Ordu Boztepe

Boztepe is the hill against which the city of Ordu leans, and it offers a bird's eye view of the whole city. The Ordu Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism writes that the city is spread across the slopes of this hill and presents it as the best known viewpoint in the province. A neighbourhood of the same name also sits on the hill and, according to Wikipedia, lies about four kilometres from the city centre. The name of the neighbourhood dates back to the Ottoman period, and after the war of 1877-1878 a considerable Georgian population from Georgia settled here. The height of the hill is given differently in the sources. The provincial directorate and the Culture Portal speak of about 450 metres above sea level, a news report based on Anadolu Agency mentions 530 metres, and English Wikipedia gives 550 metres. For the upper station of the gondola, English Wikipedia gives an altitude of 498 metres. The safest description is therefore that Boztepe is a hill rising a few hundred metres above the shore and standing just west of the city. Looking down from the hill, you can see the whole of Ordu's narrow coastal plain squeezed between the sea and the mountains. The shoreline curves away to the west, and the city's harbour, coastal road and stadium can be picked out inside this curve. The ridges rising one behind another in the background show why Ordu is known for its steep slopes covered in hazelnut orchards. On a clear day the horizon of the Black Sea appears as a broad line; on humid summer days, however, the horizon can be hazy. There are two ways up to Boztepe. Those arriving by car can use the road climbing up from Selimiye neighbourhood or the asphalt road that connects to the ring road via Oğmaca and Yaraşlı. The provincial directorate notes that these roads were improved with the ministry's support and that the hill lies about six kilometres from the provincial centre. The second and more popular way is the gondola that departs from near Atatürk Park on the shore. The gondola line is operated by Ordu Metropolitan Municipality and opened on 9 June 2012. According to English Wikipedia the line is about 2350 metres long, with seven support towers between the two stations. Eight-seat cabins run on the line, and the ride takes a few minutes. As the cabin climbs, first the rooftops of the city, then the shoreline and finally the wooded slopes of the hill come into view. Since the operating hours and fares of the gondola can change, check the current information on the operator's website. On top of the hill, a stretch of road about 600 metres long that used to carry cars was closed to traffic and turned into a walking route under a project by the metropolitan municipality. Landscaping was carried out along this route, and according to news reports wooden kiosks selling local products were set up. The provincial directorate writes that the area has places to eat, drink and rest, as well as wooded picnic areas. From the viewpoints along the walking route, the city and the sea can be watched from different angles. Boztepe is also known as a launch point for paragliding. According to news reports, paragliders take off from the hill and glide towards the shore to land on the beach. Paragliding flights can only be made with authorised organisations that do this work and when the weather allows. The most striking times to visit are early morning and sunset. Morning light illuminates the city from the east, while in the late afternoon, as the sun sinks behind the coast to the west, the sea and the shoreline take on warm colours. Since the hill can be crowded in summer and at weekends, coming on a weekday or in the morning is more comfortable. In winter the road stays open, but fog and rain can hide the view completely, so it is a good idea to check the weather before going up. For anyone visiting Ordu for the first time, Boztepe is the best starting point for understanding the city. Looking down from the hill, you can easily locate the places you will visit later. Taking the gondola back down and continuing along the seafront promenade is a practical way to carry on with the day in the city centre.