Ilgaz Guide
When we turn our way to the Western Black Sea Region, we encounter Ilgaz, which is located within the provincial borders of Çankırı and Kastamonu. It is known that Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror used the Devrez Valley in Ilgaz to take Sinop and Murat IV used the Devrez Valley in Ilgaz to reach the east during the Baghdad Expedition. Even Evliya Çelebi passed through this road in his travelogue. The famous geographer Strobon also refers to Ilgaz Mountain as Olgassys Mountain and describes it as extraordinarily difficult to climb. In its history dating back to 1300 BC, Ilgaz has been included in the Ottoman lands since 1459 and has gone down in history as a settlement that was a gateway to transfer all kinds of needs to Ankara from the Inebolu-Kastamonu-Çankırı line during the War of Independence. It is said that the word ‘il-el’, which comes from the name of the country in Turkish, was combined with the Gas of the ‘Gasks’ who lived in the region in 1300 BC and came to the present day as Ilgaz and became the name of the city, and in another discourse, it is said that the name of the city derives from ‘Olgassys’.
The vegetation consisting of larch, yellow pine, fir dominant tree species developing from the foothills to the peaks of Ilgaz Mountain is supported by a rich sub-forest community. The feature that distinguishes the ski areas of Ilgaz from other ski centres is that the ski centre is located within the National Park. Declared a National Park in 1976, Ilgaz is 1088 hectares in size. In this park, it is possible to come across various wild animal species such as roe deer, deer, wild boar, bear and fox and rich vegetation.
In terms of winter sports, Ilgaz Mountain is a resource of national importance, especially in the Western Black Sea Region. Ilgaz Mountain ski resort serves with mechanical facilities consisting of a 900-metre-long double chairlift, a 2 km-long chairlift and a 250-metre-long baby lift.
How to get there?
Ilgaz National Park is 30 km to Ilgaz centre, 40 km to Kastamonu, 73 km to Çankırı, 203 km to Ankara, 475 km to Istanbul. Ilgaz National Park is accessible by Çankırı-Kastamonu State Highway.
What to eat?
Local dishes, pastry, meat and vegetables are predominant. When you say meat, you can start with meat bread or biryan kebab. Banduma, also known as Islama and Bandirma, is made of phyllo dough (serme), turkey or chicken meat and broth, and it is recommended to accompany the local sour rice. If you are about to get up from the table, don't forget to ask for pull halva and honey roulade at your table. Again, if you say fish, you can choose one of the many Trout Facilities on the way.
Where to Stay?
In the National Park, 3 different hotels await you, Le Chalet, Ilgaz Mountain Resort and Dağbaşı Hotel. If you say let's have a little chat and be calmer, Dağbaşı Hotel is also recommended. If you say resort, it is up to you. Apart from these facilities, the administrative museum and the training facilities of the General Directorate of Rural Services are also available in the National Park, and there is also the Tele-Chair Facility of the General Directorate of Physical Training for winter sports in the National Park. What to say to the curious.
