Karaman Province, Administrative region in Central Anatolia, Turkey
Karaman Province is an administrative region in Central Anatolia that stretches across varied terrain at the northern edge of the Taurus Mountains. The area encompasses urban centers and rural villages, with the city of Karaman serving as the main administrative hub.
The area was known as Laranda in ancient times and changed its identity when Karaman Bey took control in 1256, establishing the Karamanid dynasty. This ruling family shaped the region for centuries and left lasting marks on its development.
The province marks a turning point in Turkish linguistic history, as it became the first place in Anatolia to officially adopt Turkish as its language in 1277. This linguistic shift remains a source of regional pride and shapes how locals view their heritage today.
The main towns in the region are relatively well connected, and the area is accessible by car or local buses for travelers on their own schedule. Exploring the province works best when you give yourself time to move between different locations and experience the landscape between urban centers.
In the northern part of the province lies the Binbir Kilise archaeological site, where ruins of early Christian churches scatter across volcanic slopes of Mount Karadag. This location reveals layers of religious life from centuries past, long before the region took on its modern Turkish character.
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