Winter paradise Uludağ offers you an unforgettable holiday experience

Strongly associated with Bursa -the first capital of the Ottomans- which contains the most exquisite examples of early Ottoman architecture, Uludağ (Mount Olympus) has always attracted people's attention since the ancient times and has become the subject of many legends. Today, renowned as the 'Snow Paradise', Uludağ is the most popular winter sports centre in Turkey. The mountain is 2,543 metres (8,340 ft) high and its high slopes are covered with a good quality snow between December and April. Catering for all demands and providing hire facilities, guides and trainers, the ski resort is overrun with tourists from all over the world. Uludağ has 13 different pistes suitable for alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and heli-skiing. Uludağ is not only a winter sports centre; it also provides excellent facilities where you can enjoy a wonderful family holiday. The resort was designed to take into account your every need. Saunas, fitness centres, swimming pools, bars and shopping facilities are available. Cafes and restaurants and a lively nightlife with shows and entertainments are on offer for you to have a memorable and unforgettable holiday experience. Yet another aspect of Uludağ is its proximity to Bursa city, which was the Ottoman capital for a while and considered the bedrock of Ottoman architecture. If you are interested in history and culture you can visit some of the best examples of Ottoman art in Bursa. You can also take a cultural tour to Cumalıkızık, which has maintained its renowned ancient town character or İznik (Nicaea) where you can discover both Byzantine and Ottoman monuments and buildings. There are camping sites situated along the designated trekking routes such as Karabelen, Kirazlıyayla and Sarıalan for nature lovers. Uludağ's rich flora is great for nature-watchers. From early spring to late summer you can see thousands of plant species from the slopes to the summit of mountain; of these species 26 are endemic to Uludağ and 78 are endemic to Turkey. You can reach Uludağ by road, being approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Bursa city centre. If you want to have a weekend or short break in Uludağ you can arrange transport (an easy bus ride) through one of the tour operators in Istanbul.