Interesting places in Turkey

Sagalassos was founded in the Hellenistic period and was abandoned after a severe earthquake in the early 7th century AD during the Late Antiquity Early Byzantine period. Apparently the ruined city remained untouched and almost unplundered until the present day, although fragments of columns, buildings and shards of clay already signal to the untrained eye an extensive ancient city, very prosperous in its prosperity.

The first human settlements arose in the region around Sagalassos already around 8000 BC. Hittite documents then point to a mountain settlement called Salawassa in the 14th century BC. The city received Phrygian and Lydian cultural impulses. During the Persian period Pisidia was known for its warlike tribes.

When Alexander the Great conquered Sagalassos on his way to Persia in 333 BC, it was already one of the most prosperous cities in Pisidia. Several thousand inhabitants may have inhabited the city. After Alexander's death the region became one of the territories of Antigonos I Monophthalmos (321 to 301 BC), possibly of Lysimachus (301 to 281 BC), the Seleucids of Syria (281 to 189 BC) and the Attalids of Pergamon (189 to 133 BC). Archaeological findings show that the Hellenistic culture was quickly adopted by the local people.

In the Roman Empire, Sagalassos became one of the most important urban settlements in Pisidia, whereby a striking discrepancy can be observed between the presumably small number of inhabitants (according to previous findings probably well under 10,000 people) and the splendour and size of the public buildings.

Around 400 A.D. Sagalassos was fortified, probably in response to the tense situation of the empire at that time; nevertheless, the place was still important and prosperous throughout Late Antiquity; generous private houses were also built in the 6th century.

Earthquakes repeatedly devastated the city, especially in 518, but above all an epidemic (the Justinian plague) around 542 also seized Sagalassos and killed probably about half of the population. But once again the town was able to recover. Persian raids then threatened the city around 620, and after another earthquake, which destroyed the city again at the latest in the middle of the 7th century, it was largely abandoned. The simple people may have repopulated the valley. Excavations only brought to light signs of a fortified monastery, possibly a religious community, which was destroyed in the 12th century. Sagalassos disappeared from all records and was forgotten. In the following centuries, rubble and sediments covered the ruins of Sagalassos and because of its location, it was not looted in any significant way.

You can reach Sagalassos from Antalya via the well developed national road D685. Coming from Alanya, the D685 branches off 1 km behind Aksu, and 2.5 km before the access to the airport, direction Isparta.
After about 90 km of interesting and partly fascinating landscape you reach the signposted turnoff to the left to Buçak/ Sagalassos. After another 22 km on an equally well developed road you will reach the village Ağlasun. Drive straight on through the village and then take a narrow and winding but well paved road of about 7 km to the ancient city of Sagalassos. The parking lot is located at the guard house.

Coming from the direction of Kemer you take the national road D650. You can reach it by following the D400, at the roundabout at the big Migro market in the direction of Burdur / Isparta. After approx. 80 km on the well-developed D650, you will pass through the small town of Buçak. About 9 km after Buçak you will reach the clearly signposted turn-off to Sagalassos on the right hand side. After a good 18 km on a narrow, but also well developed road, you reach the village Ağlasun. Drive straight on through the village and then onto a narrow, winding but well maintained road of about 7 km to the ancient city of Sagalassos. The parking lot is located at the guard house.