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3 places to visit in the Çobanlar district of Afyonkarahisar: Anabura Ancient City, Anabura Ancient City (Kocaöz) and Akarçay Valley. Plan your trip to Çobanlar with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Çobanlar is a district of Afyonkarahisar province.

History and Archaeology

The history of the area goes back to the Old Bronze Age, and the mounds along the Akarçay River reflect this historical depth. The ancient city of Anabura was founded at today’s Kocaöz Village; the Artemis statue in the Afyon Archaeology Museum was excavated here. Çobanlar became a nahiye (sub-district) in 1926, a municipality in 1955 and a district in 1990.

Economy

The district economy is based on agriculture and livestock farming; sugar beet cultivation takes the lead in farming.

History and Culture

The history of the area goes back to the Old Bronze Age, as shown by the mounds beside the Akarçay. The Artemis statue in the Afyon Archaeology Museum was excavated from this site. Çobanlar became a district by Council of Ministers decision dated 20 May 1990. It became a nahiye in 1926 and a municipality in 1955.

Highlights

The Artemis statue in the Afyon Archaeology Museum was excavated at Çobanlar. The name Çobanlar appears in tax records from the time of Suleiman the Magnificent as Çobanlar-ı kebir. Because of environmental damage, a resettlement order to Raqqa was issued in 1720, but obedience was secured in 1728.

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Places to Visit in Çobanlar

  • 2 Ancient City
  • 1 Nature
Ancient City

Anabura Ancient City

The ruins of the ancient city, located in today's Kocaöz Village, are under investigation; among the museum finds is a statue of Artemis.

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Ancient City

Anabura Ancient City (Kocaöz)

The ruins of ancient Anabura in Kocaöz (Feleli) village bear traces of the Roman-period settlement in the area. The Artemis statue found here is in the Afyon Archaeology Museum.

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Nature

Akarçay Valley

The Akarçay, flowing from the Afyon Plain to Lake Eber, passes through the district and forms a quiet valley among the mounds and gardens.

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Places to Visit Around Afyonkarahisar Province

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While you are in Çobanlar, you can also see the highlights of Afyonkarahisar province. These places are in other districts; Çobanlar is about 22 km from the provincial centre.

  • Afyonkarahisar Castle — The castle stands on a 226-metre rock that was once a volcano.
  • Afyonkarahisar Grand Mosque — Built between 1272 and 1277 and popularly known as the Kırk Direkli ("Forty Columns") Mosque, this timber-columned mosque is one of the important examples of Seljuk and Beylik-period timber-columned mosque architecture.
  • Gedik Ahmed Paşa Complex (İmaret Mosque) — A complex built around 1470–1472 for Gedik Ahmed Paşa, vizier in the time of Mehmed the Conqueror, and attributed to the architect Ayaz Ağa.
  • Sultan Dîvânî Mevlevihane Museum — The Mevlevi lodge founded by Ulu Ârif Çelebi in 1316 was rebuilt in 1908 after a fire in 1902 and opened as a museum in 2008. The tradition of "40 Hatimli Şifalı Aşure" (healing aşure of forty Qur'an recitations) is believed to have begun here.
  • Victory Museum — Built as the town hall in 1913–1914, the building became the headquarters of Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Paşa and his commanders after the city's liberation on 27 August 1922, and the final plans for the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief of 30 August were drawn up here.
  • Afyonkarahisar Museum — Founded in 1933, this archaeology and ethnography museum moved in 2023 to its new building on the Afyonkarahisar–Izmir road.

Practical Information for Visiting Çobanlar

Suggested time
A few hours
Best time to visit
Spring and summer
Places to visit
3 places

What to Eat in Çobanlar

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  • Afyon Sucuğu

    Afyonkarahisar's protected geographical indication sausage is also indispensable at the district's tables.

  • Bükme (folded dough pastry)

    Prepared with minced meat or lentils, bükme is a popular pastry of the region.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Çobanlar

  • Kuvayi Milliye Epic

    In Nâzım Hikmet's epic, Akarçay and Büyükçobanlar village are mentioned.

Local Products

  • Poppy and cereals — Cereals and poppies are grown on the Akarçay plain.

Economy

The economy is based on agriculture and livestock farming; due to its proximity to the city centre, part of the working population commutes to Afyonkarahisar.

How to Get to Çobanlar

Çobanlar is about 22 km from Afyonkarahisar city centre as the crow flies. The district is close to the Afyonkarahisar–Konya railway and road line.

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Çobanlar: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Çobanlar?

The highlights of Çobanlar are 3 sites: Anabura Ancient City, Anabura Ancient City (Kocaöz) and Akarçay Valley.

What to eat in Çobanlar?

Afyon sausage and Bükme are the standout flavours at Çobanlar tables.

What is Çobanlar famous for?

Çobanlar is known for its poppy and cereal growing and the Kuvayi Milliye Epic. Cereals and poppies are grown on the Akarçay plain.

How do I get to Çobanlar?

Çobanlar is about 22 km from Afyonkarahisar city centre as the crow flies. The district is close to the Afyonkarahisar–Konya railway and road line.

How much time should I set aside for a visit to Çobanlar?

Suggested visit duration: a few hours. Best time to visit: spring and summer.

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Other Districts of Afyonkarahisar

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