Eskişehir facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eskişehir
Metropolitan municipality
Clockwise from top: Eskişehir Fairy Tale Castle in Sazova Park, Lion Statue in Eskişehir, Porsuk River, Porsuk Bridge, Eskişehir Tram, Eskişehir Municipality
Emblem of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality
Eskişehir Location in Turkey Show map of Turkey Eskişehir Location in Asia Show map of Asia Eskişehir Location in Earth Show map of Earth
Country	Turkey
Region	Central Anatolia
Province	Eskişehir
Area
• Metropolitan municipality	2,678.00 km2 (1,033.98 sq mi)
Elevation	788 m (2,585 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Metropolitan municipality	789,023
• Density	335/km2 (868/sq mi)
• Urban	820,568
• Metro	848,002
GDP
• Metropolitan municipality	TRY 81.527 billion US$ 9.078 billion (2021)
• Per capita	TRY 91,234 US$ 10,158 (2021)
Time zone	UTC+3 (TRT)
Postal code	26 xxx
Area code(s)	(+90) 222
Registration plate	26
Website	www.eskisehir-bld.gov.tr

Eskişehir is a lively city in northwestern Turkey. Its name means 'Old City' in Turkish. It sits on the banks of the Porsuk River, about 792 meters above sea level. This city is known for its many universities, making it a popular place for students. It's also famous for its hot springs in the nearby hills.

What's in a Name?

The name Eskişehir comes from two Turkish words: eski, meaning 'old', and şehir, meaning 'city'. So, Eskişehir literally means 'Old City'. People have been using this name since the late 1400s.

A Look Back in Time: Eskişehir's History

A statue of Cybele from Roman times, found near Eskişehir.

A miniature painting showing Eskişehir in the 1500s.

Eskişehir is a very old city, founded by the Phrygians over 3,000 years ago. The modern city is close to the ancient Phrygian city of Dorylaeum. You can still find many old Phrygian items and sculptures in the city's museums. There's even a museum dedicated to meerschaum stone, which is used to make special smoking pipes.

Long ago, people described Eskişehir as one of the most beautiful cities in Anatolia (which is part of Turkey today). When Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire, bishops started to lead churches in Eskişehir. One famous bishop, Eusebius of Dorylaeum, helped shape early church beliefs.

The city was also part of the Seljuk Empire and was called Sultanönü. In 1097, a big battle happened here during the First Crusade. Later, in 1921, the Greek Army captured the city during the Turkish War of Independence. Eskişehir was named the Cultural Capital of the Turkish World and a UNESCO Capital of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.

Eskişehir's Location and Weather

Eskişehir is built along the Porsuk River, which eventually flows into the larger Sakarya River. The Porsuk Dam helps control the river's water flow.

Eskişehir's Climate

Köppen climate map showing Eskişehir's region.

Eskişehir has a climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. Most of the rain falls in spring and autumn. Because the city is high up and has dry summers, the nights in summer can be quite cool. Even though it doesn't rain a lot, you can see some precipitation throughout the year.

Eskişehir's Economy

Eskişehir has a strong economy. It used to rely on flour mills and brick factories. But it grew a lot when railway workshops were built in 1894 for the Berlin–Baghdad railway.

The city is famous for its meerschaum stone, which has been mined here for a long time. In 1961, the first Turkish car, called Devrim, was made in Eskişehir at the TÜLOMSAŞ factory. The first Turkish steam locomotive, Karakurt, was also made there in the same year. Eskişehir also had Turkey's first aviation industry.

Today, Eskişehir produces many things like trucks, home appliances, railway locomotives, and even fighter jet engines. It also makes textiles, bricks, cement, and chemicals. Eti, a big Turkish food brand known for biscuits and chocolates, is based here. Arçelik, a major home appliance company, also has a factory in Eskişehir.

The city is connected to Ankara by high-speed train, which makes travel and trade much easier. Eskişehir also has its own airport, the Hasan Polatkan Airport.

Learning and Education in Eskişehir

The library at Anadolu University.

Old Ottoman architecture in Odunpazarı, Eskişehir.

Streets in the historic Odunpazarı district.

The Ulus Monument, honoring Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Eskişehir is a major university city with three important universities:

• Anadolu University
• Eskişehir Osmangazi University
• Eskişehir Technical University

Anadolu University is special because it started offering open university courses through TV. This helped thousands of students get a college education who might not have been able to otherwise. Eskişehir Technical University is even known as the first university in the world to manage airports!

Eskişehir's Culture

Eskişehir has a diverse culture. Many Crimean Tatars live here. The city also welcomed many ethnic Turks who moved from Balkan countries like Bulgaria and Bosnia. These new residents helped the city's metalworking industries grow.

In 2013, Eskişehir hosted the first Turkvision Song Contest. This event celebrates music and artists from different Turkic-speaking regions. The city also has many interesting museums, including the Dünya Müzeleri Müzesi (Museum of World Museums).

Museums to Explore

Eskişehir is home to several fascinating museums:

• Eti Archaeology Museum: Discover ancient artifacts.
• Aviation Museum: Learn about the history of flight.
• Meerschaum Museum: See beautiful items made from meerschaum stone.
• Museum of Independence: Explore Turkey's fight for freedom.
• Museum of Modern Glass Art: Admire stunning glass creations.
• Tayfun Talipoğlu Typewriter Museum: A unique collection of typewriters.
• Yılmaz Büyükerşen Wax Museum: See realistic wax figures.
• Odunpazarı Modern Museum: Enjoy modern art in a historic setting.

Places to Visit in Eskişehir

A statue of the famous poet Yunus Emre.

One of the many bridges crossing the Porsuk River.

Most of modern Eskişehir was rebuilt after the Turkish War of Independence. However, some historic buildings still stand, like the Kurşunlu Mosque. You can also visit the ancient Phrygian city of Dorylaeum nearby. The city is also famous for its natural hot sulfur springs, which are great for relaxation.

Sports in Eskişehir

A shopping mall in Eskişehir.

The Eskişehir Modern Glass Art Museum.

The Odunpazarı Modern Arts Museum, designed by Kengo Kuma.

Eskişehir has a football club called Eskişehirspor, founded in 1965. They play their home games at the New Eskişehir Stadium.

Famous People from Eskişehir

Many notable people have come from Eskişehir, including:

• Eusebius of Dorylaeum – A bishop from the 5th century.
• Battal Gazi – An 8th-century Muslim saint.
• Yunus Emre – A famous Turkish folk poet from the 13th century.
• Sheik Edebali – A religious leader from the 13th century, important to the Ottoman Empire.
• Behiç Erkin – A Turkish diplomat and railway director, sometimes called the "Turkish Schindler."
• Yılmaz Büyükerşen – A professor, journalist, and professional wax sculptor.
• Cüneyt Arkın – A well-known actor and director.
• Ersan İlyasova – A professional basketball player.
• Meryem Boz – A professional volleyball player.

Sister Cities

Eskişehir has special friendships with other cities around the world. These are called "sister cities" or "twin towns":

• Shymkent, Kazakhstan
• Changzhou, China
• Frankfurt am Main, Germany
• Kazan, Russia
• Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus
• Linz, Austria
• Paju, South Korea
• Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Belgium

Images for kids

• 

  Köppen climate map of Eskişehir Province.

See also

In Spanish: Eskişehir para niños