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9 places to visit in the Göynücek district of Amasya: Göynücek Castle, Göynücek Plateaus and Göynücek Grand Mosque. Plan your trip to Göynücek with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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The district covers 591 km² and has an elevation of 520 metres. Its population is 10,823.

Geographical Location

It has a location unique to provinces in Türkiye, lying among 4 provinces.

History and Culture

Göynücek was established as a kaza (district) by a law that came into force in 1954. In Ottoman records Göynücek appears as attached to the Amasya sanjak. Göynücek was founded as a settlement at its present site around 1650. The lost Hittite city of Hakmiş is thought to have been within the boundaries of Göynücek. The earliest settlements in the district date from the Chalcolithic period. The region came under Roman rule after the Battle of Zela.

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Places to Visit in Göynücek

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

Historic Sites 1

Historic

Göynücek Castle

Built in the Seljuk period on a hill near the district centre, the castle offers views over the Göynücek plain and the surrounding mountains from its ruins.

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Ancient Cities 4

Ancient City

Ayvalıpınar Mound

Presented as the finest example of Chalcolithic-period settlements in Göynücek.

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Ancient City

Gediksaray Mound

A mound cited as an example of Bronze Age settlements.

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Ancient City

Ilısu Kocaman Tepe Mound

Presented as the finest example of settlements from the period, between 750 and 585 BC, when the Phrygians, Cimmerians, Scythians and Medo-Persians held sway in the region.

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Ancient City

Gökçeli Castle

Presented as the finest example of settlements from the period of Roman rule.

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Religious Buildings 1

Religious

Göynücek Grand Mosque

Built in the Ottoman period, this mosque is the most important religious building in Göynücek. It has local architectural features in its stonework and wooden decoration.

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Natural Wonders 3

Nature

Göynücek Plateaus

The plateaus in the south of the district, with their cool summer air and green meadows, are ideal for hiking and camping.

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Nature

Çakallar Canyon

This canyon near Göynücek, with its rocky structure and natural vegetation, is a suitable area for hiking and photography.

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Nature

Karadağ

A mountain to the west of the district; Tekke Mountain lies to its south and east.

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Places to Visit Around Amasya Province

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

  • Royal Rock Tombs — Monumental Hellenistic-period tombs carved into the limestone rocks on the southern foot of Mount Harşena.
  • Amasya Castle (Harşena) — The castle stands on the steep Mount Harşena above the Yeşilırmak; it changed hands many times in the Persian, Pontic, Roman and Byzantine periods, and the Seljuks repaired it extensively in 1075. The section known as 'Cilanbolu' contains a passage carved into the rock, and the summit offers a bird's-eye view of the city.
  • Yalıboyu Houses — Traditional Amasya houses lined along the bank of the Yeşilırmak, built in the 19th and 20th centuries using the hımış and bağdadi techniques.
  • Hazeranlar Mansion — Built in 1865 and restored in 1979, the mansion can be visited as an ethnography museum, furnished with clothing, carpets, kitchen utensils and jewellery that reflect life in 19th-century Amasya.
  • Sultan Bayezid II Complex — Built by Bayezid II in 1486, this is the largest complex in the city, made up of an inverted-T-plan mosque with two domes, a madrasa, an imaret (soup kitchen), a şadırvan (ablution fountain) and a library.
  • Darüşşifa (Sabuncuoğlu Museum of the History of Medicine and Surgery) — According to its inscription, the darüşşifa (hospital) was built in 1308 under the Ilkhanid ruler Öljeitü and his wife İlduz Hatun, and is known as the first hospital in Anatolia to treat patients with music.

Practical Information for Visiting Göynücek

Suggested time
Half a day
Best time to visit
Spring and summer
Places to visit
9 places

What to Eat in Göynücek

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  • Keşkek (wheat and meat dish)

    Prepared by simmering and pounding cracked wheat and meat for a long time, keşkek is the traditional dish of wedding and festival tables in Göynücek.

  • Toyga Çorbası (toyga soup)

    Made with yoghurt, flour and chickpeas, toyga soup is one of the traditional flavours of Göynücek cuisine.

  • Tandır Ekmeği (tandoor bread)

    Baked in a clay tandoor, this traditional bread is essential at village tables in Göynücek.

  • Amasya Çöreği (Amasya walnut-cinnamon pastry)

    Made with walnuts and cinnamon, Amasya çöreği is also enjoyed in Göynücek. This dish, essential on special days and festivals, represents the local taste.

  • Göynücek bamyası (Göynücek okra)

    The best-known of the district's agricultural products; it is said to be grown in the fertile Çekerek plain.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Göynücek

  • Rural Way of Life

    A traditional rural way of life based on farming and livestock is maintained in Göynücek.

  • Yayla Tradition

    The tradition of moving up to the plateaus in the summer months is still maintained in the mountain villages of Göynücek.

  • Handicrafts

    Kilim weaving and woodworking are maintained in Göynücek as traditional handicrafts.

Local Products

  • Apples — Famous apples from the Amasya region are grown in Göynücek.
  • Bal (honey) — Wildflower honey gathered in the mountainous parts of Göynücek is a valued natural product of the area.
  • Süt Ürünleri (dairy products) — Cheese, yoghurt and butter are produced by traditional methods in Göynücek, where livestock farming is important.

Economy

The economy of Göynücek is based on farming and livestock. Apples, wheat and sugar beet are grown. Small and large livestock farming is an important source of income in rural areas. Beekeeping is also a developing sector.

How to Get to Göynücek

Göynücek is 35 km from Amasya city centre and is reached by road. There are regular minibus services from Amasya. The nearest airport is Merzifon Airport (70 km).

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Göynücek: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Göynücek?

There are 9 highlights in Göynücek: Göynücek Castle, Göynücek Plateaus, Göynücek Grand Mosque, Çakallar Canyon, Ayvalıpınar Mound, Gediksaray Mound, Ilısu Kocaman Tepe Mound, Gökçeli Castle and Karadağ.

What is there to eat in Göynücek?

Keşkek, Toyga Çorbası, Tandır Ekmeği and Amasya Çöreği are the standout flavours at tables in Göynücek.

What is Göynücek famous for?

Göynücek is known for its apples and its rural way of life. Famous apples from the Amasya region are grown in Göynücek.

How do I get to Göynücek?

Göynücek is 35 km from Amasya city centre and is reached by road. There are regular minibus services from Amasya. The nearest airport is Merzifon Airport (70 km).

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

Suggested visit length: half a day. Best time to visit: spring and summer.

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