Emperor Nero used to come to the summer resort of Salmydessos, as it was known at the time, when he was the Governor of Thrace. The gate at the entrance of the village is a Byzantine work from those times. It is possible to come across ruins of city walls around the village. In the following centuries, the village, which was named Midye (it is not known who gave this name), was settled by Greeks who earned their living by fishing. Turks from Thessaloniki currently live in the village. Its most important and unique structure is the “Agia Nikola Monastery”.

There is not much information about the monastery, which was carved into rocks. According to one claim, it was left over from the Genoese. The monastery is quite deteriorated. The stone columns have melted, and there are faint remains of graves inside. The section called the bloody pool is full of stone pieces. In this pool, people found guilty by Christian clergy were drowned to death. 164 km from Istanbul.

You can reach Kıyıköy, which is far away, by following the Edirne (TEM) road, turning towards Saray at the Çerkezköy junction, and following the winding road. A place worth visiting.

If you are tired of the concreted and polluted city life and are looking for untouched and unspoiled beauties, turn your route to Kıyıköy. This is a village overlooking the harsh waves of the Black Sea. With its narrow streets, tiny streams trying to reach the sea, always fresh fish, and historical buildings, Kıyıköy is a place where Istanbulites breathe.

How about spending your weekend in an old fishing town from ancient times? I’m talking about Kıyıköy, located in the Vize district of Kırklareli, on the Black Sea coast of Thrace. Frankly, a single weekend is not enough to enjoy this charming fishing town, where you step out of time and where ticking clocks mean nothing as long as you stay there.

Once you discover this beauty; From now on, you will become addicted to Kıyıköy, and your cars will be directed towards this town many times at every opportunity. Even Nero, when he was the governor of Thrace, often came to the resort, as it was known at the time, Salmidoses. In addition to its history, nature and delicious seafood varieties, this charming town also contains a wealth of wonderful subjects for photography enthusiasts. In summer and spring, its sparkling sea and beach, and the weeping willows along the streams. Let us remind you that having a picnic under it is waiting for you as a weekend option in these cold winter days. Kıyıköy, a settlement center from ancient times to the present day; Its biggest feature is that it brings together nature and history. Located on a hill rising between the Papuç and Kazan streams, Kıyıköy is a place where blue and green hold hands like two lovers. The arched palace gate at the entrance of Kıyıköy, which overlooks the waves of the Black Sea from a slightly higher hill, is a Byzantine work that has survived to the present day.

Around Kıyıköy, you can come across the ruins of city walls dating back to the Salmidoses. It is not known how Salmidoses came to be in the following centuries, but it is not known how anyone gave it a name, but it took the name Midye. After the Balkan War, this charming fishing town, where the Turks from Thessaloniki, who were displaced from their homes, were settled, was called Midye until recent times, but today it has started to be called Kıyıköy;

The fishing port, where you feel like a seagull flapping its wings when you look at it from above, was once a natural harbor where pirate boats escaping from the rough waves of the Black Sea took shelter. This small bay now hosts fishermen from Sarıyer as well as fishermen from Kıyıköy throughout the season. With bonito, turbot, turbot, haddock, mullet, red mullet, bream and anchovy fish, depending on the season, unloaded from the alamanas anchored in this harbor after fishing in the open seas. You can enjoy fresh mullet and trout caught in the streams at the shabby fish restaurants located right on the hill. In my opinion, it is one of the best things to do in this season. In the summer months, the circular beach formed by the curved flow of Papuçdere, similar to Kumburnu on the famous Ölüdeniz coast of Fethiye, is flocked by sea lovers. Starting from the spring months when the plum and almond trees start to bloom, you can rent in this stream. While you can travel by boat to your heart’s content, enthusiasts can also find quiet environments to cast their fishing rods for freshwater fish if they wish. Not only photographers, but also those who engage in artistic pursuits such as painting, writing poems and novels can find serene environments where they can soak in the scent of the fresh countryside, bask in the breeze of the waters, and listen to the chirping of the birds. No matter what season you go to Kıyıköy, you should definitely see and visit the Aya Nikola monastery, which you can reach by car.

Although there is not much information about it, it is estimated that the monastery, which has been left to its fate today, was hand-carved into the rocks. There is also a rumor circulating among the public about the Bloody Pool located inside the monastery. According to this rumor; People who were tried and found guilty by Christian clergy were killed by drowning in this pool.

This is where the name Bloody Pool comes from. It is known that the Hagia Nikola Rock Monastery is an important structure built in the 6th century during the reign of Justinian.

The circular beach, formed by the curved flow of the streams, is a favorite of campers and sea lovers in the summer months. The cave church carved into the rocks, located on the same shore and which you can drive to, is another must-see ancient ruin.

City waters, typical village houses, lace-like Black Sea coasts are among the things you can see. If you are planning to travel in the summer months, you can take a boat trip in a boat that you can rent on stagnant streams whose direction is unknown, accompanied by the sound of birds and oars, and you can fish in the streams. There are also suitable environments in the region, such as small waterfalls and streamsides, where you can have a picnic.

Those who are interested in artistic pursuits such as photography and painting can also find suitable places for themselves. During your entire trip, you can taste the daily seafood in restaurants overlooking the sea, and relax in the tea gardens by looking at the stunning view of Kıyıköy from Kartaltepe and the last rays of the purple sun as it sets behind the mountains.

Places to Visit in Kıyıköy

Kıyıköy, which has been a settlement center since ancient times, is on the Black Sea coast of Thrace and is connected to the Vize district of Kırklareli. The region is a peaceful holiday resort, 164 km away from Istanbul, with easy access.

You can spend a different weekend by traveling to nature and history in Kıyıköy. Located on the Black Sea coast right next to Istanbul, Kıyıköy attracts attention with its clean air, pristine architectural texture, uniquely beautiful nature and delicious seafood. It starts in the second and third months of the year and continues until the fourth month and is famous for its turbot fish, which is at the top of the list of delicious fish.

You can spend a different weekend in Kıyıköy by traveling to both nature and history.

Kıyıköy, which has been a settlement center since ancient times, is located in the Vize district of Kırklareli, on the Black Sea coast of Thrace. The protected Kıyıköy is 164 km from Istanbul. Located on a high hill stretching like a peninsula between the streams named “Pabuç” and “Kazan” flowing from both sides and reaching the sea, Kıyıköy attracts attention with its striking geography.

Some of the coastal rocks carved by the rough waves of the Black Sea stand out as monumental rocks and some as deep caves. While the giant caves in the bays where pirate boats once hid are still flocked by visitors today, the view seen from Kartaltepe fascinates the visitors. The circular beach, formed by the curved flow of the streams, is a favorite of campers and sea lovers in the summer months.

The cave church carved into the rocks, located on the same shore and which you can drive to, is another must-see ancient ruin.

City waters, typical village houses, lace-like Black Sea coasts are among the things you can see. If you are planning to travel in the summer months, you can take a boat trip in a boat that you can rent on stagnant streams whose direction is unknown, accompanied by the chorus of birds and the sound of oars, and you can fish in the streams. There are also quiet environments in the region, such as small waterfalls and streamside, where you can have a picnic.

Those who are interested in artistic pursuits such as photography and painting can also find suitable places for themselves. During your entire trip, you can taste the daily seafood in restaurants overlooking the sea, and relax in the tea gardens by looking at the stunning view of Kıyıköy from Kartaltepe and the last rays of the purple sun as it sets behind the mountains.

CAVE MONASTERY9. This monastery, which was built in the 19th century and is among the religious works of the Byzantine period, was carved into rocks. There are crosses, some pictures and various reliefs engraved on the walls of the complex, which consists of a clover-shaped chapel on the slope of the valley in the northwest of the district, a large-plan church with a single nave, as well as irregularly placed rooms, a grave chapel and regular cells.

Kıyıköy is located within the walled area of ​​the medieval Salmydessosu. The walls of the ancient city, whose east faces the Black Sea, whose north and south-facing slopes descend steeply to the stream valley, only giving passage to the west, were first built in the 6th century during the reign of Lustirianus. It was also repaired in the 9th and 10th centuries.

The wall height reaches 6 meters in some places and the thickness of the walls is 2.20 meters. Kıyıköy, the breathing tube of Thrace, became the favorite of Istanbulites with its streams reminiscent of Ağva. If you are coming to Kıyıköy for the first time, watching the Black Sea coast is a pleasure in itself. The water particles scattered around by the waves hitting the rocks are refreshing with the iodine and sea scent they carry with them.

While the sandy beaches stretching on both sides of Kıyıköy satisfy the sea longing of campers and day-trippers, silently flowing streams offer a variety of alternatives. Reminiscent of Ağva streams with their similarities and activities, Kıyıköy streams have not lost their virginity yet. The dense trees on both sides host birds and offer unique beauties to those who come to visit the stream, while the birds host the guests with recitals.

You get on one of the rented pedal boats on the shore and start pedaling in the calm stream. The lush green environment and the sound of water soothe your soul.

During your trip to the stream in the forest, broad-leaved plants that surface at the bottom and on the shores and those that try to come out can be clearly seen. Water turtles and frogs sunbathing next to water lily flowers on the leaves spread on the water surface, allowing you to get up to a few meters away.

You can pull your 4-seat pedal boat or rental boat, which you rented for 10-15 TL per hour, next to a coastal tree, watch and experience this peace as much as you want, and feel rested in your bones. If you take something to snack with you, your happiness increases even more. Now we are ascending from sea level to the village again.

Various restaurants on the streets of Kıyıköy spread fish-pan smells that make you hungry and whet your appetite, and make you forget about this feeling even if you are full. If you have just watched the beach from the tea garden on Kartal Hill, this time you may want to take a break by looking at the fisherman’s shelter.

The boats inside the breakwater color your view as if to say “Take my picture, take my photo”, and the “Hookhead Nosed” ones, which are rarely seen today, manage to attract your attention with their models. If you are traveling by car, you can take a full tour of the harbor, or if you are walking, you can have a panoramic view from the path leading to the village, from the steps, and from the hill on the cape. There are also other natural beauties hidden around Kıyıköy.

The turn you will notice on the way leads to Çamlıköy (Kastro), and another turn leads to Kasatura Bay. If you don’t want to look for any of these, let a guide show me around, find my hostel and tell you which restaurant is best to eat at, Zeki, a young man from Kıyıköy, has been providing guidance services to visitors coming to Kıyıköy for years. Mobile: 0(537)893 50 63

Editor’s note… Kıyıköy, which is in the protected area, has been carefully protected against construction. Illegal buildings and kiosks are being demolished under the supervision of the gendarmerie. With minor developments since 1992, hostels and restaurants have tried to increase and improve their service opportunities, quality and capacity. A discotheque was built far behind the beach, and a horse farm was built in an area towards the stream. The fishing shelter has become more protected with the breakwater.

The asphalt road route has become more convenient with signs. Soon, Kıyıköy will become a candidate to become another holiday center as famous as Ağva. One of the unchanging features is that you will have the opportunity to sleep soundly the night of the Kıyıköy day, filling your lungs with clean air, and you will start the new day fit and a little more morale.

Kıyıköy Pictures