Last updated on December 18, 2023.

Uşak is an Anatolian city located in an area untouched by tourism, and for good reason. There’s not much of interest in this city to detour travelers, but there’s enough to keep someone busy for a few hours. All in all, it’s skippable.

I visited on a long day trip from Kütahya, around three hours each way. It’s a long trip especially for just a day, but the warmth of the people I encountered in the city made it worth my while. Everyone was friendly and welcoming in this city known as Timénou Thírai (Τημένου Θύραι) during ancient Greek and Byzantine times.

As I mentioned, the highlights in Uşak, known for its quality carpets, are few, unimpressive, and in a fairly compact area. I walked from the bus station into town, which took about 20 minutes.

 

Uşak Archaeology Museum

I started with the tiny Uşak Archaeology Museum (Uşak Arkeoloji Müzesi). At the time of my visit, a new museum was under construction to better showcase and preserve the collection, of which less than 10% was on display. The new museum opened in 2018 and is located south of the city center in the city’s historic train station. Admission is 40₺ (as of May 2023) and it’s open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Former Uşak Archaeology Museum in Uşak, Turkey
Former Uşak Archaeology Museum

One of the world’s most important collections of ancient Lydian artifacts is on display at the museum. These artifacts were found near the city.

Lydian wall paintings
Lydian wall paintings

The crown jewel of the museum is the Karun Treasure. This collection comprises of several 2,600 year old artifacts stolen from a Lydian noblewoman’s tomb near Uşak in 1966 and smuggled out of the country. They were later bought by New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, but returned to Turkey in 1993 after a long legal battle.

Part of the Karun Treasure at the Archaeology Museum in Uşak, Turkey
Part of the Karun Treasure

 

Monument

When I finished visiting the museum, I walked towards the main street in town, İsmet Pasha Street (İsmet Paşa Caddesi). I was greeted by a humongous Atatürk monument (Atatürk ve Kurtuluş Anıtı) that is probably the most interesting I’ve seen in Turkey. The founder of the Turkish Republic is depicted in a few important moments of his career. The back of the monument features a tribute to local villagers and their contribution to the Turkish War of Independence. A small park, Tiritoğlu Park (Tiritoğlu Parkı), is across the street from the monument.

Atatürk Monument in Uşak, Turkey
Atatürk Monument
Atatürk on a horse
Atatürk on a horse
Students with Atatürk on the Atatürk Monument in Uşak, Turkey
Students with Atatürk

I then walked north down İsmet Pasha Street, grabbing a quick bite to eat before exploring the rest of the city.

İsmet Pasha Street in Uşak, Turkey
İsmet Pasha Street
İsmet Pasha Street in Uşak, Turkey
İsmet Pasha Street

 

Old Town

At the north end of İsmet Pasha Street is where the old town begins. There’s a small square with several historic market buildings, including the Sarraflar Market (Sarraflar Çarşısı) and the Bedesten, both built in 1901.

Sarraflar Market in Uşak, Turkey
Sarraflar Market
Bedesten in Uşak, Turkey
Bedesten

 

Pasha Han

Across the street on the north end is the Pasha Han (Paşa Hanı), built in 1898. It’s since been restored and serves as a hotel.

Pasha Han in Uşak, Turkey
Pasha Han

 

Great Mosque

The mosque on the square is the Great Mosque (Ulu Camii), built in the 15th century. The interior is nothing to write home about.

Great Mosque in Uşak, Turkey
Great Mosque
Prayer hall of the Great Mosque in Uşak, Turkey
Prayer hall

 

Burma Mosque

Just to the east is another mosque, Burma Mosque (Burma Camii), built in 1577. This one is much smaller and also unimpressive.

Burma Mosque in Uşak, Turkey
Burma Mosque
Prayer hall of the Burma Mosque in Uşak, Turkey
Prayer hall

 

Broken Minaret Mosque

North of the square is probably the most interesting of the mosques I encountered, the tiny Broken Minaret Mosque (Kırık Minare Mescidi). It was built in 1826. There’s no need to enter, but it has a broken minaret which gives the mosque its name. The minaret fell in a 1949 earthquake.

Broken Minaret Mosque in Uşak, Turkey
Broken Minaret Mosque

 

Ottoman Homes

The Ottoman homes in Uşak are hit and miss. I would say the majority of them during my visit were crumbling yet still beautiful. Many were undergoing renovation, including the Tekeş Mansion (Tekeş Konağı). I’d like to go back one day to see the results of all the hard work. If you want to see what Uşak might look like after the projects are finished, the best of the restored houses are on Tirit Street (Tirit Sokak).

Ottoman homes in Uşak, Turkey
Ottoman homes
Tekeş Mansionin Uşak, Turkey
Tekeş Mansion
Tirit Street in Uşak, Turkey
Tirit Street

 

Important Homes

There are a few other buildings of note scattered throughout town, including an 1890 home featuring the Atatürk House and Ethnography Museum (Atatürk ve Etnografya Müzesi) on the north side. Admission is free (as of May 2023) and it’s open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Atatürk House and Ethnography Museum in Uşak, Turkey
Atatürk House and Ethnography Museum

Next to each other are the Karaağaç House (Karaağaç Evi) and the Latife Hanım House (Latife Hanım Evi). Latife Hanım (1898-1975) was the wife of Atatürk and came from an Uşak family. Those buildings lie west of the square.

Karaağaç House in Uşak, Turkey
Karaağaç House
Latife Hanım House in Uşak, Turkey
Latife Hanım House

 

Leaving Town

Back at the bus station, the clerk who sold me my ticket back to Kütahya was very helpful. He had a seat on a bus that was leaving in less than five minutes, locked up his station, and walked me to a different area of the bus station to make sure I got on the correct bus. It was a typical display of Turkish hospitality that I’ve witnessed almost everywhere in the country and a great send-off from this friendly city.

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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