Kütahya

Kütahya
Kütahya Clock Tower
Location of Kütahya within Turkey.
Kütahya
Location of Kütahya within Turkey.
Coordinates:
Country  Turkey
Region Aegean
Province Kütahya
Population (2009)
 • Urban 212,444
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Website www.kutahya.bel.tr

Kütahya is a city in western Turkey with 212,444 inhabitants (2009 estimate), lying on the Porsuk river, at 969 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Kütahya Province, inhabited by some 517 804 people (2009 estimate). The region of Kütahya has large areas of gentle slopes with agricultural land culminating in high mountain ridges to the north and west. The city's Greek name was Kotyaion, latinized in Roman times as Cotyaeum, a name it retains as a titular Catholic see.[1]

Contents

History

Lequien (I, 851) mentions ten bishops, the last in the 14th century. The first is Cyrus, sent thither by Theodosius II, after four bishops had been slain by the inhabitants.

Economy

The industries of Kütahya have long traditions, going back to ancient times. Kütahya is famous for its kiln products, such as tiles and pottery, which are glazed and multicoloured.[2] Modern industries are sugar refining, tanning, nitrate processing and different products of meerschaum, which is extracted nearby. The local agricultural industry produces cereals, fruits and sugar beet. In addition stock raising is of much importance. Not far from Kütahya there are important mines extracting lignite.

Kütahya is linked by rail and road with Balıkesir 250 km (155 mi) to the west, Konya 450 km (280 mi) to the southeast, Eskişehir 70 km (43 mi) northeast and Ankara 300 km (186 mi) east.

Climate

Kütahya has a continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dsa), with cold and snowy winters and hot and dry summers. Rainfall occurs mostly during the spring and autumn.

Climate data for Kütahya
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.2
(63.0)		 20.6
(69.1)		 27.0
(80.6)		 30.2
(86.4)		 32.5
(90.5)		 36.2
(97.2)		 39.9
(103.8)		 39.2
(102.6)		 36.1
(97.0)		 31.0
(87.8)		 25.4
(77.7)		 21.7
(71.1)		 39.9
(103.8)
Average high °C (°F) 4.6
(40.3)		 6.5
(43.7)		 11.1
(52.0)		 16.2
(61.2)		 21.3
(70.3)		 25.4
(77.7)		 28.5
(83.3)		 28.8
(83.8)		 24.8
(76.6)		 19.0
(66.2)		 12.4
(54.3)		 6.2
(43.2)		 17.07
(62.72)
Average low °C (°F) −3
(26.6)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 0.2
(32.4)		 4.2
(39.6)		 7.9
(46.2)		 11.2
(52.2)		 13.6
(56.5)		 13.5
(56.3)		 9.4
(48.9)		 5.9
(42.6)		 1.7
(35.1)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 5.11
(41.19)
Record low °C (°F) −20
(−4.0)		 −21.5
(−6.7)		 −15.7
(3.7)		 −7.8
(18.0)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 3.1
(37.6)		 4.0
(39.2)		 4.6
(40.3)		 0.4
(32.7)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −11
(12.2)		 −17.6
(0.3)		 −21.5
(−6.7)
Precipitation mm (inches) 66.4
(2.614)		 54.0
(2.126)		 51.3
(2.02)		 56.1
(2.209)		 49.5
(1.949)		 29.6
(1.165)		 19.6
(0.772)		 18.0
(0.709)		 23.4
(0.921)		 41.5
(1.634)		 57.2
(2.252)		 78.1
(3.075)		 544.7
(21.445)
Avg. rainy days 14.3 12.8 12.9 13.0 11.8 7.1 4.4 3.9 4.8 8.8 10.7 14.2 118.7
Sunshine hours 62 86.8 142.6 174 229.4 279 310 291.4 225 151.9 102 58.9 2,113
Source: Devlet Meteoroloji İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü [3]

Culture

Kütahya's old neighbourhoods are dominated by traditional Ottoman houses made of wood and stucco, some of the best examples being found along Germiyan Caddesi. It has many historical mosques such as Ulu Camii, Cinili Camii, Balikli Camii and Donenler Camii. The Şengül Hamamı is a famous Turkish bath located in the city

The town preserves some ancient ruins, a Byzantine castle and church. During late centuries Kütahya has been renowned for its Turkish earthenware, of which fine specimens may be seen at the national capital. The Kütahya Museum has a fine collection of arts and cultural artifacts from the area.

The house where Hungarian statesman Lajos Kossuth lived in exile between 1850-1851 is preserved as a museum.[1]

Education

The Main Campus and the Germiyan Campus of the Kütahya Dumlupınar University are located in the city.

International relations

Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkey

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kütahya is twinned with:

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ www.newadvent.org/cathen/04422a.htm Catholic Encyclopaedia: Cotiaeum.
  2. ^ Henry Glassie, Turkish Traditional Art Today (Indiana University Press 1993), 435 ff.
  3. ^ http://www.dmi.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?m=KUTAHYA

Source and external links

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.