Bolu Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city and central district of Bolu Province, Turkey
About Bolu
Bolu is astride the main land route between Istanbul and Ankara, so it's long been a stopover plus a centre of civilisation in its own right. The route is formed by the valley of the great North Anatolian Fault, still active with major earthquakes every few decades, so the constructions of Hittites, Bithynians and early Romans have been shaken to bits. The town became known as Claudiopolis after the Roman Emperor Claudius, and in 111 AD was the birthplace of Antonius, gay lover of Hadrian. (He died in mysterious circumstances aged 19, so Hadrian had him deified.) After the Romans' successors the Byzantines were defeated in 1071 it was settled by Turkic tribes from the east who simply called it "polis", the town, which morphed into Bolu. It fell to the Ottomans in 1325 and most of the town'
Top Attractions in Bolu
Explore the best things to see and do in Bolu:
- ★Beyazıt Mosque
- ★Bolu Museum
Where to Stay in Bolu
- 🏨Elit Palace
- 🏨Grand Köroğlu Otel
- 🏨Hampton by Hilton
Bolu Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: