British Vogue - 04.2020

VOGUE PARTNERSHIP

The Antonine Fountain

at Sagalassos has been

restored using 1,000-year-old

excavated fragments

“Isparta is

known for

preserving

its wild

landscape,

with vast

spaces

allocated

as national

parks”

and fell in pursuit of the fruits of the area. Many of its key

goods – sour cherries, peaches, fresh walnuts, intricately

woven carpets (known as kilims) and its famous roses –

continue to be a part of the life and culture of its locals,

as well as a draw to visitors from around the world.

Roses have become an emblem of the Isparta

region, with scores colouring the landscape in fields

that are a feast for the senses, particularly at harvest time

in the late spring and early summer. The flower is used in

a huge range of products, including delicate sweets

and cosmetics (over half the roses used in the cosmetics

industry originate from this part of Turkey, known as

“Land of the Roses”), and over 3,000 hectares are grown,

with four tonnes needed for the production of just one

kilogram of rose oil.

Beyond its areas of natural cultivation, Isparta is known

for preserving the wild landscape, with vast spaces allocated

as national parks, such as the Kızıldag and Kovada reserves

where aquamarine lakes sit in cedar and fir forests, providing

a habitat for the breathtaking variety of flora and fauna.

The St Paul Trail – Turkey’s second longest hiking trail at

500km – takes walkers through some of the most beautiful

parts of the Taurus mountain range and numerous sites of

archaeological significance.

With roots stretching back so far, the Turkish Lake District

has struck a fine balance between conserving its areas

of natural beauty and history, and accommodating the

changing needs of the contemporary traveller, who demands

more than unique experiences, top notch cuisine and

carefully considered comfort. It is, perhaps, because of

such fierce pride in its natural heritage that the importance

of tourism has never compromised the health of the region,

which is demonstrated across the board from boutique

forest lodges to grander, luxury hotels.

So, whether your appetite is for adventure, escape, culture

or appreciating unspoiled nature, it may be time to set your

compass for the Turkish lakes and discover one of the world’s

most beautiful secrets. n

Visit Goturkey.com for more information

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