WALKING/CYCLING ROADS
Selçuk-Efes-Pamucak
Distance: 12 km
Average Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes
Starting Point Elevation: 8 m
Highest point: 340 m
End point elevation: 1 m
Difficulty level: 3
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 37°56’56.07”N / 27°21’48.59”E
Peak Point GPS: 37°55’56.14”N / 27°20’15.66”E
End point GPS: 37°56’32.91”N / 27°16’19.80”E
Transportation to the beginning of the course: You can reach Selçuk (at an 86 km distance to Konak) from the İzmir – Aydın highway. Follow the Selçuk-Ephesus-Kuşadası junction on the highway; continue in the Selçuk-Kuşadası direction. You can reach the district in 16 km.
There are regular bus and train services for those who want to use public transportation. You can go to Selçuk with the Turkish State Railways Trains that go to Aydın departing from the İzmir Basmane train station. You can go to the Tepeköy transfer station with the İzmir Suburban line (İZBAN) and take the bus numbered 770 to Selçuk. One other option can be to take the Selçuk or Kuşadası buses from the İzmir intercity bus terminal.
Structure of the course: The course that starts from the Artemis Temple continues to the fortification walls of Ephesus with an unimproved road and land route. The fortification walls are located on the right side of the road and after a while, by cutting through the walls, it continues in the walled city. You reach Pamucak by mostly following the land road and the forest road after completing the hillside. You can walk on the course in every season. There are no obstacles.
Details of the course: The course starts from the Artemis Temple. It follows the alley and passes the Selçuk – Kuşadası land route. It continues through the avenue and crosses over the Selçuk – Kuşadası land route. It passes by the road to the right of the graveyard and enters the fruit garden. From there, it reaches the land route that goes to Seven Sleepers Cave and by turning left from there, it reaches Seven Sleepers Cave and then to the south door of Ephesus. The route, that follows the asphalt road, reaches the city fortification walls by entering a rift valley (a small arched bridge remnant is situated there) after passing the sculpture of Virgin Mary that is situated on the road to the House of Virgin Mary. The course continues along the fortification walls. It passes over the fortification walls on areas covered with shrublands. The route that goes through the hillside presents beautiful views of the ancient city of Ephesus, the antique port street and the Little Meander Delta. When the fortification walls end, you can reach the unimproved road. The course that reaches the road coming from Ephesus continues in the direction of the sea by turning left. When it reaches the old Kuşadası land route, it goes south and follows the road between the gardens on the right. It passes the Kuşadası – Selçuk land route, follows the land road and forest road, reaches the area where camel wrestling is done and then reaches the Pamucak coast.
Alternative routes connected to the course: After you reach the Seven Sleepers road, you can get to the ancient city of Ephesus from the north. You can also come to the south entrance by passing Ephesus over Kuretler Street. From there, you can see the fortification walls. The course also provides connection to the Pamucak – Zeytinköy and the Virgin Mary – Ephesus routes.
Cycling road: There is a good cycling road that follows the south entrance of the Ephesus – Seven Sleepers – north entrance of Ephesus city – the antique Ephesus port – Pamucak
Water resources: There are no water resources on the course.
Camping sites: There are camping areas in Pamucak at an 8 km distantance from Selçuk.
Shopping and accommodation: There are many shopping areas and eateries between Selçuk – Ephesus and Pamucak. There are also many hotels and guesthouses in Selçuk and Pamucak.
Natural and historical values:
-Ephesus: The ancient city of Ephesus is situated at the beginning of the course. You can go there from the south side.
-Ephesus Archeological Museum: Archeological works are displayed in the museum that was established in Selçuk in 1929. The oldest archeological works date back to the 4000 B.C. The works belong to the Prehistoric, Mykene, Archaic, Classic, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Selçuk and Ottoman Periods. The museum consists of two parts: archeology and ethnography.
- Church of St.Jean: St.Jean was one of the first four writers of the Bible and the church, which was established in the 4th century A.D. in the name of St.Jean, is situated in the region.
-İsa Bey Mosque: The Mosque is situated between the Temple of Artemis and the Church of St.Jean. It was established in 1375 by Aydınoğlu İsa Bey. The mosque is one of the masterpieces of Turkish architecture which belongs to the Anatolia seigniorial period. It was also used as a caravansary in the 19th century.
-Artemis Temple: The structure was devoted to the Goddess Artemis and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It dates back to the 8th century B.C. and was completed in the 6th century B.C. The Temple, which was burned by Herostratus (he wanted to write down his name into history by burning the temple) in 356 B.C., was rebuilt 22 years later. From the structure ruined by the Goths 263 B.C., a foundation pit, a pillar and some sculpture parts remain.
-Seven Sleepers Cave: According to the legend, in the year 250, seven young Christian men took shelter in a cave in order not to be sacrificed to the pagan belief. The top of the cave, where the young men stayed, was covered and the young men fell into a miraculous sleep. They were recognized as saints. One of the caves near Ephesus was believed to be one of the places where the Seven Sleepers slept.
There are regular bus and train services for those who want to use public transportation. You can go to Selçuk with the Turkish State Railways Trains that go to Aydın departing from the İzmir Basmane train station. You can go to the Tepeköy transfer station with the İzmir Suburban line (İZBAN) and take the bus numbered 770 to Selçuk. One other option can be to take the Selçuk or Kuşadası buses from the İzmir intercity bus terminal.
Structure of the course: The course that starts from the Artemis Temple continues to the fortification walls of Ephesus with an unimproved road and land route. The fortification walls are located on the right side of the road and after a while, by cutting through the walls, it continues in the walled city. You reach Pamucak by mostly following the land road and the forest road after completing the hillside. You can walk on the course in every season. There are no obstacles.
Details of the course: The course starts from the Artemis Temple. It follows the alley and passes the Selçuk – Kuşadası land route. It continues through the avenue and crosses over the Selçuk – Kuşadası land route. It passes by the road to the right of the graveyard and enters the fruit garden. From there, it reaches the land route that goes to Seven Sleepers Cave and by turning left from there, it reaches Seven Sleepers Cave and then to the south door of Ephesus. The route, that follows the asphalt road, reaches the city fortification walls by entering a rift valley (a small arched bridge remnant is situated there) after passing the sculpture of Virgin Mary that is situated on the road to the House of Virgin Mary. The course continues along the fortification walls. It passes over the fortification walls on areas covered with shrublands. The route that goes through the hillside presents beautiful views of the ancient city of Ephesus, the antique port street and the Little Meander Delta. When the fortification walls end, you can reach the unimproved road. The course that reaches the road coming from Ephesus continues in the direction of the sea by turning left. When it reaches the old Kuşadası land route, it goes south and follows the road between the gardens on the right. It passes the Kuşadası – Selçuk land route, follows the land road and forest road, reaches the area where camel wrestling is done and then reaches the Pamucak coast.
Alternative routes connected to the course: After you reach the Seven Sleepers road, you can get to the ancient city of Ephesus from the north. You can also come to the south entrance by passing Ephesus over Kuretler Street. From there, you can see the fortification walls. The course also provides connection to the Pamucak – Zeytinköy and the Virgin Mary – Ephesus routes.
Cycling road: There is a good cycling road that follows the south entrance of the Ephesus – Seven Sleepers – north entrance of Ephesus city – the antique Ephesus port – Pamucak
Water resources: There are no water resources on the course.
Camping sites: There are camping areas in Pamucak at an 8 km distantance from Selçuk.
Shopping and accommodation: There are many shopping areas and eateries between Selçuk – Ephesus and Pamucak. There are also many hotels and guesthouses in Selçuk and Pamucak.
Natural and historical values:
-Ephesus: The ancient city of Ephesus is situated at the beginning of the course. You can go there from the south side.
-Ephesus Archeological Museum: Archeological works are displayed in the museum that was established in Selçuk in 1929. The oldest archeological works date back to the 4000 B.C. The works belong to the Prehistoric, Mykene, Archaic, Classic, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Selçuk and Ottoman Periods. The museum consists of two parts: archeology and ethnography.
- Church of St.Jean: St.Jean was one of the first four writers of the Bible and the church, which was established in the 4th century A.D. in the name of St.Jean, is situated in the region.
-İsa Bey Mosque: The Mosque is situated between the Temple of Artemis and the Church of St.Jean. It was established in 1375 by Aydınoğlu İsa Bey. The mosque is one of the masterpieces of Turkish architecture which belongs to the Anatolia seigniorial period. It was also used as a caravansary in the 19th century.
-Artemis Temple: The structure was devoted to the Goddess Artemis and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It dates back to the 8th century B.C. and was completed in the 6th century B.C. The Temple, which was burned by Herostratus (he wanted to write down his name into history by burning the temple) in 356 B.C., was rebuilt 22 years later. From the structure ruined by the Goths 263 B.C., a foundation pit, a pillar and some sculpture parts remain.
-Seven Sleepers Cave: According to the legend, in the year 250, seven young Christian men took shelter in a cave in order not to be sacrificed to the pagan belief. The top of the cave, where the young men stayed, was covered and the young men fell into a miraculous sleep. They were recognized as saints. One of the caves near Ephesus was believed to be one of the places where the Seven Sleepers slept.