4 places to visit in the Evciler district of Afyonkarahisar: Işıklı Dam, Kocahöyük and Küçükhöyük Mounds and Evciler Plain. Plan your trip to Evciler with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Evciler is a district of Afyonkarahisar province. It gained district status in 1991.

History

Pieces found on the surrounding mounds suggest that the district has a history going back to the Lydians. There are two mounds in the district, Kocahöyük and Küçükhöyük.

History and Culture

Finds from the surrounding mounds show that the district’s history goes back to the Lydians. It is said that after the fall of the Kingdom of Mira Kuvalya, the district joined the Kingdom of the Seha River. In 1955, Evciler was deemed a suitable place for a municipality in Evciler village, which was then attached to the Dazkırı bucak. In 1990, Evciler separated from the central bucak of Dazkırı district and became a district. A considerable number of worker families from the district and its dependent settlements work in European countries.

Highlights

Evciler and its first settlements are thought to date back to the Neolithic (Polished Stone Age). The village’s name comes from the saying ‘Evcile geliyor, Evcile gidiyor’ (‘He is coming to Evcile, he is going to Evcile’), said of the Evci tribe.

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Places to Visit in Evciler

  • 1 Ancient City
  • 3 Nature
Nature

Işıklı Dam

A dam in the north-east of the district.

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Ancient City

Kocahöyük and Küçükhöyük Mounds

Historic mounds located in the district.

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Nature

Evciler Plain

The flat plain on which the district is built; it rises gently towards the north.

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Nature

Bozdağ Hills

Hills surrounding the northern edge of the Evciler plain.

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Places to Visit Around Afyonkarahisar Province

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While you are in Evciler, you can also see the highlights of Afyonkarahisar province. These places are in other districts; Evciler is about 132 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 Evciler

Suggested time
A few hours
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn
Places to visit
4 places

What to Eat in Evciler

Food guide →
  • Bükme (folded dough pastry)

    A beloved pastry of Afyonkarahisar cuisine.

  • Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge)

    The traditional dish of wedding feasts.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Evciler

  • Plain villages

    The villages spread across the plain maintain the traditional rural life of Inner Western Anatolia.

Local Products

  • Cereals and sugar beet — Cereals and industrial crops are grown on the Evciler Plain.

Economy

The economy is based on agriculture and livestock farming.

How to Get to Evciler

Evciler is 132 km from Afyonkarahisar city centre. The district lies on the Afyonkarahisar–Denizli road, and rail access is also possible. It is 26 km from Dinar and 40 km from Çivril.

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Evciler: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Evciler?

The highlights of Evciler are 4 sites: Işıklı Dam, Kocahöyük and Küçükhöyük Mounds, Evciler Plain and Bozdağ Hills.

What to eat in Evciler?

Bükme and Keşkek are the standout flavours at Evciler tables.

What is Evciler famous for?

Evciler is known for cereals and sugar beet and its plain villages. Cereals and industrial crops are grown on the Evciler Plain.

How do I get to Evciler?

Evciler is 132 km from Afyonkarahisar city centre. The district lies on the Afyonkarahisar–Denizli road, and rail access is also possible. It is 26 km from Dinar and 40 km from Çivril.

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

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

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Other Districts of Afyonkarahisar

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