The Çal Vine Road Cultural Route project has been completed with the support of GEKA

DENIZLI (IHA) – The “Çal Vineyard Route Cultural Path” project, carried out by the Çal District Governorship with the support of the South Aegean Development Agency (GEKA), has been completed.

The project was implemented by the Çal District Governorship as part of the Technical Support program of the South Aegean Development Agency, which operates under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology’s General Directorate of Development Agencies.

Within the framework of the agency’s “New Destinations in Ecotourism Results-Oriented Program,” the project was launched to highlight and develop the ecotourism potential of Çal, one of its focus districts. As part of the project, two main Çal Cultural Routes were identified, along with four alternative thematic routes classified thematically, 12 walking routes, and 12 cycling routes.

While two main Çal Vineyard Cultural Routes were determined, thematic routes were identified under the main routes as “Çal Vineyard Cultural Route”, “History and Culture Route”, “Local Handicrafts and Historical Heritage Route”, and “Nature and Adventure Route”. Additionally, 12 cycling and 12 walking routes were identified and mapped. The designated routes were marked on applications such as Google Earth, Google Maps, and Wikiloc. Furthermore, local sites including the Clothing and Cutting Workshop, Çal Women’s Cooperative, Kayıpazarı Mosque Minaret, Leather Workshop, Weaving Workshop, Hançalar Bridge, Kuzubağ Winery, Basket Workshop, Historical Plane Tree, Erdel Winery, Mahmut Gazi Tomb, Küp Winery, Ekşi Höyük, Tozlukara Bridge, Sheep Crossing Point, Apollon Lairbenos Temple, Dionisopalis Ancient City, Felt Workshop, Weeping Rock (Asmaaltı Waterfall), Çakırlar Stone Houses, and City Forest were examined and photographed on-site.

GEKA Secretary General Özgür Akdoğan stated about the project: “Our Çal district offers a variety of alternatives in tourism with its rich biodiversity, natural habitats, historical and cultural heritage extending from ancient times to the present, and its fairy-tale vineyards. With our project, the goal is to bring these values into tourism with a sustainable tourism approach, positively strengthening the image of the region, and increasing the interest of local and foreign visitors to the district. This way, tourism will continue throughout the year, and the tourism potential of the region will reach broader audiences.”

Özgür Akdoğan also noted that they are carrying out many activities in cooperation with local stakeholders, from planning to promotion, and from project support to investment efforts to strengthen and spread ecotourism in Çal, one of the focus districts of the agency’s “New Destinations in Ecotourism Results-Oriented Program.” He stated that the projects planned for the development of Çal can be defined as parts of a whole. Each project serves one another. He expressed that with the implementation of the projects, Çal will reach an exemplary state in local development.

Finally, Akdoğan added that the report prepared within the scope of the Çal Vineyard Route Cultural Path project can be accessed from GEKA’s document center.