Nilüfer, Bursa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nilüfer
Settlement
A view of Nilüfer from Özlüce neighborhood
Map showing Nilüfer District in Bursa Province
Nilüfer, Bursa Location in Turkey Show map of Turkey Nilüfer, Bursa Location in Marmara Show map of Marmara
Country	Turkey
Province	Bursa
Area	552 km2 (213 sq mi)
Population  (2022)	536,365
• Density	971.7/km2 (2,516.6/sq mi)
Time zone	TRT (UTC+3)
Area code	0224

A view of Nilüfer from Uludağ road

Nilüfer is a lively district in Bursa Province, Turkey. It's a big area, about 552 square kilometers, and home to over 536,000 people (as of 2022). Nilüfer was created in 1987. It was planned to be a main living area for Bursa, with lots of homes, factories, and shops.

What's in a Name? The Story of Nilüfer

The district gets its name from the Nilüfer River that flows through it. The river itself is named after a historical figure, Nilüfer Hatun.

Legend says that Nilüfer Hatun ordered a bridge to be built over a river in Bursa. After the bridge was finished, both the river and the new bridge were named "Nilüfer" in her honor.

A Glimpse into Nilüfer's Past

Nilüfer has a very long history. Some researchers believe it was one of the first places settled in the Bursa region. You can find signs of ancient times, including the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

Ancient Discoveries and Historical Sites

Many historical treasures have been found in Nilüfer. Places like Tepecik Tumulus, Gölyazı, and Tahtalı villages, along with Aktopraklık Tumulus, are rich in old findings. These areas have ruins of churches, mosques, baths, and castles. You can also see very old "monument trees."

Many historical buildings are spread across Nilüfer. These include mosques, bridges, and baths from the Ottoman era. There are also church ruins from different times. Some famous examples are:

• H. Ioannes Theologos Church in Çatalağıl village
• Saint Helena Church in Özlüce Neighborhood
• Demirci Mosque
• Yaylacık Mosque
• Mihraplı Bridge

The villages of Misi and Gölyazı are especially rich in ancient history. The district's story goes back to the 6th century B.C.

How Many People Live Here? Nilüfer's Population Growth

Nilüfer is a new and growing area. Because of this, its population is increasing quickly compared to other places.

Nilüfer's Neighborhoods

Nilüfer District is made up of 64 different neighborhoods, also known as mahalle in Turkish.

Nilüfer's Economy: A Hub of Industry

Nilüfer is very important for Turkey's economy. It has major industrial areas like the Bursa Organized Industry Area and Nilüfer Organized Industry Area. These places provide many jobs for people in Bursa.

Key Industries and Products

Many other industrial zones and business centers are also located in Nilüfer. These include areas in Çalı, Kayapa, Hasanağa, Akçalar, and Görükle. Nilüfer provides jobs for a large part of Bursa's population. It also brings a lot of income to Turkey. The main types of industries in the district are:

• Textile (making clothes and fabrics)
• Automotive (making cars and car parts)
• Machine manufacturing
• Spare parts production

Fun and Culture in Nilüfer

The Nilüfer Municipality organizes many cultural activities for everyone. They offer different hobby and art classes.

Classes, Shows, and Festivals

You can learn things like drawing, sculpture, acting, photography, and even traditional Turkish arts like ebru. The municipality's culture centers, such as Konak Kültürevi, Uğur Mumcu Sahnesi, and Nâzım Hikmet Kültürevi, host many events. These include plays, concerts, exhibitions, and talks throughout the year.

In the summer, there are open-air concerts with different musicians. These are part of two summer festivals organized by Uludag University and Nilüfer Municipality. Villagers and small communities also hold local, traditional festivals. Many of these celebrate harvest times.

Sports in Nilüfer

Nilüfer has facilities for sports too! In 2014, the Minareliçavuş Spor Tesisleri opened. It has two football fields. This is the home ground for Yeşil Bursa AŞ, a football team that plays in the TFF Third League.

Places to See in Nilüfer

If you visit Nilüfer, here are some interesting places you might want to explore:

• Misi Village
• Gölyazı District
• Mihraplı Bridge
• H. Ioannes Theologos Church
• Nilüfer Bridge
• Demirci Mosque
• Uluabat Lake
• Ayvaini Cave
• Saint Helena Church

Nilüfer's Friends Around the World: Twin Cities

Nilüfer Municipality has "twin city" relationships with many cities in different countries. This means they share culture and ideas.

• Ardino, Bulgaria
• Braila, Romania
• Nizami, Azerbaijan
• Mykolayiv, Ukraine
• Cerro, Cuba
• Tōkai, Aichi, Japan
• Gazimağusa, Northern Cyprus
• Umea, Sweden
• Kekava, Latvia
• Peja, Kosovo
• Serres, Greece
• Lublin, Poland
• Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria
• Chalette-sur-Loing, France
• Hanau, Germany
• Asenovgrad, Bulgaria
• Adalar, İstanbul, Turkey
• Dinar, Afyon, Turkey
• Kırklareli, Turkey
• Tuzlukçu, Konya, Turkey
• Vezirhan, Bilecik, Turkey
• Tut, Adıyaman, Turkey

Nilüfer Municipality also has partnership agreements with these cities:

• Balatonfüred, Hungary
• Braslav, Belarus
• Veria, Greece