Things to Do in Kofçaz: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Kofçaz

• 1 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 4 Nature

While you are in Kofçaz, you can also see the highlights of Kırklareli province. These places are in other districts; Kofçaz is about 55 km from the provincial centre.

• İğneada Longoz Forests National Park — A 3,155-hectare national park established in 2007 in the town of İğneada in Demirköy, on the Bulgarian border.
• Dupnisa Cave — A two-storey cave system with three entrances and a total length of 3,150 metres, near the village of Sarpdere in Demirköy; it is the only cave in Thrace opened to tourism.
• Gazi Süleyman Paşa Mosque (Little Hagia Sophia) — A building at Vize that was built as a basilica in the 6th century in the time of Justinian and converted into a mosque in the 15th century; its architecture is likened to Hagia Sophia and Hagia Irene in Istanbul.
• Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Complex — A way-station (menzil) complex at Lüleburgaz built by Mimar Sinan for Sokollu Mehmed Paşa in 1569–1570, made up of a mosque, madrasa, caravanserai, arasta and prayer dome.
• Hızırbey Complex and Arasta — A complex in the centre of Kırklareli, built by Köse Mihalzade Hızır Bey in 1383–1384 and made up of a mosque, hammam and arasta; the arasta is still used as a bazaar today.
• Kırklareli Museum — A museum opened in 1993 in the former town hall, built in the late 19th century.

Practical Information for Visiting Kofçaz

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and summer months (May–September)

Places to visit

6 places

• 🍚

  Kırma Buğday Pilavı (cracked wheat pilaf)

  Pilaf made by roasting cracked wheat in butter. It is one of the staple dishes of Kofçaz's rural cuisine.

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  Kuzu Kapama (lamb casserole)

  Lamb slow-cooked with vegetables in a casserole dish. It is served especially at Bayram and wedding feasts.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Kofçaz

• 🏔️

  Border Culture

  Kofçaz, on the Bulgarian border, has for centuries kept alive the culture of border settlement. Migrations and population exchanges have shaped the district's demographic structure.

• 🌲

  Forest Village Way of Life

  In the villages at the foot of the Yıldız Mountains, the traditional forest village way of life continues. Woodcutting, beekeeping and livestock farming remain the main sources of livelihood.

Local Products

• Istranca Honey — Flower and chestnut honey obtained from the rich vegetation of the Yıldız Mountains, the most valued natural product of Kofçaz.
• Chestnut — Chestnuts gathered from the Yıldız Mountains forests are sold in local markets in autumn. They are one of the region's traditional forest products.

Economy

Kofçaz is one of the smallest districts in Kırklareli. Its economy rests largely on forestry, livestock and farming. Beekeeping is an important source of income. Emigration of young people is one of the district's main problems.

How to Get to Kofçaz

Kofçaz is 55 km from Kırklareli city centre. Access is by road, and regular minibus services run to the district from Kırklareli. It lies close to the Bulgarian border.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Kırklareli

Kofçaz: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Kofçaz Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Kırklareli The province's 11 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Kırklareli

• Kırklareli Central District 5 places Kırklareli Museum (Hızırbey Complex), Hızırbey Arasta and Aşağıpınar Mound
• Babaeski 4 places Cedid Ali Paşa Mosque, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and Babaeski Tumuli
• Demirköy 6 places İğneada Longoz Forests National Park, Demirköy Fatih Foundry and Dupnisa Cave
• Lüleburgaz 8 places Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Complex, Lüleburgaz Castle Ruins and Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Hammam
• Pehlivanköy 9 places Pehlivanköy Mosque, Ergene River and Pehlivanköy Railway Station
• Pınarhisar 6 places Pınarhisar Castle, Pınarhisar Subasar Forests and Historic Fountains
• Vize 13 places Ayasofya Church (Küçük Ayasofya), Çömlektepe Mound (Höyük) and Vize Castle