Döşemealtı (District)

Have you ever imagined traveling back thousands of years in a time machine? Antalya’s immediate northern region, Döşemealtı, welcomes you with its lush greenery and transports you to some of the earliest chapters of history. Let us explore this fascinating place together!

Döşemealtı’s name originates from an ancient path. Long ago, people built a four-meter-wide road paved with stones to connect coastal cities with those behind the mountains. This road was called “Döşeme.” Since the district was established on the plain lying beneath this road, its name gradually became Döşemealtı.

When you think of Antalya, you might imagine hot and humid weather, but Döşemealtı is somewhat different. Because it lies at a slightly higher elevation than the city, its air is cooler and less humid. Surrounded by pine forests, it is even called “the lungs of Antalya.”

Here you will find a remarkable water source called Kırkgöz. Its name comes from the appearance of water gushing forth as if from forty separate springs. These waters irrigate farmland and also help generate electricity.

^{Visual representing Döşemealtı district (Generated by artificial intelligence)}

Döşemealtı is renowned worldwide for one particular art: rug weaving! These rugs are made from sheep’s wool, and the threads are dyed using plants found in nature.

Local artisans dye the threads yellow, red, green, and blue using walnut shells, palamut, and a special plant known as “kök boyası.” On these rugs you can find intricate patterns with names such as "Scorpion", "Camel", or "Tree of Life".

Döşemealtı holds traces of very ancient times. For example, Karain Cave is one of Türkiye’s oldest inhabited sites. Evidence has been found here indicating human presence as far back as 600,000 years ago.

Additionally, massive stone buildings such as Kırkgöz Han and Evdir Han, once built to accommodate caravan travelers journeying by camel, still stand here today.