Yakup Çelebi Hammam
Hammam surviving from a complex commissioned by Yakup Çelebi, brother of Yıldırım Bayezid.
View on map9 places to visit in the Keles district of Bursa: Keles Plateaus, Keles Thermal Baths and Keles Market Mosque. Plan your trip to Keles with local food, practical tips and transport information.
The district was founded in the valley of the Keles Stream. Forests cover 57% of Keles’s land, making it the district with the richest forest cover in Bursa. In 1953 it separated from its status as a subdistrict of Orhaneli and became a district in its own right.
Remains from the Bithynian and Eastern Roman periods are found in the Keles area, and it was once one of the important settlements. With an average annual rainfall of 782.9 mm, Keles is the district of Bursa that receives the most rain.
Most of the district’s people make their living from agriculture and livestock, producing strawberries, cherries, sour cherries, tobacco, chickpeas and aniseed. In the district there is a lignite coal mine, but in recent years it has started to run at a heavy loss.
Migrant Yörük tribes settled in the Keles area in the 12th century. Between 1868 and 1882 Keles was made a subdistrict of the Bursa central county, and in 1953 it became a district. Keles militias played a major part in the War of Independence.
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Hammam surviving from a complex commissioned by Yakup Çelebi, brother of Yıldırım Bayezid.
View on mapMosque built in the Ottoman period, one of the oldest buildings in the district centre. Its stone masonry and wooden interior continue the traditional Ottoman provincial mosque style.
View on mapMosque in Kemaliye village, which is understood to have been built in 1874–1875.
View on mapA historic area whose plateaus around Keles were used as summer pastures with the expansion of the Ottoman principality.
View on mapThermal springs located close to the district centre, with mineral-rich water at 50°C. They are believed to be good for rheumatism, joint pain and skin complaints.
View on mapWaterfall near Akçapınar village to the south-west of Keles. Its water falls from rocks in the forest, making it an attractive spot for nature photographers.
View on mapCave on the land of Gelemiç village, known for its stalactites and stalagmites.
View on mapA rocky, steep valley through which the Kocasu River flows within the borders of Keles.
View on mapNatural hot springs near the Haydar and Belenören neighbourhoods.
View on mapWhile you are in Keles, you can also see the highlights of Bursa province. These places are in other districts; Keles is about 70 km from the provincial centre.
Keles Sorgun Peyniri was registered as a protected geographical indication on 24 June 2026 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1873). Product group: cheeses. Registered by: Bursa Metropolitan Municipality.
Prepared by cooking cracked wheat and meat for a long time and then pounding them together. In Keles, keşkek is the traditional dish of wedding and festival tables.
A local flour soup prepared with flour toasted in butter and meat broth. It is a nourishing soup often eaten in the winter months.
Thick bread baked on a griddle, the staple of village breakfasts. Served with fresh butter, kaymak and honey.
Keles güveci is made with goat or kid meat. The baker adjusts the heat of the oven that is lit in the morning so the casserole can slow-cook. There is a strong long-standing link between Keles güveci and the Keles market, held in the district centre on Fridays.
Historically, Keles has been a settlement area for Yörük communities. Nomadic livestock farming, felt-making and regional costume carry traces of this culture.
In Keles villages, communal work by imece, shared threshing and wedding traditions are still kept alive. These traditions are strong examples of social solidarity.
Keles's economy is based on mining, forestry and agriculture. Lignite coal mining is the most important economic activity in the district. Forestry and livestock farming are traditional livelihoods. Wheat, barley and pulses are grown in agriculture.
Keles is 70 km from Bursa city centre. Transport is by road, and regular minibus services run from Bursa. The nearest airport is Bursa Yenişehir Airport (about 100 km).
The 9 leading sights in Keles are: Keles Plateaus, Keles Thermal Baths, Keles Market Mosque, Akçapınar Waterfall, Gavurini Cave, Kayalıdere Canyon, Kemaliye Mosque, Yakup Çelebi Hammam and Haydar and Belenören hot springs.
Keles Sorgun Peyniri, Keşkek, Çorba Aşı and Bazlama are the outstanding flavours on Keles's tables.
Keles is known for Keles Kirazı and Yörük Way of Life. A product registered with TÜRKPATENT as a designation of origin.
Keles is 70 km from Bursa city centre. Transport is by road, and regular minibus services run from Bursa. The nearest airport is Bursa Yenişehir Airport (about 100 km).
Suggested length of visit: 1 day. Best time to visit: spring and summer.