Isparta, Rose production center in Isparta Province, Turkey.
The city sits at 1035 meters elevation in the Turkish Lakes Region and is surrounded by mountains and freshwater lakes. Residential neighborhoods extend from the center to the slopes, while orchards occupy the flatter areas outside the urban core.
Bulgarian refugees introduced rose oil production techniques in the late 19th century, transforming the settlement into a center for rose farming. The Ottoman past remains visible today in several preserved mosques and residential buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Locals often refer to the city by its role in rose farming, which spreads across the surrounding hills and covers the fields with pale pink blooms between May and June. In the old quarter streets, Ottoman houses with wooden balconies stand beside newer buildings, while vendors at the markets sell rose water and oil.
The city can be reached by plane, train, or road, with Antalya 130 kilometers (80 miles) south and Eskisehir 350 kilometers (217 miles) north. The cooler mountain climate makes visits between spring and autumn more comfortable, when temperatures are milder than on the coast.
The surrounding area produces about 23 percent of Turkey's apple harvest, with the districts of Egirdir, Gelendost, and Senirkent contributing most of it. Fruit sellers often offer freshly pressed apple juice directly at the roadside, especially during the late summer harvest season.
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