Çal
Encyclopedia
Çal is a town and a district of Denizli Province
in the inner Aegean
region of Turkey
. Çal district area occupies a central position in the northern part of its province and neighbors the central district of Denizli
to the south-west and the district areas of Güney
to the west and Honaz
to the south. To the east of Çal district lies clockwise the districts of Bekilli
, Çivril
and Baklan
.
The town of Çal is located 64 km (40 mi) north-east of the provincial seat of Denizli
and is situated on a rocky hilltop overlooking a plain traced by Büyük Menderes River. The town lies at an altitude of 850 m. YThe population of the town is 3946 and the whole district is 22,249.
remains have been found in the area. Hançalar Bridge over Menderes River, at the level of the township of the same name, situated between Çal and Bekilli
, is reminiscent of Roman
bridges by its style, while the builder remains unknown. It was repaired and restored several times during the Ottoman
era. The first Turks in the area were the Seljuk Turks in 1072, who settled in all parts of the present-day Denizli Province
, including Çal.
The area is largely agricultural and is known especially for its vineyards. The local grape variety Çalkarası
and grown intensively and takes its name from the district. Çal also has an annual wine festival. There is also a cement factory, a fruit-juice factory and various cold-stores for fruit.
. Water of a stream that later joins Menderes River fall from 50 meters high at this locality and the whole area is covered with forests, making it a notable natural site. It is also a large trout
farm. The falls are alternatively called "Yeşildere Falls" or "Ağlayan Kaya" (the weeping stone) .
The renowned painter İbrahim Çallı was born here, as his name indicates.
The award-winning author and poet Mahmut Alptekin is from Çal. He was born there and spent some of his childhood in Çal.
The award-winning academic, psychiatrist and author Dr. Erol Göka is from Çal.
Denizli Province
Denizli Province is a province of Turkey in Western Anatolia, on high ground above the Aegean coast. Neighbouring provinces are Uşak to the north, Burdur, Isparta, Afyon to the east, Aydın, Manisa to the west and Muğla to the south. It is located between the coordinates 28° 30’ and 29° 30’ E and...
in the inner Aegean
Aegean Region
Aegean Region , is one of the 7 census-defined regions of Turkey, and in Western Asia.It is located in the west part of the country: bounded by Aegean Sea on the west; Marmara Region on the north;...
region of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Çal district area occupies a central position in the northern part of its province and neighbors the central district of Denizli
Denizli
Denizli is a growing industrial city in the Southwestern part of Turkey and the eastern end of the alluvial valley formed by the river Büyük Menderes, where the plain reaches an elevation of about a hundred meters. Denizli is located in southwestern Turkey, in the country's Aegean Region.The city...
to the south-west and the district areas of Güney
Güney
Güney is a town and district of Denizli Province in the inner Aegean region of Turkey. Güney district area neighbors those of four other districts of the same province from east to west, clockwise Buldan, Akköy, Denizli central district and Çal and ranges Eşme district of Uşak Province in the...
to the west and Honaz
Honaz
Honaz is a town and a district of Denizli Province in the Aegean Region. It covers an area of...
to the south. To the east of Çal district lies clockwise the districts of Bekilli
Bekilli
Bekilli is a town and a district of Denizli Province in the inner Aegean region of Turkey. Bekilli district area neighbors the district areas of Çal and Çivril, both also depending Denizli to the west, south and east, and those of two districts of Uşak Province to the north, namely Ulubey and...
, Çivril
Çivril
Çivril is a town and district of Denizli Province in the inner Aegean region of Turkey. Çivril district area neighbors those of two districts of Uşak Province to its north, namely Sivaslı and Karahallı, and four districts of Afyonkarahisar Province from the north-east to the south which are,...
and Baklan
Baklan
Baklan is a town and a district of Denizli Province, in Turkey's Aegean Region. The town is at a distance of about an hour from the city of Denizli, neighboring the town of Çivril, and it is situated on the road to Ankara.-Name:...
.
The town of Çal is located 64 km (40 mi) north-east of the provincial seat of Denizli
Denizli
Denizli is a growing industrial city in the Southwestern part of Turkey and the eastern end of the alluvial valley formed by the river Büyük Menderes, where the plain reaches an elevation of about a hundred meters. Denizli is located in southwestern Turkey, in the country's Aegean Region.The city...
and is situated on a rocky hilltop overlooking a plain traced by Büyük Menderes River. The town lies at an altitude of 850 m. YThe population of the town is 3946 and the whole district is 22,249.
General features
RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
remains have been found in the area. Hançalar Bridge over Menderes River, at the level of the township of the same name, situated between Çal and Bekilli
Bekilli
Bekilli is a town and a district of Denizli Province in the inner Aegean region of Turkey. Bekilli district area neighbors the district areas of Çal and Çivril, both also depending Denizli to the west, south and east, and those of two districts of Uşak Province to the north, namely Ulubey and...
, is reminiscent of Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
bridges by its style, while the builder remains unknown. It was repaired and restored several times during the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
era. The first Turks in the area were the Seljuk Turks in 1072, who settled in all parts of the present-day Denizli Province
Denizli Province
Denizli Province is a province of Turkey in Western Anatolia, on high ground above the Aegean coast. Neighbouring provinces are Uşak to the north, Burdur, Isparta, Afyon to the east, Aydın, Manisa to the west and Muğla to the south. It is located between the coordinates 28° 30’ and 29° 30’ E and...
, including Çal.
The area is largely agricultural and is known especially for its vineyards. The local grape variety Çalkarası
Çalkarasi
Çal Karası is a variety of red wine grape from the Çal district of the Denizli Province of western Turkey. It also gives its name to a wine produced from the grape, which is sweet with berry fruit flavours.-History:...
and grown intensively and takes its name from the district. Çal also has an annual wine festival. There is also a cement factory, a fruit-juice factory and various cold-stores for fruit.
Sakızcılar Falls and the "Weeping Stone"
A notable sight of interest are the waterfalls near the depending village of Sakızcılar, on the slopes of the Mount Çal (Çaldağı) and at a distance of about 40 km (25 mi) when coming from PamukkalePamukkale
Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water...
. Water of a stream that later joins Menderes River fall from 50 meters high at this locality and the whole area is covered with forests, making it a notable natural site. It is also a large trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
farm. The falls are alternatively called "Yeşildere Falls" or "Ağlayan Kaya" (the weeping stone) .
Notable natives
The people of Çal acquired a fame for their astuteness and alertness in the region. They are hard-working and stubborn, and also raised crafty horsethieves in the past. There is an old regional saying that goes, if you put a snake in a sack with a man from Çal, the snake will beg to be taken out.The renowned painter İbrahim Çallı was born here, as his name indicates.
The award-winning author and poet Mahmut Alptekin is from Çal. He was born there and spent some of his childhood in Çal.
The award-winning academic, psychiatrist and author Dr. Erol Göka is from Çal.