Ankara and Central Anatolia Corum Hattusas

All the major early-Hittite sites lie in the province of Corum in Bogazkale National Park, between Yozgat and the city of Corum. Impressive double walls, which are situated by the Royal Gate,the Lion Gate and the Yer Kapi (an underground tunnel), ring the Hittite city of Hattusas, known today as Bogazkale. This city, the Hittite religious center was known as the City of Temples because over 70 temples stood there. The largest ruins are those of the great temple of the storm god Tesup. The Acropolis contained government buildings the Imperial Palace and the archives of the Hittite Empire. In 1180 B.C the Phrygians devastated the city. After thorough excavations at the site, the city walls are now being extensively restored.

Yazilikaya, an open-air rock pantheon dating from the 13th century B.C. contains fine reliefs of all the Hittite gods and goddesses. Alacahoyuk, north of Bogazkale on the road to Corum, was the center of the flourishing Hattian culture during the Bronze Age. The magnificent Hattian gold and bronze objects in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara were found in the Royal Tombs of this period. All the remaining ruins at Alacahoyuk,however, such as the Sphinx Gate,date from the Hittite period.

Corum, an important city on the road from central Anatolia to the Black Sea, produces the finest chickpeas in Turkey.Significant historical buildings include the 13th century Ulu Mosque and the 19th century clock tower.