Photo: ahmet bzt (CC BY 3.0) · Source 6 places to visit in the Zile district of Tokat: Zile Castle, Zile Clock Tower and Maşat Höyük. Plan your trip to Zile with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Zile lies 66 km from Tokat city centre and is one of the oldest settlement centres in Anatolia.
Settlement in Zile dates back to the Late Chalcolithic Age (5000–4000 BC) and passed in turn under the Hittites, Kaska, Phrygians, Cimmerians, Scythians, Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Alexander the Great, Pontus, the Romans and the Byzantines. Shortly after 1071 it came under Turkish rule. In the Hittite period the town was called Anzilia (Uru An-zi-li-ya), and the foundation of the settlement is dated to this period. Strabo wrote that the settlement, known in antiquity as Zela, was founded by the Assyrian queen Semiramis, and he named the surrounding region Zelitis. In the 4th century BC there was a temple to the Persian goddess of fertility Anaitis (Anahita). Dânişmend Gazi, on his advance, captured many places including Zile and founded the Danishmendid Principality in 1080. When the Danishmendids fell in 1175, Zile came under the rule of the Anatolian Seljuk State. In 1399 Zile was incorporated into Ottoman territory by Yıldırım Bayezid.
Evliya Çelebi, who visited the settlement in 1650, noted that rugs and kilims were called zili in Turkish, and that the town was named Zile because a great deal of rug and kilim weaving was done there.
In the Hittite period the town was called Anzilia, and the foundation of the settlement is dated to this period. Zile was a district centre of the Tokat Sanjak in the Sivas province. In the 19th century Charles Texier recorded a fair held once a year at the end of the cotton harvest. Evliya Çelebi called the settlement Zeyli in his Seyahatname. Three periods, the Early Bronze Age, the Hittite Age and the Phrygian Age, are represented at Maşat Höyük. Zile City Museum opened to visitors in 2022.
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Photo: ahmet bzt (CC BY 3.0) · Source Known as the place where Julius Caesar defeated Pharnaces II of Pontus in 47 BC and uttered the famous words 'Veni, Vidi, Vici' (I came, I saw, I conquered), the castle has been in use since the Hittite period. Its walls and towers partly survive.
View on mapBuilt in 1906 during the reign of Abdülhamid II, the clock tower is 25 metres high and has become a symbol of the district. Notable for its stonework and Ottoman-period architecture, the tower stands in the town centre.
View on mapThe mound 15 km south-west of Zile is an important archaeological site from the Hittite period. Excavations have found Hittite cuneiform tablets, pottery and seals. The temple and palace remains are important evidence of Hittite civilisation.
View on mapBuilt in the 13th century in the Seljuk period, the mosque is notable for its stonework and mihrab decoration. The building has been restored many times and is one of the district's oldest places of worship.
View on mapA city museum covering an area of about 900 square metres, displaying the history of Zile from the Roman period to the Ottoman period.
View on mapAccording to the 'How to Get There' information, Maşat Höyük is located in Yalınyazı village in Zile district.
View on mapWhile you are in Zile, you can also see the highlights of Tokat province. These places are in other districts; Zile is about 66 km from the provincial centre.
Zile Pekmezi was registered as a protected geographical indication on 17 November 2009 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 118). Product group: chocolate, confectionery and related products. Registered by: Zile Commodity Exchange.
A traditional sweet made by boiling a mixture of grape molasses and starch and dipping walnut strings into it. It is Zile's geographically indicated speciality and is made in autumn during the grape harvest.
Prepared by threading pieces of lamb, potato, aubergine and tomato on skewers and cooking them over a wood fire. Widely eaten in Zile, this dish is the signature food of Tokat.
Julius Caesar's victory at Zile in 47 BC and his words 'I came, I saw, I conquered' have given the district an important place in world history. Cultural events are held every year to commemorate this event.
Zile is known for its centuries-old viticulture tradition. The customs of boiling grape molasses and making köme are still carried on during the grape harvest.
Zile's economy is based on farming, viticulture and trade. Grape, grape molasses and walnut production are the main sources of income. Food processing facilities and small-scale industrial enterprises operate in the district. Cultural tourism is also developing thanks to its historical richness.
Zile is 66 km from Tokat city centre and lies on the Amasya–Tokat road. There is a rail connection on the Samsun–Sivas line. Intercity bus services connect it to the big cities.
The top 6 places in Zile are Zile Castle, Zile Clock Tower, Maşat Höyük, Zile Grand Mosque, Zile City Museum and Maşat Höyük Archaeological Site.
Zile Pekmezi, Zile Kömesi and Tokat Kebabı are the standout dishes on Zile's tables.
Zile is known for Zile Beji Marble and the Veni Vidi Vici Legacy. It is a product registered with TÜRKPATENT as a protected designation of origin.
Zile is 66 km from Tokat city centre and lies on the Amasya–Tokat road. There is a rail connection on the Samsun–Sivas line. Intercity bus services connect it to the big cities.
Recommended visit length: 1–2 days. Best time to visit: spring and autumn (April–June, September–October).