Karaman

Districts

• Ayrancı
• Başyayla
• Ermenek
• Kazımkarabekir
• Merkez
• Sarıveliler

Tourist experience

Steep five-story cliffside cave dwellings at Manazan and subterranean red-microbe aging vaults define the rugged rural landscape of Karaman. In Karaman city center, visitors can explore the monumental Karaman Castle, the 13th-century Aktekke Mosque (Mader-i Mevlana Mosque, housing the tomb of Rumi's mother), Hatuniye Madrasa, and Yunus Emre Mosque and Tomb. Outside the capital, the province features Binbirkilise (a monumental Byzantine rock-church city on the slopes of Mount Karadağ), the awe-inspiring Ermenek Canyon and Dam Lake, Manazan Caves (sheer rock-cut cliff dwellings), and İncesu Cave.

Key points of interest

Karaman Castle (Karaman Kalesi)

A well-preserved medieval fortress built on a central mound during Seljuk and Karamanoğlu times, offering panoramic views over the city.

Aktekke Mosque (Mader-i Mevlana Mosque)

A historic 1370 Karamanoğlu mosque housing the tombs of Mevlana Rumi's mother, brother, and relatives.

Hatuniye Madrasa

A magnificent 1382 Karamanoğlu madrasa featuring an intricately carved stone portal, built by Nefise Sultan.

Binbirkilise (Karadağ)

An ancient 4th to 9th-century Byzantine ecclesiastical center on Mount Karadağ featuring monumental stone church ruins.

Manazan Caves

A sheer five-story limestone cliff face containing hundreds of interconnected ancient rock-hewn human dwellings and storage galleries.

Investment outlook

Karaman is a powerhouse of agricultural production and food manufacturing in Türkiye. The province leads the nation in apple tree count and commercial apple output, housing high-tech packaging plants and cold-storage facilities. Furthermore, Karaman boasts a world-class biscuit, confectionery, and bakery products industrial cluster within the Karaman Organized Industrial Zone, exporting processed foods globally. Expanding solar energy parks across its sunny plains drive green energy growth.

Living here

Life in Karaman is safe, peaceful, and family-oriented, characterized by modern urban layouts, clean mountain air, and strong cultural pride. Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University brings a vibrant student community to the city. Residents enjoy accessible public parks, rich local culinary traditions (such as Karaman Arabaşı and Callba Kebab), and low living expenses.

History & cultural identity

In 1277, Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey declared Turkish as the official state language from this historic citadel town, cementing Karaman's pivotal role in Anatolian linguistic identity. Anciently known as Larende, the city was inhabited since Hittite, Roman, and Byzantine eras. It reached its historical zenith in the 13th century as the capital of the Karamanoğlu Principality (Karamanoğulları Beyliği), the most powerful rival to the early Ottoman state in Anatolia. On May 13, 1277, Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey issued his historic decree declaring Turkish as the official language of administration and culture, stating: 'From this day forward, no language other than Turkish shall be spoken in the palace, the divan, the council, or the public square.' The region was also the ancestral home of Yunus Emre and the family of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi.