Gülnar: Yörük Trade, Anay Pazarı and a Uvala

Gülnar’s local history goes back to a village where Yörük people traded and which was also known as Anay Pazarı. This past gives the town a distinctive historical focus: its former name and trade are part of its cultural identity. Its striking geographical location is another feature. The centre of Gülnar was established on the edge of a uvala. Those interested in the town will encounter both its history and its landscape.

Local history and landscape

The location of the centre on the edge of the uvala is a tangible point of reference for understanding Gülnar as a town. It complements the history of the former village without replacing it: on one hand is the memory of Yörük trade, and on the other, the location of today’s centre. Both aspects offer different starting points for your stay. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Gülnar, you can consider whether the town’s history is your main focus or whether you would also like to plan visits to places nearby. You can base your decision on the topics that genuinely interest you.

Cultural events and regional produce

In March 2025, the Gülnar Kültür Merkezi hosted a performance of the play “Korkma” starring Ahmet Yenilmez. This is a specific past cultural event that offers insight into an event held in the town. If cultural events are important to your travel plans, check which events are announced for your stay and verify their dates in advance.

Regional produce is also associated with Gülnar: locally grown agricultural products were presented at the Gülnar Grape, Almond and Apple Festival. The last edition was held in 2012. The festival is therefore a historical reference point for the local festival tradition, but not a current event you can plan a trip around. Compared with a one-off theatre performance, it tells a different story about the town: the focus here was on agricultural produce as part of a festival. If you are particularly interested in regional culture and tradition during your trip, these different examples each add their own perspective to the picture of Gülnar.

Historical sites nearby

In the nearby settlement of Zeyne (Sütlüce), 26 km along the route from Gülnar, you will find Zeyne Türbesi, also called Şeyh Ali Semerkandi Türbesi. The structure dates back to the beylik period. This makes it another historical destination in the surrounding area, while Gülnar’s own local history and the centre on the edge of the uvala shape the town itself. This distinction can help you organise your travel plans: would you like to focus on Gülnar, or also include a visit to Zeyne?

Another point of interest nearby is a site associated with a story about Ali Semerkandi, where water is said to have emerged from the rocks. The site is still used as a recreation area. The tradition links a distinctive story with the site’s present-day use. If you plan to visit, check current access and available facilities in advance.

Choosing Gülnar as a holiday destination

When looking for a holiday rental in Gülnar, you can shape your travel plans around these different points of interest: the town’s history, its location on the edge of a uvala, a cultural event, or nearby destinations. Consider which of these topics you would like to include in your stay and which places you want to visit as part of your plans.

Discover more destinations: Ayaştürkmenli, Gazipaşa, Kumkuyu Belediyesi, Tekeli Belediyesi, Aydıncık, Atakent Belediyesi, Tarsus, Narlıkuyu.

For the broader travel overview: Mersin.