Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Türkiye.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Fethiye music evenings close season with stunning performances
Fethiye open air music evenings concluded the season with a mesmerizing finale at Bahriye Üçok Park, delighting the audience with an unforgettable performance. The event, which has become a highlight of the local cultural calendar, saw standout appearances from renowned artists Adem Kazan, Aysun Karasaçlı, Mustafa Selçukoğlu, and Ali Tunç.
The open-air concert attracted a large crowd, with fans gathering to enjoy an evening filled with a diverse array of music genres. Adem Kazan captivated the audience with his soulful melodies, while Aysun Karasaçlı’s powerful vocals provided a stunning emotional depth. Mustafa Selçukoğlu and Ali Tunç added their own unique touch, rounding off a night that celebrated the very best of Turkish music.
This grand finale marks the end of another successful season of open air music evenings, an event that has grown in popularity each year, offering locals and tourists alike a taste of Fethiye’s vibrant artistic scene.
Source: Fethiye Belediyesi
Fethiye Municipality launches program to encourage dog adoption
In an effort to reduce the number of stray and shelter dogs, Fethiye Municipality is launching a new initiative aimed at finding homes for homeless dogs. Ahmet Demir, Director of Health Affairs and a veterinarian, outlined the program, emphasizing the municipality’s commitment to involving the public in the adoption process.
Demir explained that the new program would encourage people to adopt stray dogs, not only those found on the streets of Fethiye but also those currently housed in shelters. The initiative includes an adoption incentive card, which will be voluntary and offer benefits such as discounts at local businesses. “The goal is to rapidly reduce the number of homeless dogs and ensure they are reunited with loving families,” Demir said. “We want the community to take responsibility alongside the municipality, involving local tradespeople to create a broader sense of ownership for animal welfare.”
Highlighting the support from the local community, Demir expressed confidence in the success of the program, citing Fethiye residents’ compassion toward animals. He also mentioned the importance of the initiative in addressing concerns related to a new law affecting animal welfare and adoption.
As part of the program, adopted dogs will receive 1 year of care from the municipality. Demir added that tradespeople from various industries—including veterinary clinics, pet shops, cafes, and restaurants—will be encouraged to participate, making the adoption card more attractive. “The more places that join, the more special it becomes, and the more people will want to adopt,” he said.
The initiative is still in development, but Demir assured that once finalized, it will benefit the entire Fethiye community and set an example for animal welfare initiatives across the region. Further updates will be provided as the project progresses.
13 injured in violent clash between two groups in Fethiye, Muğla
Thirteen people were injured in a violent brawl between two groups in the Fethiye district of Muğla last night. The incident occurred near a taxi stand in the Hisarönü area of Ölüdeniz Neighborhood, where a man allegedly threatened taxi drivers with a gun, sparking an argument that quickly escalated into a full-blown fight.
The altercation, reportedly involving a man who worked at a nearby entertainment venue and his friends, turned violent as guns, glass bottles, and stones were used. Emergency services, including 112 Emergency Health teams, gendarmerie, and police, were dispatched to the scene after being alerted to the fight.
The injured were transported to local hospitals for treatment, and security forces detained several individuals involved in the incident. The brawl caused a large crowd to gather, but they dispersed after authorities closed the entertainment venue.
Security camera footage reportedly captured the tense moments leading up to the fight, showing the suspect pulling out a gun at the taxi stand. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.
Remains of cistern, health system unearthed in Türkiye’s ancient city of Kaunos
Excavations in the ancient city of Kaunos, located in southern Türkiye, have uncovered significant archaeological finds, including the remains of a cistern and parts of an ancient health system. The city, known for its 2,400-year-old rock tombs, a 5,000-seat theatre, a basilica, bathhouse, agora, sacred sites, and 1,300-year-old mosaics, is a popular site listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
This year’s excavations, focused on the Archaic monastery area within the city walls, revealed previously undiscovered materials and structures. Ufuk Çörtürk, a faculty member at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University and head of the excavation, shared with Anadolu Agency that the team has been investigating a Late Antique building complex in the monastery area for the past two years.
Çörtürk explained that last year they began clearing the rooms of the complex, and this year they completed the excavation of four spaces. The complex, dating back to the 6th century AD, includes a central courtyard, narrow streets, and rooms surrounding the area. It was in use through the Ottoman era, indicating its long-term occupation by the ancient residents of Kaunos.
Golf tourism bookings up in Türkiye’s famed Mediterranean city of Antalya
Golf tourism bookings posted a 15% hike in the new season at one of the most prominent golf facilities in Europe, the Belek Tourism Center, located in the resort city of Antalya on the Turkish Riviera, according to a sector professional.
The Belek Tourism Center hosted leading people in the golfing scene, such as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and more, as well as events like the Turkish Airlines Open near the Mediterranean Sea coast.
Golfers from around the world are increasingly booking to play in Belek, contributing to the diversification of the region’s tourism sector.
Hasan Ceylan, head of the Carya Golf Club at the Belek Tourism Center, told Anadolu that the resort was named the best destination for golfing in Europe in 2013.
Ceylan stated that out of 21 golf courses in Türkiye, 16 are in Belek, and coupled with a “good price performance,” demand is on the rise.
“We can host 680,000 golfers on all our 16 courses, but there needs to be more direct flights here to reach such a number, and since golfing is the only year-round tourism activity, we do not close our resorts and hotels in the winter,” said Ceylan.
Oner Uygun, head of the board at Millennium Golf, also in Antalya, told Anadolu that golf tourism bookings for 2025 have exceeded this year by 15%, adding that around 260,000 rounds have already been played in the first half of 2024.
Uygun said that around 10,000 to 12,000 golfers from the UK come to play on an annual basis. Underlining the need to diversify the market, he said the sector now seeks to attract more Polish golfers.
“We established an agency in Poland and we plan to bring a significant number of people from there next year,” he said.
He added that 75,000 golfers have visited Belek in the first six months of the year so far, while resorts in Belek target at least 140,500 golfers and 560,000 rounds played in 2025.
Champion racehorses rejuvenate in Van Lake
Champion racehorses in Türkiye are receiving specialized care and rehabilitation at Van Lake, a unique training ground known for its healing properties. Özkan Bayraktar, a racehorse breeder in Van’s Erciş district, works with horses that have been injured or worn out during races held across the country. His training methods include beach runs and swimming in the lake’s salty, alkaline water, which helps to treat issues such as tendon and fiber injuries.
Bayraktar highlighted the therapeutic effect of the lake, noting that it not only helps horses recover but also strengthens them for future competitions. “The water’s healing properties have proven to be effective, leading to significant improvements in their strength and endurance,” he told Anadolu Agency. Groom Emrah Şeker confirmed these results, explaining that many of the treated horses have returned to racing successfully. Horses trained at Van Lake have competed in and won races in provinces like Diyarbakır and Elazığ, showcasing the effectiveness of this unique rehabilitation process.
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/champion-racehorses-rejuvenate-in-van-lake-200312
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Fethiyespor
Match Results
Fethiyespor lost their away match against Tuzlaspor. The final score was 2-0.
Fethiyespor drop to 16th position on the league table.
League Matches
Sunday 15th September away against Iskenderunspor. The kick-off time is at 16:00.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 44.50 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 44.67 TL.
The US Dollar bought 33.88 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 34.07 TL.
The Euro bought 37.60 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 37.68 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
