Photo: Fethullahkizilkaya (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source 5 places to visit in the central district of Karaman: Karaman Castle, Hatuniye Madrasa and Aktekke Mosque. Plan your trip with local food, practical tips and transport information.
General Information
Karaman lies in the south of Central Anatolia, where the Konya Plain meets the Taurus Mountains. The ancient name of the city is Laranda, and in the Middle Ages it was known as Larende. Its present name comes from Karaman Bey, founder of the Karamanid Principality, which was established in the 13th century.
History
In 1277, Karamanoğlu Mehmed Bey ordered that no language other than Turkish be used, and 13 May is celebrated as Turkish Language Day. Hatuniye Madrasa (1382), İbrahim Bey İmaret (1432–1433) and Aktekke Mosque make Karaman one of the important centres of post-Seljuk Anatolian architecture. The Karamanids joined the Ottoman state in 1487.
Historic Buildings and Monuments
On the slopes of Karadağ lies Binbirkilise, where many churches and monasteries from the Byzantine period stand. It is said that Yunus Emre lived in Karaman and was buried there. Karaman became a province in 1989.
History and Culture
The city takes its name from Karaman Bey, founder of the Karamanid Principality, which once used it as its capital. Before it was called Karaman, the city was known as Lârende. Karaman and the surrounding area contain underground cities, caves and places of faith. Evliya Çelebi noted that Yunus Emre was in Karaman.
Last updated: