to Doğanbey, these themes offer a concrete point of reference when choosing your destination.

Regional Context

The geographical context moves from the smaller landscape area to the larger one: Doğanbey lies in the northeastern part of the Göller Yöresi, which belongs to the Antalya part of Turkey’s Mediterranean Region.

Architectural History and Houses

The minaret of Doğanbey Büyük Camii was built in 1855 by Hacı Mehmet Ağa. The mosque itself is thought to have been built before 1855. Its roof was originally made of wood and was covered with zinc in 1957. The dates mark different events: the construction of the minaret and the later alteration of the roof.

The area of old houses in Doğanbey was declared an urban conservation area in 2006; these houses reflect traditional architectural features. The traditional Turkish houses built in Doğanbey also reflect Turkish-Islamic architecture.

A report from July 2024 describes a house structure about 100 years old, resting on wooden beams with a street running underneath it; pedestrians could walk through this passage.

Archaeological and Religious Traces

The Höyüktepesi Höyük in the Karacaören-Mevki of Doğanbey Mahallesi is listed in a decision by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism dated 7 September 2018 concerning the registration of cultural assets.

The cemetery in Doğanbey contains architectural fragments from the Roman and Byzantine periods. It also has large stones brought from Mount Erengirit and used as headstones and footstones or to line graves.

East of the centre of Doğanbey is a 2,334-metre-high mountain known as Elenkirt, Erenkilit or Erengürüh. It is considered a sacred mountain in the area. On Anakız Tepesi on Mount Erenkilit are two graves known as a pilgrimage or visitation site.

A Local Water Vessel

Davgana, also called lıklıka, is a long-necked water vessel without a handle or grip. It was made in the Bucak centre of Doğanbey; the former name of this centre was Davgana. The name Davgana therefore refers both to the vessel and to the former name of the centre.

Location and Surroundings in Travel Planning

When choosing a destination, it can be useful to distinguish between the locations: the buildings, the area of houses and the cemetery are in Doğanbey, while the sacred mountain and the graves on Anakız Tepesi are in the surrounding area. This can help you decide whether to focus on the history of the town itself or also include the religious landscape of its surroundings in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Turgut, Konya, Karabağ, Akşehir, Ahırlı, Mevlana Mahallesi, Seydişehir, Gölyazı.

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Konya.