Atabey (District)

Atabey is a district of place province in Türkiye’s Mediterranean Region. The district center is located approximately 21–23 kilometers from Isparta. Covering an area of 202 square kilometers, Atabey lies between the extensions of Barla Mountain and the Bozanönü Plain. Within the district boundaries, the ancient city of Seleukeia Sidera, Ertokuş Medresesi, various tumuli, traditional structures, and museums like historical and cultural heritage sites. Atabey is one of the settlements that attract regional attention for both its historical continuity and its contemporary socio-cultural structure.

Atabey District (Isparta Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

History

The settlement history of Atabey extends back to the Chalcolithic Era. Archaeological excavations conducted at Pembeli Höyük have uncovered findings dating to the Early Chalcolithic period. Excavations at the Göndürle I and II Mounds in Harmanören Village demonstrate continuous habitation in the region from the 3rd millennium BCE through the Early and Middle Bronze Age. In antiquity, this region, known as Agrai or Agpia, came under the dominion of Alexander the Great in 334 BCE. The city of Seleukeia, founded by Antiochus I Soter, son of Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander’s generals, is located within the boundaries of today’s Bayat Village. During the Roman period, it acquired the epithet Sidera, meaning “iron,” becoming Seleukeia Sidera, and in the Byzantine period it was attached to the Bishopric of Agrai.

Following the Battle of Manzikert, the region was conquered in 1224 by Mübarizeddin Ertokuş, the governor and chief administrator of the Seljuk Sultan I. Alaeddin Keykubad. In the same year, Ertokuş commissioned the construction of a madrasa; this building became one of the principal structures documenting the region’s scholarly and architectural significance during the Seljuk period. Atabey was fully Turkicized by the early 13th century and retained its importance during the Ottoman period, appearing in 16th-century records as one of 16 market centers subordinate to the Hamit Sanjak. Particularly the cotton grown in Pembeli Village and woven into fabric known as “Donluk” gained recognition in Ottoman markets. Atabey is recorded in the 1478, 1501, 1522, and 1568 tax registers as a subdistrict of Eğirdir, and in the 17th century, it was noted as Secretary Çelebi’s Cihannüma as accident. During the Republican era, the settlement was officially named “Atabey” by a decision of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in 1926, became a township in 1953, and attained district status in 1960.

Geographical Structure

Location and Boundaries

The district is bordered by Senirkent and Uluborlu to the north, Gönen to the west, Eğirdir to the east, and Isparta center district to the south. The total area of the district is 202 km². The northern and west sections are characterized by the rugged topography of Barla Mountain, which extends in a northeast-southwest direction. South of Barla Mountain, plateaus rise to elevations between 1000 and 1500 meters above sea level. These plateaus are partially covered by rich meadow and pasturelands. A portion of the Bozanönü Plain in the south also falls within Atabey’s boundaries. The northern extension of the Isparta Plain reaches Atabey’s territory, divided by Araptepe, Bozanönü, Erenler and Çeşme hills. In this transitional zone, where the plains meet the mountainous areas, oak woodlands are found.

Climate and Vegetation

Atabey district lies within a transitional zone between Mediterranean and land climates. A climate pattern is observed with hot and dry summers and cold, rainy winters. This climatic transition has led to diversification in agricultural activities and a complex plant cover. The district’s average annual precipitation is approximately 330 kilograms per square meter, with this value concentrated particularly in winter and spring months.

The vegetation varies according to the region’s topography and climatic conditions. In mountainous areas, particularly on the slopes of Barla Mountain, natural oak woodlands occur sporadically. Shrub formations and maquis species are also found in these areas. On the plateaus, grasslands and pastures predominate, indicating the district’s suitability for animal husbandry. In the plain areas, agricultural soils support fruit orchards, field crops, and particularly rose cultivation. The village of İslamköy in Atabey is a prominent agricultural center known for its rose gardens and rose oil production.

Economic Structure

The economy of Atabey district is primarily based on agriculture and animal husbandry. The district’s natural structure and climatic conditions provide a favorable environment for the development of these two key economic activities. Apple, cherry, olive and grape are among the most widely cultivated fruits. Grain, legumes, and sugar beet production are also carried out. The most notable agricultural activity is rose cultivation, concentrated especially around İslamköy. In factories established in this region, roses are processed to produce various products, primarily rose oil. This production, symbolically linked to Isparta and its surroundings, plays a decisive role in Atabey’s economy.

Isparta Rose (Isparta Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry)

Historically, textile manufacturing also held a place in Atabey’s economy. During the Ottoman period, the fabric known as “Donluk,” woven from cotton grown in Pembeli (Pamuklu) Village, was popular in domestic markets. Today, small-scale small industry facilities are established to process and market agricultural products. Animal husbandry continues in traditional form, supported by the availability of pastures and grasslands, with small and large livestock farming and milk production being practiced.

In recent years, organic agricultural practices have begun to be promoted. Additionally, small enterprises producing fruit juice are present. Developments have also been observed in non-agricultural economic sectors, with increased efforts to assess industrial investment potential and rural tourism opportunities. Integrating agriculture-based industry with natural and historical heritage for tourism is among the initiatives aimed at diversifying Atabey’s economy.

Demographic Structure

Atabey district is a small-scale settlement and one of the least densely populated districts of Isparta province. According to 2024 data, the district’s total population is 6,090. The population has remained relatively stable throughout the Republican era, with limited fluctuations in growth and decline.

Demographically, Atabey is a rural settlement exhibiting a tendency toward migration. The majority of the young population migrates to the provincial center or larger cities due to education, employment, and living conditions. In contrast, a significant portion of the resident population is engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry; the age age distribution is weighted toward middle and older age groups. The district includes the township of İslamköy and four village settlements (such as Bayat and Harmanören). The social and cultural fabric reflects a traditional way of life, with strong family structures and a settled community.

Education

Educational services in Atabey district are provided through institutions operating under the Ministry of National Education. As of 2024, the district has a total of 11 school and institution. In these institutions, 85 classrooms are served by 109 teacher, educating 811 students. Educational institutions include one preschool, two primary schools, two middle school, one Imam Hatip middle school, one Anatolian high school, one vocational and technical Anatolian high school, one people training center, and one teacher’s house and evening art school. Additionally, Atabey Vocational School, affiliated with Isparta Applied Sciences University, operates in the district, offering programs in Computer Technologies and Office Services and Secretarial Studies.

Tourism

Atabey district possesses potential for historical and nature tourism due to its historical structures, archaeological sites, and natural geography. One of the district’s most notable historical structures is the Ertokuş Medresesi, dating to the Anatolian Seljuk period. Built in 1224 by Mübarizeddin Ertokuş, governor of Antalya, this structure is a significant example of Seljuk-era stone craftsmanship, featuring a covered type madrasa design. With its planned courtyard, fountain, arched dome, and stone mihrab, the medreses attracts visitor interest both architecturally and historically. Adjacent to the medreses is the Ertokuş Kümbeti, one of the monumental tomb structures of the period, still in use today for visitation.

Ertokuş Medresesi (Türkiye Culture Portal)

The Seleukeia Sidera Ancient City, located within Atabey’s boundaries in Bayat Village, has a layered historical record from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Archaeological remains including the acropolis, theater, rock-cut sacred area, temple podium, and necropolis attract interest for both scientific research and cultural tourism. Roman-era aqueduct and cistern remains shed light on the city’s infrastructure system.

Another major tourist site in the district is the Süleyman Demirel Democracy and Development Museum in İslamköy. Constructed in a külliye style, the complex comprises a main museum building, mosque, library, and archive structures. The museum presents excerpts from the life of the 9th President of Türkiye, Süleyman Demirel, and holds documents and artifacts reflecting Türkiye’s close period political and economic development. This museum, a destination for both Local and foreign visitors, illuminates the region’s contemporary history.

Süleyman Demirel Democracy and Development Museum (Isparta Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

Aya Yorgi, also known as the İshotya Church, is located in the Doğancı neighborhood of Isparta city center and dates to the mid-19th century. Its construction is dated between 1857 and 1860. The inscription above its entrance door is preserved at the Isparta Museum. As a typical example of 19th-century Anatolian Christian architecture, it holds cultural heritage significance for regional tourism.

Aya Yorgi Church (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Atabey also offers opportunities for nature tourism. The slopes near Bayat Village are suitable for paragliding. Steep elevations and prevailing wind conditions provide an alternative destination for those interested in outdoor sports. Additionally, the high plateaus with summer pasture characteristics offer potential for hiking and rural tourism.