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9 places to visit in the Şuhut district of Afyonkarahisar: Şuhut Martyrs' Cemetery, Asmakaya Castle and Bininler Rock Tombs. Plan your trip to Şuhut with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Şuhut is a district of Afyonkarahisar province, located in the far east of the Central Aegean Region; it covers 1,044 km² and sits at an elevation of 1,143 m. It is 29 km from the provincial centre. It became a district in 1946.

Ancient Period

The history of the district is thought to go back to the Neolithic age. In the Hittite period, Şuhut is known to have been the capital of Kuvalya, a principality subject to the Mira Kingdom, which ruled over Afyonkarahisar and Kütahya provinces. The ancient city of Synnada was founded by Akomas in 1180 BC. In the Roman period, Synnada was a capital and a centre of civilisation.

Ottoman and Republican Periods

It is said that the name of the town is linked to Evliya Çelebi’s account that it had “thousands of martyrs on all four sides”. During the Turkish War of Independence, Şuhut briefly hosted Atatürk and the Commander-in-Chief’s headquarters.

Geography

Şuhut lies in the far east of the Central Aegean Region and to the south of Afyonkarahisar. The district has an average elevation of 1,144 metres above sea level. It sits on a threshold that connects western Anatolia with the Central Anatolia Region, and is one of the highest settlements in Afyonkarahisar.

Economy

The mainstay of the district’s economy is farming and livestock; wheat, barley, chickpeas, potatoes, sugar beet, sunflowers and poppies are generally grown.

History and Culture

During the War of Independence, Şuhut briefly hosted Atatürk and the Commander-in-Chief’s headquarters. Every year a Great Victory march is held from Şuhut to Kocatepe. Şuhut became a district in 1946. Those who fell in the war were first buried near the blacksmiths’ bazaar and were later moved to their present site. The history of Şuhut shows that it was a capital and a centre of civilisation in the Roman period.

Highlights

The house where Atatürk stayed was restored and opened to visitors in 2004. Şuhut lies in the far east of the Central Aegean, south of Afyon, on a threshold.

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Places to Visit in Şuhut

  • 4 Historic
  • 3 Ancient City
  • 1 Religious
  • 1 Nature

Historic Sites 4

Historic

Hacı Veli Mansion (Great Offensive Headquarters)

The mansion where Mustafa Kemal Paşa made the final preparations for the Great Offensive.

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Historic

Şuhut War of Independence Martyrs' Cemetery

A martyrs' cemetery in the centre of Şuhut district, built for those who died in the War of Independence.

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Historic

Dört Göz Bridge

A four-arched bridge over the Kali Çay in Şuhut.

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Historic

Bininler Rock Houses

A rock settlement in hilly terrain near the village of Senir.

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Ancient Cities 3

Ancient City

Asmakaya Castle

The remains of an ancient castle within the district.

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Ancient City

Bininler Rock Tombs

A Byzantine rock settlement made up of interconnected rooms, 5 km from the village of Senir.

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Ancient City

Synnada Ancient City

An ancient city in the centre of Şuhut district that was the Phrygian capital and continued into the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods.

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Religious Buildings 1

Şuhut Martyrs' Cemetery - Şuhut Photo: Volker Höhfeld (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source
Religious

Şuhut Martyrs' Cemetery

A cemetery where Ottoman soldiers are buried; a pyramid-shaped monument was built in 1971.

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Natural Wonders 1

Nature

Kuzu İni Cave

A cave near the town of Balçıkhisar, part of Şuhut.

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Places to Visit Around Afyonkarahisar Province

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While you are in Şuhut, you can also see the highlights of Afyonkarahisar province. These places are in other districts.

  • 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 Şuhut

Suggested time
1 day
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn
Places to visit
9 places

What to Eat in Şuhut

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  • Şuhut Keşkeği (wheat and meat dish)

    Şuhut is especially famous for keşkek. The dish is made by boiling good-quality veal and hulled wheat for hours and pounding them with a wooden pestle, and is a symbol of the district's gastronomic identity.

  • Tandır Kebabı (clay-oven lamb)

    Tandır kebabı, made by slow-cooking lamb in a clay tandoor oven for hours, is the most popular meat dish in Şuhut. Cooking the meat in its own juices gives it a soft, flavourful texture.

  • Haşhaşlı Çörek (poppy seed bun)

    Haşhaşlı çörek, a traditional delicacy of the Afyonkarahisar region, is also carefully prepared in Şuhut's bakeries. It is eaten at breakfast or at tea time.

  • Bamya Çorbası (okra soup)

    This soup, made by boiling dried okra in meat stock, is one of the traditional winter dishes of Şuhut.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Şuhut

  • War of Independence Heritage

    Because it lies in the region where the Great Offensive was planned and launched, Şuhut holds a special place in Turkish independence history. The house Atatürk used as his headquarters is a living witness to this historic period.

  • Ancient Synnada Heritage

    Şuhut was built over the ancient city of Synnada and bears traces of the Hittite, Roman and Byzantine periods. It is one of the rare places that has been continuously settled since the Neolithic period.

  • Small Livestock Farming Tradition

    Small livestock farming has been a tradition in Şuhut's rural areas for centuries. Sheep and goat rearing forms one of the main livelihoods of the local people.

Local Products

  • Şuhut Keşkeği (wheat and meat dish) — Şuhut Keşkeği was registered as a protected geographical indication on 11 December 2018 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 399). Product group: dishes and soups. Registered by: Şuhut Municipality.
  • Şuhut Patatesi — Şuhut Patatesi was registered as a protected designation of origin on 5 April 2022 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1060). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Şuhut Municipality.

Economy

The economy of Şuhut is based on farming and livestock. Wheat, barley and sugar beet are grown on the wide plain. Cattle farming and meat production are among the district's most important economic activities. Poultry farming is also developing. The migration of young people to large cities is a factor that negatively affects the district's economy.

How to Get to Şuhut

Şuhut is 29 km from Afyonkarahisar city centre and is reached by road. There are regular minibus services from Afyonkarahisar. The nearest airport is Afyon-Çobanlar Airport. The district is close to the Afyon-Konya road.

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Şuhut: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Şuhut?

The 9 highlights of Şuhut are: Şuhut Martyrs' Cemetery, Asmakaya Castle, Bininler Rock Tombs, Synnada Ancient City, Hacı Veli Mansion (Great Offensive Headquarters), Şuhut War of Independence Martyrs' Cemetery, Dört Göz Bridge, Bininler Rock Houses and Kuzu İni Cave.

What is there to eat in Şuhut?

Şuhut Keşkeği, Tandır Kebabı, Haşhaşlı Çörek and Bamya Çorbası are the flavours that stand out at Şuhut's tables.

What is Şuhut famous for?

Şuhut is known for Şuhut Keşkeği and its War of Independence heritage. It is a product registered with TÜRKPATENT as a protected geographical indication.

How do I get to Şuhut?

Şuhut is 29 km from Afyonkarahisar city centre and is reached by road. There are regular minibus services from Afyonkarahisar. The nearest airport is Afyon-Çobanlar Airport. The district is close to the Afyon-Konya road.

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

Suggested visit length: 1 day. Best time to visit: spring and autumn.

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