Bursa awaits holidaymakers with hot springs, ski tracks

Once a capital of the late Ottoman Empire, Turkey's northwestern Bursa province looks forward to hosting visitors during winter break, with its leading winter tourism center of Uludağ and hot springs. Holidaymakers travelling to Bursa, one of the most preferred winter tourism destinations of Turkey, can enjoy the hot springs that are believed to heal various diseases. Cable car is one of the most popular transport means to Uludağ, which is some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city center. Visitors can snowboard and skii down the slopes and ride on icesleds and snow bikes. Mount Uludağ area has a bed capacity of 7,000 and contains 20 skiing tracks ranging from 300 to 980 meters long, making it a leading touristic destination in the winter season. Uludağ is a winter tourism center recognized both locally and internationally. Bearing the marks of 700 years old Ottoman architecture, Cumalıkızık village takes you centuries back with its narrow streets and colourful houses. Dating back seven centuries, the Bursa Covered Bazaar is one of the first markets of the Ottoman era, is still one of the most popular centers of commerce in the city. Both the village and the bazaar are included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Tourists have the chance of tasting the village breakfast, composed of organic indigenous delicacies. Hot springs are also important and popular attractions in the area. Ibrahim Calp, a holidaymaker, described Uludağ as a 'white paradise', noting that everyone should visit the area to enjoy skiing and snowboarding. 'This is one of the most beautiful parts of the country, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. We can feel both cold and hot here. This makes it possible to enjoy four seasons at the same time. I recommend everyone visit this site,' he added.