A Day Full of History and Nature in Çorlu, Tekirdağ

If you're considering a day trip to Tekirdağ, this route around Çorlu will allow you to trace historical footsteps and be in touch with nature. You'll have a full day with our five stops.

Çorlu Castle

We start the day with the ruins of Çorlu Castle. This castle is a defensive structure dating back to the Byzantine period, approximately the 6th century. It is located on a dominant hill in the Hıdırağa neighborhood of Çorlu. Although a large part of it has been destroyed, the two standing tower foundations and brick arch traces whisper the past to us. You can visit these ruins, built with rubble stone and Khorasan mortar, by allocating about 1.5 hours.

Fatih Mosque (Çorlu)

After Çorlu Castle, we move on to the nearby Fatih Mosque. This is the oldest mosque in Çorlu that has survived to the present day, built in 1453 by Daye Hatun, the wet nurse of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. It is an interesting detail that it coincides with the year of the conquest of Istanbul. This rectangular-plan structure, built with rubble stone material, is one of the important examples of Ottoman architecture in the region. Half an hour is enough to feel the historical texture of the mosque.

Çorlu Yılmaz Büyükerşen Wax Sculptures Museum

Our next stop is the Çorlu Yılmaz Büyükerşen Wax Sculptures Museum. This historical building, built as a municipality building in 1903, was converted into a museum in 2020. You can see more than 110 wax sculptures signed by Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Büyükerşen here. There is a wide collection ranging from presidents to artists, scientists to international celebrities. Moving figures are also a bonus. It is advisable to allocate about 1.5 hours for the museum, and don't forget that the entrance fee is 55 TL.

Gölbaşı Youth Park

After the museum, let's escape to nature for a bit. Gölbaşı Youth Park, located in the Hürriyet area of Çorlu, is a massive 125,448 square meter area built around a 63,792 square meter natural pond. There are wooden piers, walking paths, barbecue areas, and picnic gazebos. Rabbits and ducks roaming freely in the park are also a bonus. You can comfortably spend about 1.5 hours here, have a picnic, or go for a walk.

Çorlu Mini Zoo

We can complete the day with the Çorlu Mini Zoo. This municipal park, located in Havuzlar Neighborhood, is a pleasant stop for families with children. You can see animals such as peacocks, chickens, roosters, rabbits, donkeys, horses, and turtles up close here. Since admission is free, you can visit with peace of mind. Plan a visit of about 1.5 hours, especially for children to spend time with animals.

This route in Çorlu district of Tekirdağ will allow you to both touch history and enjoy the natural beauties. For lunch, you can choose restaurants in Çorlu center or picnic areas in Gölbaşı Youth Park. If you have a private car for transportation, you will be comfortable, otherwise, you can consider local public transport options.