Ordu

At the foot of a verdant hill, is the province of Ordu, one of the calmest and greenest sites along the Black Sea coast of Turkey. Due to its rainy climate, the land is fertile, with vegetable and fruit gardens, and wide forests covering the whole area.

Ordu from the airOn the road to Samsun, there is the town of Unye, 77 kilometers west of Ordu, which is an attractive fishing village. There are clean, beautiful beaches to enjoy the restful atmosphere, and extensive hazelnut plantations, typical of the region. At this site with purple rock formations are historical tombs carved into the rock which remain from the early Romans. Also an 18th century town hall building stands there as an outstanding sight.

Fatsa is another little town famed for its hazelnut gardens, and nearby are the ruins of a fortress named Bolaman Castle and the Byzantine Jason Church now converted to an archaeological museum.

Previously named "Cotoyora", the ancient city of Ordu carries more recent signs; the Pasaoglu Mansion which belonged to a wealthy and influential Ottoman family of the 19th century, and holds signs of the life style once maintained; and a remarkable church dating back to the 18th century.

A distinct characteristic of Ordu is its being the center of hazelnut production. The Golden Hazelnut Festival held in September is hosted by this city, and the local chocolate-nut confection is a tasty specialty.

On March 29, 2006, Total Solar Eclipse was seen in Ordu as well at 14:08pm local time.
Ethnography Museum

Ordu museum, housed in the old Pasaoglu Mansion, is located in Selimiye neighborhood of the city. The building which was built by Pasaoglu Huseyin Efendi in 1896, is a very good example of Ottoman local architecture in the Black Sea region. The stones were brought from Unye, its wood and tiles from Romania, and craftsmen from Istanbul worked in its construction.

The mansion was opened to the public as a museum in 1987 after the restoration and display arrangements were completed. It's a two floor building over the ground floor. The ground floor is arranged for administration offices, the 1st floor as ethnographic materials section, and the 2nd floor to reflect the typical Ottoman Konak life.