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İnebolu is a small port town on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. I visited on a day trip from nearby Kastamonu. The city sits right on the Black Sea with gorgeous scenery in either direction, with the green mountains meeting the blue sea.
History
In ancient times, the city was founded by the Greeks as Tíhos (Τείχος) in the Paphlagonia (Παφλαγονία) region. The name later changed to Ionópoli (Ιωνόπολη), from which the modern name is derived.
The town is divided by a dried-up river with most of the important parts on the east bank, including the main square.
Ottoman Buildings
İnebolu is small and compact with some pleasant cobblestoned alleyways. Ottoman buildings are mixed in with modern ones and give the city a little flair.
Weapons Smuggling
İnebolu really doesn’t have any star attractions but it embraces its recent history very proudly. It played a significant role in the Turkish War of Independence as a weapons smuggling depot. Arms and ammunition were taken there by sea from Istanbul and then smuggled overland to Kastamonu. When the town was attacked in 1921, it put up a great resistance. There are a few monuments scattered throughout town that pay homage to the brave townspeople who aided the war effort. You can even find old weapons smuggling boats outside the museum.
Turkish Hearth
The museum, Turkish Hearth (Türk Ocağı), serves as an ethnographic museum. It’s also an important landmark from İnebolu’s other claim to fame, the Hat Law. A monument of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk outside of the building marks the spot where he officially proclaimed the Hat Law outlawing the fez on August 27, 1925. The Hat Law is also commemorated on a sign in the city.
In addition to the ethnographic exhibits, there are displays and photos commemorating the Hat Law event. The building itself was built in 1912 and was restored in 2006. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Up the Hill
If you follow the road up the hill behind the Turkish Hearth, you’ll find yourself in a residential district with stunning views of the town and the coastline.
The Drive from Kastamonu
A couple hours or less is all that’s needed to see İnebolu, but the scenery during the drive from Kastamonu is one of the highlights, as the road winds up and around green forested mountains.
The road is a national historic road called the Atatürk and Independence Way (Atatürk ve İstiklal Yolu), in honor of the weapons smugglers who used the very same route.
Bus Terminal
İnebolu’s bus terminal is a bit of a hike south of town. It sits on a road along the west bank of the river. Expect about a 15 to 20 minute walk. There’s a small restaurant at the bus terminal with a couple companies selling tickets to Kastamonu. From Kastamonu, there are a few buses daily from the bus terminal.
