Kocatepe ve Başkomutan Tarihi Milli Parkı

Kocatepe is a hill 1874 metres high, southwest of Afyonkarahisar, that commands the plains of Afyon and Sinanpaşa. The Great Offensive was launched from here on the morning of 26 August 1922, and for this reason the hill is one of the most remembered places of the War of Independence. The Governorship of Afyonkarahisar states that the hill lies within the boundaries of the town of Büyükkalecik, which belongs to the central district. According to the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the summit is about 20 kilometres south of the city and another 8 kilometres up from the town. Kocatepe is part of the Başkomutan Historical National Park. According to Turkish Wikipedia, the park was declared on 31 August 1981 to protect the areas where the decisive battles of the National Struggle took place. Spread across the provinces of Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya and Uşak, the park covers about 34,834 hectares. The park has two sections, and its Kocatepe section lies to the southwest of the city. The Dumlupınar section stretches over the lands of Sinanpaşa, Altıntaş, Dumlupınar and Banaz. Within the area there are martyrs' cemeteries, monuments, a visitor centre and museums. The Governorship page describes the order of events as follows. The Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal and his companions came to Kocatepe on the evening of 25 August 1922. The offensive was launched from here the next morning at dawn. The Commander-in-Chief directed the first phase of the offensive from the headquarters set up on the hill and from the trench that can still be seen today. He left Kocatepe around noon on 27 August. Afyonkarahisar Municipality recalls that the operation reached its decisive result four days later, on 30 August, with the pitched battle at Dumlupınar. The first monument on the summit was built of cut stone by the Ministry of National Defence in 1953. A marble inscription with relief flowers was placed on it. In 1993 the Atatürk Monument was built by the Ministry of Culture, and the area was opened to visitors with landscaping. According to the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the bronze monument weighs about four tonnes and reaches 7.5 metres in height together with its base. When you reach the top, stop first on the terrace around the monument and look out over the plain. The municipality notes that from here you can see the Afyon Plain, the positions of the opposing side and the strategic lines of the Turkish army. As you walk around the site of the trench and the headquarters area, it becomes easy to understand why this ground was chosen; it is an observation point with an uninterrupted view of the plain and the hills opposite. When the air is clear, distant hills and villages stand out sharply, and for photographs the morning and late afternoon give a softer light. The hill is high and exposed, the wind can be cool even in summer, so it is wise to bring a light jacket. The first ceremony of Victory Week, celebrated every year between 26 and 30 August, is held at Kocatepe on 26 August. The municipality notes that the commemorations held at sunrise are the most important stop of the week. During these days the hill is very crowded and extra transport arrangements may be made. For a quieter visit, spring and autumn are good seasons. Kocatepe is reached from the city by private car; the municipality notes that public transport is also provided during Victory Week. The Governorship of Afyonkarahisar writes that the asphalt road is closed in winter because of snow. If you are thinking of going in winter, be sure to check the state of the road in advance. There are other memorial sites on the way and in the surroundings. At the Kurtkaya locality in Büyükkalecik there is the cemetery of Captain Agah Efendi and his comrades, who fell on 27 August 1922. Seeing the Victory Museum in the city on the same day as this visit completes the story of the operation that began at Kocatepe and continued at the headquarters in town.