Gumusluk

Colorful Village of Bodrum

Gumusluk is an interesting village with its seafood restaurants, magnificent sunsets and its fascinating history.

Gumusluk, which is one of the rare places that still has the appearance of a quaint fishing town, is one of the indispensable stops of Bodrum holidays for both local and foreign tourists.

As you park your car and walk down to the beach, colorful stands selling handicrafts greet you left and right. When you pass them, you reach Gumusluk. This little bay is worth seeing, with restaurants lined up by the seaside, local small boats around the fishing pier, venues decorated with dried agave plant poles and gourds, coffee houses with blue wooden chairs, and a pleasant walking path that stretches along the seafront.

If you go to the right, there are many different restaurants. The walking path, which continues past these delightful venues with fish and seafood on their main menu, takes you to a quiet cove where boats anchor.

When you walk to the left, you will be greeted by the public beach, restaurants where you can swim in front of them, and cute cafes. You can find live bands performing in this part of Gumusluk beach.

If you go to the left before entering the parking lot at the entrance, the Eklisia (Church) here will catch your eye. Although it now serves as a restaurant, Eklisia, which is remembered as a place where fabulous music events were held, is also the starting point of Gumusluk International Classical Music Festival.

Gumusluk is a charming village where you can spend your whole day with pleasure. You can enjoy the sea on the pebbly beach lying in front of a pleasant restaurant, cafe or bar before noon and sit at a delicious fish restaurant accompanied by the magical sunset of Gumusluk in the evening.

There are also many large and small pensions, hotels and restaurants in Gumusluk. The peaceful Aegean scenery and stunning sunsets, which can be viewed from the terraces of some, are truly worth seeing.

One of the interesting features of Gumusluk is Asar Island, generally known as the Rabbit Island, which can be easily walked on the historical road in the sea.

History of Gumusluk

Gumusluk’s ancient name was Myndos and it has a rich historical heritage. The historical city of Myndos, which was gradually unearthed by the excavations, is also abundant in archaeological findings, as it has been under the rule of various empires.

The research carried out in Gumusluk and its surroundings show traces of a settlement dating from the beginning of 1000 BC to the 4th century BC. However, no remains have survived from this city known as Myndos, apart from the ruined parts of the circular city walls and a tower.

Professor Bilge Umar informs that the name of the city comes from the word Mandra in Luwian language, and that this word comes from “Mada”, which means the worshiper of Mi-Wanda, Ma-li, Ma (Mother Goddess). The Greek pronunciation of this word was Myndos. The discovery of the temple of Kybele, which was seated on a large rock in archaeological excavations, and the Findings dating back to the 6th century BC confirm this thesis.

A 17-line inscription was unearthed from the Kybele temple area found during the excavations. The inscription was about event when the Stratonikeia People's Assembly sent a delegation to Myndos and demanded that the rights granted to the city of Alabanda (exemption from port tax) be granted to them too. This document proves that Myndos gained importance as a port city.

However, the dream of Mausolos to create a large port city could not be realized and its population decreased, and it remained as a small settlement within the large area surrounded by the city walls.

Alexander the Great, who besieged Halicarnassus in 334 BC, attacked Myndos too, but retreated due to the brave defense of the citizens and the help from the city of Halicarnassus by sea. Alexander had to retreat and continued the siege of Halicarnassus. Myndos, which surrendered after Halicarnassus fell into the hands of the Macedonians, was annexed to the kingdom established by Ptolemaios in Egypt after Alexander's death. In 197, the city went under the protection of Rhodes, an ally of this kingdom.

The last king of the Pergamon State, Attalos III died without leaving an heir and in his will he annexed his country, Myndos, to Rome. As the whole of western Anatolia, Myndos became a city of Rome.

King of Pergamum, son of Eumenes, Aristonikos II claimed that the will was fraudulent and started a bloody uprising. During the rebellion the ships of his ally Focaians occupied Myndos in 131 BC. However, the Romans suppressed the rebellion and reasserted their sovereignty in the province of Asia Minor.

Brutus and Cassius, who left Italy after Caesar, ruled Anatolia for a while on behalf of the Roman Senate, while the port of Myndos became Cassius' naval base. After the forces of Brutus and Cassius were defeated by the combined army of Octavianus and Antony in the Battle of Philippoi, Antony connected Myndos to the Rhodes administration, like other Carian cities.
 


After the revolt that started in Caria against the harsh administration of the Rhodesians, the region became a part of Rome again, and it gradually regressed with the threats of chaos, war and pirates, and was abandoned because it could not take its share from the brilliant development experienced by the Anatolian cities during the imperial period.

International Gumusluk Classical Music Festival

The Festival, which has been taking place since 2004, is one of Bodrum's established events. In 2020, the 19th International Gumusluk Classical Music Festival brought music lovers together again.

During the festival, the beach on the left side of Gumusluk hosts unforgettable music concerts. The main stage of the festival is Gumusluk’s ancient stone quarry in Koyunbaba area. The quarry here is the very same one that provided stone slabs for the construction of the Mausoleum of King Mausolos in the anquity.

Gumusluk Academy

Gumusluk Academy Foundation, which was established in 1995, is a foundation that brings together individuals and organizations from various disciplines who are struggling to keep the earth sustainable in the future.

The foundation, which also serves as an art, culture, ecology and scientific research center, organizes many activities throughout the year.



Gumusluk Attracts Intellectuals

It is a known fact that Bodrum is one of the most important attraction centers of Turkiye. Especially Gumusluk is embraced by Bodrum lovers from all walks of life, and attracts people who are devoted to art.

Influential artists come and settle in Gumusluk in the latest years. Author Latife Tekin who came to Gumusluk Academy and couldn't leave, actors and directors like Nejat Isler, Ugur Polat, Talat Bulut, Erkan Can, Fikret Kuskan, Vildan Atasever, Yavuz Ozkan, whom we know from the world of cinema and theater, and prominent artists such as Deniz Turkali are among those who call Gumusluk home.

You have a good chance of meeting the famous pianists Gulsin Onay and Eren Levendoglu in Gumusluk. Moreover, thanks to the festival they organize, they contribute greatly to the number of famous musicians who come to Bodrum.

If we include today's famous musicians like Sarper Semiz and Jehan Barbur, it can be seen what a colorful source of life Gumusluk is. The famours cartoonist Bahadir Baruter and the author Mine Sogut, on the other hand, shape the artistic life in Gumusluk with the beautiful house and garden they have created, and set a good example of the village lifestyle.

Incorporating all these valuable personalities of Turkiye, Gumusluk continues to be a great source of pride for Bodrum.

Transportation



If you have a vehicle, on the main road of Bodrum-Turgutreis you can reach Gumusluk by turning right after passing Gürece. (25 minutes)

You can reach Gumusluk via Kadikalesi by going directly to Turgutreis and turning right through the city without deviating from this road. (10 minutes)


The third way is if you are in Yalikavak, you can reach Gumusluk by a beautiful and winding coastal road. (20 minutes)

It is not possible to enter the Gumusluk beach with your car. But there are parking areas just before the beach area.
In summer, it can be difficult to find a place in the car parks.

Gumusluk Taxi:
Phone: 0252 394 3228

Public transport:
You can reach the current public transportation tariffs of Mugla Metropolitan Municipality by scanning the QR code on your phone.



What to see:


Ruins of the ancient city of Myndos.


Rabbit Island and its surroundings.


Tangerine orchards.


Windmills near Peksimet Village.


Eklisia (Old church).


Old Karakaya Village.


Gumusluk Academy.

Must Do:


Eating fish in restaurants by the sea.


Going to the Rabbit Island by walking from the sea.


Watching the spectacular sunset.


Having breakfast with Turkish bagels and tea at the cafes on the beach.


Enjoy the events held in Eklisia .

Places to enter the sea:
You can swim along the entire beach.

Events:
Gumusluk Classical Music Festival