Tosya Castle
Castle on the hill above the district centre, used in the Byzantine and Seljuk periods. From the castle there is a panoramic view of the Tosya Plain.
View on map3 places to visit in the Tosya district of Kastamonu: Tosya Castle, Tosya Tarihi Çarşı and Gavur Kayalıkları. Plan your trip to Tosya with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Tosya is a district of Kastamonu province in the Black Sea Region. It covers 1,302 km², sits at an altitude of 831 metres and has a population of 39,091. According to the 2023 census, the district’s population was recorded as 39,949. In the Hittite period this region was known as Tarittara or Turmitta (tosia).
History
Tosya is an old district that has been under the Kaşka, Hittite, Phrygian, Cimmerian, Lydian, Iranian, Roman, Byzantine, Danishmend, Çoban, Candaroğulları, Ottoman, Mongol and Seljuk civilisations. In prehistoric times the name Tosya was ‘Zoaka’, in the Byzantine period it was ‘Doccia’, and after the Turkish conquest it was known as ‘Tukıya’. Archaeological finds indicate that Tosya has a history of around four thousand years. Today the district consists of 23 neighbourhoods, 52 villages and 1 town (belde).
Geography
Tosya lies in the western Black Sea region, on the northern edge of the Tosya Plain. It is also located on the plain of the Kurudere. The highest peak to the south is Köstepe at 2,065 m, and to the north is Büyükhacettepe at 2,578 m. The Tosya Plain is bordered to the north by the Ilgaz Mountains and to the south by the Kös and Geçmiş Mountains.
Climate
The moderating influence of the Black Sea is barely felt in Tosya, because the Ilgaz and Küre Mountains block the influence of the sea. The annual average temperature is 11.2°C, the hottest month is July at 37°C, and the coldest month is at −11°C. Total annual average rainfall is 467 mm.
Economy
Rice production is the district’s largest source of economic income. Wooden doors, windows and furniture made in the district are marketed and exported across Türkiye. Some 1,500 workplaces and 14 factories operate in the woodworking industry. Tosya Kesesi, Tosya Kuşağı, Tosya Bıçkısı and Tosya Telası are among the district’s important sources of livelihood. Tosya produces 70% of Türkiye’s tela.
Culture
Vineyard culture and gümele hold an important place in the way of life of Tosya’s people. In spring, Tosya’s people move to their vineyards, spend the summer there and sell the fresh vegetables and fruit they grow. The International Tosya Culture and Rice Festival is a 4-day event held every August.
History and Culture
The people of Tosya are Turks who migrated from Central Asia and settled in the region. Archaeological evidence supports the view that Tosya has a history of about four thousand years. Tosya supplied weapons and ammunition to the front during the War of Independence. According to official records, Tosya lost 310 martyrs in the Battle of Sakarya (Başkomutanlık Meydan Muharebesi). Vineyard culture holds an important place in the life of Tosya’s people.
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