Ormana Village in Antalya’s İbradı district won the title of the World’s Best Tourism Village in 2024. This village, where only 600 people live, is located at the top of the Taurus Mountains and is known for its historical and cultural heritage. Ormana, which is also the hometown of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, attracts great touristic attention with its grape festival that has been held for 57 years and its buttoned houses.
World Tourism Organization of the United Nations (UNWTO) was established to reward villages that keep culture and traditions alive, protect biodiversity and support rural development. “The World’s Best Tourism Villages” announced the 2024 results of the list. While 55 villages from around the world were included in the list, Ormana was the only village selected from Turkey.
A Hidden Treasure at the Peak of the Taurus Mountains
Ormana, 2.5 hours away from Antalya city center, stands out as an old Yörük village among the streams feeding the Manavgat Stream. Bay, historical button housesits natural beauties and its uninterrupted 57-year with grape festival is known.
The historical buttoned houses in Ormana Village stand out with their unique architecture built without the use of mortar and plaster. The village people work with great devotion to preserve and restore these houses, which were built with cedar wood and stacked stones.
Tolga Özgüven, one of the pioneers of rural tourism activities, stated that these houses in the village were restored and brought into tourism. Today, 7 boutique hotels and hostels in the village welcome their visitors with a total of 80 rooms and 170 beds.
In addition to the buttoned houses, the Ottoman Sipahi horses and the village’s Silk Road Its location on the route makes the region a center of attraction that blends history and culture. Tolga Özgüven stated that these features of the village played an important role in its recognition by the World Tourism Organization.
Turkey’s Pride in the World List
Türkiye continues to be on this prestigious list as of 2021. Before Mustafapasa (Nevşehir), scalloped (Sakarya), Birgi (Izmir) and Sirince (Izmir) villages also succeeded in being included in the list. Ormana Village, which won this title alone in 2024, once again crowned Turkey’s success in rural tourism.
Tolga Özgüven emphasized that the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) was great in helping the village achieve this success. Özgüven said, “This title is a result of our years of work. “It is a very valuable development for Antalya and regional tourism,” he expressed his happiness.
The Deep-rooted History of Ormana, From the Roman Period to the Present Day
It is located in İbradı district of Antalya. Ormana VillageIts history dates back to the Roman Empire. This settlement, known as “Erimna” in ancient times, dates back to B.C. in 334 Alexander the GreatHe surrendered to B.C. He lived under Persian rule between 223-212. Today, although the village has lost its resident population due to out-migration, approximately 50 of the original button houses have been restored, thanks to the village people’s commitment to their roots and their investments.
The people of Ormana, who had a Yoruk culture in the past, adopted a settled life over time and switched to greengrocers. However, the village has a steep terrain and is not suitable for agriculture. Only vineyards and vegetables grown in home gardens can be seen in the surrounding area. The main source of income of the village is animal husbandry. Ormana is especially known for its sacrificial goats and kids. The surrounding plateaus and wetlands offer an ideal environment for animal husbandry.
Architectural Wonder of Ormana: Button Houses
Buttoned houses, which have become the symbol of Ormana, take their name from the wood particles protruding from their walls. Planks made from tar trees growing in the region are placed interlockingly between the stones and their ends are left outside. This technique ensures that the walls remain intact for centuries.
While there are about 300 buttoned houses in the village, only 50 of them have been restored so far. Restoration works are carried out by craftsmen trained from the village people, protecting the cultural heritage and contributing to the village economy.
Eynif Plateau: An Agricultural Center That Has Lasted for Centuries
Located 10 kilometers to the northwest of Ormana Village. Eynif PlateauIt has an area of 90 thousand acres. This wide plain, which has been associated with agriculture and animal husbandry for centuries, has been used as a resting point for caravans throughout history. The plateau, which is an important transition point between the two sides of the Taurus Mountains, is of strategic importance for Ormana Village.
Tol Khan: The Timeless Story of Stone Arches
Tol Han, built by Alaeddin Keykubat I between 1220 and 1237, is a building built with classical Seljuk architecture. Its name is colloquially “stone arch” Named after the word “tol” meaning “tol”, the inn attracts attention with its arched structure and stone workmanship. This inn, which does not contain a masjid, is located on the trade routes in the Eynif Plain. The arches and walls that remain standing today prove that this region has been a commercial center throughout history.
Altınbeşik Cave: Queen of Underground Beauties
Altınbeşik Cave, located in the Ürünlü District of Antalya’s İbradı district, is a fascinating place with its natural beauties. Turkey’s largest and the world’s third largest underground lake. the cave that hostsIt takes its name from the Altınbeşik Hill on which it is located. The cave, which is 450 meters above sea level, was formed through a natural process that took millions of years. This natural wonder, discovered in 1966, was declared a national park and protected in 1994.
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