Image by Nesrin Şarlıgil
The Evliya Çelebi Way
Proposal for new Cultural Routes in Anatolia
Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the Birth of Evliya Çelebi (1611-c.1683)
Phase 1 successfully completed with achievement of the 1000 kilometre 2009 Evliya Çelebi Ride
UNESCO says 2011 will be the Year of Evliya Çelebi
The Evliya Çelebi Way is an international project of historical re-enactment and cultural re-connection that will establish Cultural Routes in Western and Southeastern Anatolia.
The Evliya Çelebi Way routes are primarily equestrian routes designed to generate interest in Turkey’s vanishing horse culture, thereby reconnecting Turkish people today with their heritage. Combining the romance of horseback travel in remote but stunning landscapes with rediscovery of Turkey’s historical past, they should appeal to all who are concerned to preserve Turkey’s heritage through sustainable tourism.
The Evliya Çelebi Way has two connected goals:
To Re-Enact This project celebrates the life and work of Evliya Çelebi, one of Ottoman Turkey’s greatest writers, travellers and historians of everyday life. We aim to travel Evliya’s routes across Anatolia on horseback. By following his hoofprints, we will discover what there is that can only be known by re-enactment. What do things look like from horseback? How do physical and logistical conditions of travelling in this way enable active engagement with local communities?
To Re-Connect The other central goal of this project is to re-connect Turkey today with its illustrious history of Equestrian Traditions. The Ottoman cavalry was world renowned. Early modern European travellers report their admiration for Ottoman horsemanship. Today horsebreeding and equestrian sports continue to thrive in remote rural areas. By furthering understanding of these equestrian knowledges and practices, this project will celebrate an important but little known legacy of Turkish history.
Now seeking sponsorship for Phase 2: 2011 Evliya Çelebi ‘Turkey-Syria Friendship Ride’