Thrace - Sunflower Fields and Vineyards as Far as the Eye Can See

Sunflower Fields and Vineyards as Far as the Eye Can See. The fertile lands of Thrace, which form the northwestern part of Turkey on the continent of Europe, are generally covered with sunflower fields and vineyards. A foreigner traveling from Europe and entering the city of Edirne, Turkey’s western gate, first is attracted to the Selimiye  Mosque,   a  masterpiece  of  Turkish  architecture.

BALIKESİR, famous for its horse drawn buggies.

The mosques, caravanserais, bazaars, bridges and other unique examples of Ottoman architecture in Edirne are worth seeing. Edirne, which is like an open-air museum of Ottoman architecture, was one of the seven largest cities in Europe in the 18^th century and served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire for approximately a century. The traditional Kırkpınar wrestling competitions are held every year at the beginning of summer in an area of this city called Sarayiçi.

Tekirdağ province, which hosts beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture and extensive beaches, is located in eastern Thrace. It is also well known for its vineyards and wine festivals. Şarköy and Mürefte to the west of Tekirdağ, besides being important wine manufacturing centers, are also important holiday resorts.

Kırklareli, which is rich in terms of history and nature, is the largest province of Turkey in Europe. It has extensive forests, and its fruit orchards are an important source of income. İğneada and Kıyıköy, on the shores of the Black Sea, are known for their fine-sand beaches. The Kırklar Şehitliği (the Monument of Forty Martyrs), which has 18 columns, was constructed in memory of the 40 raiders who lost their lives when the city was conquered. This monument is the symbol of the city.