Araç is a district located west of Kastamonu, where people make their living through agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry. The district is home to historical buildings and natural areas.
History
The settlement history of Araç is revealed by archaeological traces dating back to prehistoric times and the 3rd millennium BC. The oldest known inhabitants of the region are communities known as "Gas". Written history shows the layers of domination of the Phrygian, Lydian, and Persian kingdoms over the region, starting with the Hittite domination. The city, which was called "Sebastopolis" within the borders of the Pontus Kingdom in the 1st century BC, was annexed to the Cappadocia province of the Roman Empire under the rule of Trajan. After the Migration of Tribes, Araç came under the control of the Danishmends in the eleventh century, and in later periods it lived through the periods of the Ilkhanate, Eretna, and Kadı Burhaneddin.
The region, which came under the rule of the Candaroğulları Principality in 1460, was annexed to the borders of the Ottoman Empire in 1459. The settlement, recorded as "İskefsir" in Ottoman documents, became a municipality in 1866 and a sub-district center in 1868; It gained district status within the Kastamonu province on May 20, 1990. Among its historical heritage elements, the İsmailbey Mosque in Demirli (Küre-i Hadid) Village, the Tatlıca Village Mosque, ancient rock tombs, tumuli, and sarcophagi indicate that it is one of the oldest settlements in Anatolia. The name Araç appears in sources from the Candaroğulları period, meaning "vehicle/way station," because it was located at the intersection of caravan routes between the Black Sea and Central Anatolia.
Geography and Climate
Araç is located in the Western Black Sea Region, 56 km from the provincial center of Kastamonu, 65 km from Karabük, 290 km from Ankara, and 450 km from Istanbul. Its coordinates are 41° 16′ N, 33° 34′ E, its elevation is 641 m above sea level, and its management area is 1,880 km². It is surrounded by the southern foothills of the Ilgaz Mountains to the north, Kastamonu and İhsangazi to the east, Safranbolu to the west, and Ilgaz and Ovacık districts to the south. The district's terrain consists of alluvial plains carried by the Araç and Soğanlı streams, which form deep valleys, and the plateaus and foothills that border them. The soil structure is sandy-loam and clayey alluvium in the valley floors, and stony, sliding mineral formations on the higher elevations.
Araç ( TC Araç District Governorship )
The climate exhibits characteristics of a transition between the humid conditions of the Black Sea and the Central Anatolian continental climate. Summers are hot and relatively dry; winters are cold and snowy. The average temperature in July and August is 20–24 °C, and the average temperature in January is -2–2 °C. Total annual precipitation reaches 450–500 mm, concentrated in winter and spring and falling in summer. Snow cover can reach 1–1.5 m between November and March on the town's high plateaus and foothills. The district's 44 plateaus, including Munay, Fındıklı, Başköy, Sıragömü, Kirazlı, Gölcük, and Eğriceova, are scattered between elevations of 785–1,900 m. The vegetation consists of black pine, Scots pine, Turkish pine, fir, beech, and oak, covering all elevations except arable lands.
Population and Demography
The total population of the Araç district was 21,054 in 2007 and decreased to 18,452 in 2024. During this period, increases of 461, 202, and 554 people were observed in 2017–2018, 2021–2022, and 2022–2023, respectively, while decreases were observed at varying rates in the other years. According to 2024 data, the male population was 9,409 (50.99%) and the female population was 9,043 (49.01%), with the difference between the sexes generally remaining at a few hundred people. Annual population changes fluctuate due to factors such as local registry updates and migration movements.
Economy
The Araç economy primarily consists of agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry. Wheat, barley, corn, and legumes are produced in the irrigated valley bottoms, while drought-resistant grain crops such as rye and sainfoin are produced in dryland areas. Limited agricultural mechanization and a lack of equipment and irrigation infrastructure dictate yields. The richness and floral diversity of the plateau flora allow for small-scale beekeeping, contributing to rural household incomes.
Small ruminant farming is common. Limited pastureland limits grazing time per animal, while meat and milk production supplement family income. Timber production, the collection, and trade of non-timber forest products (chestnuts, mushrooms) are extensively pursued across a total forest area of 75,000 hectares.
Industrial infrastructure is limited, and the district operates only agricultural facilities such as flour mills and animal feed businesses. Due to its location on the Kastamonu-Karabük highway, the trade and service sector grows only marginally through the marketing of local products. Financial services are provided through Ziraat Bank and Halkbank branches, Agricultural Credit and Tradesmen's Guarantee Cooperatives. The number of registered taxpayers in existing businesses and cooperatives provides data on the scale of economic activity in the region. Out-migration tends to increase during the winter season due to the inadequacy of non-agricultural employment opportunities.
Culture, Tourism, and Cuisine
Araç's cultural heritage boasts archaeological diversity, including ancient rock tombs, early mosque ruins, Ottoman-era bridges, and cemetery inscriptions. The wooden highland houses on the Munay, Başköy, Kirazlı, and Eğriceova plateaus are surviving examples of traditional folk architecture. Summer highland festivals, folk dances, horse races, and events showcasing local handicrafts contribute to the transmission of the region's culture from generation to generation. Hunting tourism has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the abundant wild boar and rabbit populations in the extensive forest areas. Canyoning, rock climbing routes, and cave exploration (including İntaş, Çal, and Kokurdan caves) provide a valuable resource for groups interested in nature sports.
Thermal tourism has developed around the 48–52°C thermal spring in the town center. Facilities such as guesthouses, motels, and small hotels offer permanent treatments, massage, and rehabilitation services. Natural lakes and streams (Zınav, Göllüköy, Hasanşeyh, Kurt, and Mehmetbey lakes; Araç and Soğanlı streams) provide recreational areas suitable for picnics, camping, and amateur water sports.
The local cuisine includes cereal-based noodles, tarhana, and bazlama varieties; dairy products include butter and village cheese; meat dishes and legume soups. Dough-walnut buns, keşkek, tarhana soup, tirit, oğmaç soup, etli ekmek, börek, and village helva are frequently consumed. Among forest products, gathering kanlıca, tellice, and morel mushrooms; making kiren, wild pear, hawthorn, and rosehip jams; and producing pestil (fruit pulp) and bulhayır diversify the income sources of rural families.
While the weaving looms and wooden craftsmanship found in every household's garden in the past may be only a memory today, they shed light on the local economy and culture. A portion of the district's population specializes in sweet and Turkish delight production and baking, working in larger cities. These sectoral connections are Araç's economic response to both traditional and contemporary production networks.
