The Newest Slow City: Gynk Turkey

The Cittaslow General Committee has declared the Turkish city of Göynük as the latest addition to their network of slow cities. A former Ottoman town with beautiful landscapes and stunning architecture, what is it about Göynük that makes it the perfect candidate for the slow living movement?

Set in the Bolu province in the Black Sea region, Göynük is reminiscent of a Swiss village with pretty wooden houses nestled into the green hills and a stream that flows right through the city center. With over 100 early 20th century Ottoman period houses, as well as historic mosques, hamams, tombs, and fountains, the town speaks of a past that goes back to the Ancient Romans as well as its time within the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century. Now the idyllic town has become the 11th Turkish city to be chosen by Cittaslow, an organization founded in Italy and inspired by the slow food movement.

Cittaslow was founded in 1999 to focus on celebrating quality of life and extending the slow food movement philosophy to local communities and towns – it now has a network of cities around the world where the ‘living is good’. The organization reveres the concept of unspoiled landscapes, respect for tradition and culture, good food from natural resources, and an overall healthy, slow, and quiet life. As such, Göynük’s peace and tranquility, its distance from the hectic rhythm of the city, as well as its respect for historic architecture, tradition, and culture has earned it a place among Cittaslow’s favorite destinations.

As for the other Turkish towns that have secured their place among Cittaslow’s network, they include: Vize, Gökçeada, Taraklı, Seferihisar, Yenipazar, Akyaka, Yalvaç, Perşembe, Halfeti, Uzundere, and Şavşat. Overall, the network of slow living towns around the world encompasses 30 countries, 228 cities, and 18 networks, where life is just plain lovely, and it is ever growing. Make sure to check out Cittaslow’s institutional events, (including general assemblies and coordinating committees) as well as their network events (such as festivals and markets) to become part of the movement.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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