8 places to visit in the Hassa district of Hatay: Amanos Mountains, Akbez Castle and Amanos Dağları Nature Park. Plan your trip to Hassa with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Hassa is a district of Hatay province. It covers 520 km², its elevation is 427 m and its population is 57,457. It lies on the eastern slopes of the Amanos Mountains, on the Hatay–Gaziantep provincial border. In terms of location and area, it is the 3rd largest district in Hatay.
Hassa was founded in 1864–1865, after the uprising of the Ulaşlı tribe, who lived in the Amanos Mountains. Occupied by the French during the First World War, the district was evacuated by French forces on 5 January 1922, under the Ankara Agreement of 20 October 1921. In 1939, when Hatay joined the Republic of Türkiye, it became a district of Hatay province.
The elevation of the district centre averages 420 metres above sea level. Hassa lies in the north of Hatay, 80 km from Hatay, at the foot of the Amanos Mountains. It has a 24 km border with Syria.
Agriculture and livestock form the main livelihood of Hassa’s economy. Fresh vegetables and fruit are important in agricultural production. Sheep and goat farming are the main livestock activities.
The area where Hassa stands has been inhabited since around 3000 BC. The region passed to Ottoman rule after the Battle of Mercidabık. Hassa was founded in 1864–1865 when İbrahim Derviş Paşa suppressed the uprising and stayed in the region. Among the local people, 15 November is known as the date celebrated as Liberation Day. Hassa became a district in 1939, when Hatay joined Türkiye; before that it was a subdistrict (bucak) attached to the İslahiye district of Gaziantep.
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Akbez Castle, built in the 12th century during the Crusades, stands at a strategic point on the eastern foothills of the Amanos Mountains. The castle was an important part of the border defence line of the Principality of Antioch, and its walls partly survive today.
View on mapA neighbourhood founded in the Ottoman period by Governor Derviş Paşa, one of the oldest settlement areas of the district. Derviş Paşa is credited with bringing the first olive trees to the region in the late 19th century and starting Hassa's olive-growing tradition.
View on mapThe arrow-shaped tamga marks (OK damgaları) that are common on the gravestones are recorded in the 16th-century source Hünername as the tamga of the Bayat tribe. It is suggested that the first phase of use of the cemetery may date back to the arrival of the Turks in Anatolia.
View on mapThe mountain range where Hassa district lies and which forms the Hatay–Gaziantep provincial border.
View on mapThe Nur (Amanos) Mountains rising west of Hassa are notable for their rich vegetation and wildlife. The mountains, covered with Turkish pine, black pine and cedar forests, have trekking routes and nature walking trails.
View on mapCenturies-old olive groves, descendants of trees planted in the 19th century by Ottoman Governor Derviş Paşa, are the symbol of Hassa. Thousands of acres of olive groves cover the district, and during the autumn harvest the region takes on a special beauty.
View on mapMeasured at 132 m in length, the Eğrigöl Lava Tunnel is located near Sugediği, on the Türkiye–Syria border.
View on mapWhile you are in Hassa, you can also see the highlights of Hatay province. These places are in other districts.
Traditional Mediterranean dishes prepared with Hassa's renowned olive oil form the basis of the district's food culture. Olive-oil artichokes, black-eyed peas and green beans are the most popular dishes.
Lamb wrapped with vegetables in greased paper and baked in the oven. Kağıt kebabı is one of the traditional flavours of Hatay cuisine, and in Hassa it is served especially at weddings and festive meals.
Thin kadayıf strands with unsalted cheese in between, fried in butter and sweetened with syrup. Künefe is the best-known dessert of the Hatay region and is also widely eaten in Hassa.
Hassa has been home to a large Turkmen population since the Ottoman period. Yörük and Turkmen traditions, carpet weaving, kilim weaving and traditional wedding customs are still kept alive in the district.
Olive growing, which began in the 19th century when Ottoman Governor Derviş Paşa brought olive saplings to the region, has become an inseparable part of Hassa's economic and cultural identity. Every autumn, the olive harvest is carried out communally.
Hassa's economy is largely based on olive growing. The olive-growing tradition started by Derviş Paşa in the 19th century is today the district's main source of income. Grain farming, livestock and small-scale trade also contribute to the economy. Forest products from the Amanos Mountains also play a part in the local economy.
Hassa lies in the north of Hatay, on the eastern foothills of the Amanos Mountains. It is located on the Antakya–Malatya road. It is about 80 km from Antakya and about 100 km from Gaziantep. Hatay Airport is reached by road. Regular minibus services run from the district centre to neighbouring provinces and districts.
The 8 main places in Hassa are the Amanos Mountains, Akbez Castle, Amanos Dağları Nature Park, Dervişpaşa Mahallesi Tarihi Doku, Hassa Zeytinlikleri, Hassa Aktepe Türkmen Mezarlığı, Eğrigöl Lav Tüneli and Ardıçlı Lav Tüneli.
Hassa Zeytinyağlı Yemekleri, Kağıt Kebabı and Künefe are the flavours that stand out at Hassa's tables.
Hassa is known for Hassa Zeytinyağı and its Turkmen culture. The cold-pressed olive oil obtained from the olive groves at the foot of the Amanos Mountains is known for its low acidity and fruity aroma. It is the district's most important agricultural product.
Hassa lies in the north of Hatay, on the eastern foothills of the Amanos Mountains. It is located on the Antakya–Malatya road. It is about 80 km from Antakya and about 100 km from Gaziantep. Hatay Airport is reached by road. Regular minibus services run from the district centre to neighbouring provinces and districts.
Suggested visit length: 1 day. Best time to visit: spring and autumn (April–May, October–November).