For a cultural trip to Hacıbektaş, the museum and recurring commemorative events provide a clear thematic focus. The core of the Hacıbektaş Museum is in the Çilehane (Kızılca Halvet) area, which was built in the 13th century during the time of Hacı Bektaş Veli. The museum opened on 16 August 1964. The town’s history thus brings together a site from the 13th century and the museum’s opening in the 20th century.
The Museum: Courtyards, Collection and History
The Hacıbektaş Museum consists of three courtyards. Its areas and structures include the Üçler Fountain, the Tekke Mosque, the Atatürk Corner, the Pir House, the tomb of Balım Sultan and the Has Garden. The three courtyards and the specifically named features give an overview of the layout of the museum complex.
The archaeological section of the Hacıbektaş Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography displays finds from excavations at Sulucakarahöyük. They date from the Early Bronze Age and the Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic and Roman periods. This span covers several archaeological eras and offers a different perspective from the everyday culture also represented here.
The ethnographic section displays objects from the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly everyday items. The museum also features everyday objects from the Bektashi dervish lodge, manuscripts and examples of calligraphy. Archaeological finds are thus displayed alongside items of daily life and written and calligraphic works. Those interested in different forms of cultural heritage will find several themes within the same museum.
Places of Remembrance and Commemorative Events
The Atatürk House Museum was established and opened to visitors in 2001. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk spent the night of 22 December 1919 in this house. The municipality also lists the tomb of Bektaş Efendi and the tomb of Kadıncık Ana as attractions in the town centre. The house museum and the two tombs have different focuses: one marks a precisely dated event, while the others are places of remembrance listed by the municipality in the town centre.
Since 1964, national commemorative events and cultural and artistic activities dedicated to Hacı Bektaş Veli have been held in Hacıbektaş every year from 16 to 18 August. Since 1990, the commemorations have also been held at an international level. The August dates offer a clear point of reference for planning your trip; the details of the annual programme vary. If you plan your trip for this period, check the current dates and programme details in advance.
Nearby Places and Regional Cuisine
Çilehane Cave (Delikli Taş) is on Mount Arafat, three kilometres east of Hacıbektaş district. The area around Hacıbektaş also features a Zemzem well, monuments to Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, Yunus Emre and the folk poets, as well as a multi-purpose cultural centre.
For groups, regional cuisine comes with a specific reservation requirement: at municipal facilities, Hacıbektaş Tava, Hacıbektaş Yahni, Hacıbektaş Mantı, Hacıbektaş Sulu Köfte, Hacıbektaş Erişte and Hacıbektaş Küp Şarabı are prepared for groups of 30 to 100 people by prior reservation. If you plan to take up this offer, making a reservation is part of the preparation. This makes it possible to include the culinary aspect in a jointly planned stay.
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