Çatalca (Metrae, Μέτραι in Ancient Greek) is a city and a rural district in Istanbul, Turkey.
It is the largest district in Istanbul by area.
It is in East Thrace, on the ridge between the Marmara and the Black Sea.
Most people living in Çatalca are either farmers or those visiting vacation homes.
Many families from Istanbul come to Çatalca during weekends to hike in the forests or have picnics.
History
Antiquity
Çatalca’s ancient Greek name was Ergískē (Ἐργίσκη).
Ergiske (Ancient Greek: Ἐργίσκη) was an ancient Greek city in Thrace, located in the region of the Propontis.
According to Suida, the Greek name is after Ergiscus (Ἐργίσκος), a son of Poseidon through the naiad (nymph) Aba (Ἄβα).
In Greek mythology, Aba was a nymph, and she is presumed to be the daughter of the river Hebros.
The site is now occupied in part by modern Çatalca.
Under Roman rule, it was named Metrae or Metre. It was important enough in the Late Roman province of Europa to become a suffragan of its capital Heraclea’s Metropolitan Archbishop, yet was to fade.
Modern period
Çatalca was settled throughout the Ottoman period, and according to the Ottoman Official Statistics of 1910, most of the area was Greeks.
The Crimean War caused a mass exodus of Crimean Tatars to Ottoman lands.
A few Crimean Tatars settled in Çatalca.
In the First Balkan War, the Bulgarian army had driven the Turkish forces back from the border.
Still, the Turkish troops retreated to the prepared positions at Çatalca, where on 16–17 November 1912, they defeated the Bulgarians at the “First Battle of Çatalca.”
The Çatalca fortifications formed a line across the peninsula, the “Chataldja line,” which became the armistice line of 3 December 1912, after Bulgaria decided not to attack Adrianople at that time.
Upon expiration of the armistice, on 3 February 1913, hostilities recommenced, and the Second Battle of Çatalca began.
It was a series of thrusts and counter-thrusts by the Ottomans and the Bulgarians and lasted until 3 April 1913.
Many journalists reported on the military actions at Çatalca, whose accounts provide rich details about this event.
According to the Ottoman population statistics of 1914, the Kaza of Çatalca had a total population of 30.165, consisting of 16.984 Greeks, 13.034 Muslims, 53 Jews, 44 Armenians, 40 Bulgarians, and 10 Roma people.
Before 1930, Çatalca also covered present districts of Arnavutköy, Beylikdüzü, Büyükçekmece, western parts of Başakşehir, rural parts of Eyüp and Sarıyer.
In 1930 county (bucak) of Kilyos was part of the district of Sarıyer, which used to be part of Beyoğlu.
At same time, villages of Odayeri, Ağaçlı, İhsaniye and Kısırmandıra (Işıklar after 1987) were passed to Kemerburgaz county (formerly part of Beyoğlu district) of Sarıyer.
In 1963, villages as Arnavutköy, Bolluca, Hacımaşlı, Haraççı and İmrahor of Boyalık (its center was Hadımköy) county part of district of Gaziosmanpaşa, formerly part of Eyüp.
In 1972 Tayakadın village of Boyalık county and Yeniköy, one of it were passed to Gaziosmapaşa.
In 1987 county of Büyükçekmece was separated and become a district.
Finally, in 2009 remainder of Boyalık county was passed to Arnavutköy, which was part of Gaziosmanpaşa, and Muratbey village was passed to Büyükçekmece.
Population
As of a November 22, 2000 census, the population of the Çatalca district was 81,589, while the city of Çatalca had 36,544 in 2009. The population growth rate was 0.66%.
The literacy rate was 99%.
Geography
Çatalca has an area of 1,715 km² and 135 kilometers of coastline.
Its neighbors include Çatalca to the south and Silivri and Tekirdağ Province to the west.
Avcılar, Küçükçekmece, and Arnavutköy lie to the east.
Freshwater for Istanbul is provided by lakes Durusu and Çatalca.
Yalıköy is a seaside resort of Çatalca.
The Çilingoz Nature Park west of Yalıköy offers camping and outdoor recreation activities.
International relations
Twin towns and sister cities.
Çatalca is twinned with:
• Fancy, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Oran, Algeria
• Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
• Hitadhoo, Maldives
• Ganja, Azerbaijan
• Lille, France
• Kule, Botswana
🏨 Hotels Near Catalca
| Hotel | Address | City | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lysa Hotel ISTANBUL | 📍 Mimarsinan mah E5 Londra Asfaltı No47, 34535 Büyükçekmece/İstanbul, Turkey | Büyükçekmece | 📞 +90 212 881 07 70 | lysahotel.com/iletisim |
| Kumburgaz Marin Princess Hotel | 📍 Pınartepe, İstanbul Cd No.: 97, 34500 Büyükçekmece/İstanbul, Turkey | Büyükçekmece | – | – |
| Family Hotel | 📍 Selimpaşa Merkez Mahallesi istifkent sitesi 3072 sokak 0212 731 37 08, 34590 Silivri/İstanbul, Turkey | Silivri | 📞 +90 212 731 37 08 | hotelfamilyresort.com/ |
| Ranax Hotel Kumburgaz | 📍 Kumburgaz Yenimahalle E-5 Karayolu Üzeri No:146, 34530 Büyükçekmece/İstanbul, Turkey | Büyükçekmece | 📞 +90 212 885 10 55 | ranaxhotel.com/ |
| Hilton Garden Inn Istanbul Beylikduzu | 📍 Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa Mahallesi, 1999. Sk No:9, 34522 Esenyurt/İstanbul, Turkey | Esenyurt | 📞 +90 212 867 19 00 | hilton.com/en/hotels/istbegi-hilton-garden-inn-istanbul-beylikduzu/ |
| Beypark Hotel Beylikdüzü | 📍 Mevlana Mahallesi Sultan Abdulhamit Caddesi No:11, 34519 Esenyurt/İstanbul, Turkey | Esenyurt | 📞 +90 533 931 12 85 | beyparkhotel.com/ |
| Bon City Resort Hotel | 📍 SELİMPAŞA MAH. 2087 SOK. E5 ÜZERİ NO:12, 34590 SİLİVRİ/İstanbul, Turkey | SİLİVRİ/Silivri | 📞 +90 212 731 80 84 | – |
| Ramada by Wyndham Beylikdüzü | 📍 Gökevler Mah, 529. Sk. No:2, 34513 Esenyurt/İstanbul, Turkey | Esenyurt | 📞 +90 212 912 34 06 | ramadabeylikduzu.com/ |
| ONNO HOUSE APARTMENTS | 📍 Gökevler mah. 555. sok. Özyurtlar N Residence C Blok No:10, 34522 Esenyurt/İstanbul, Turkey | Esenyurt | 📞 +90 530 827 85 75 | onnohouse.com/ |
| Suit 53 | 📍 Atatürk, 34522 Esenyurt/İstanbul, Turkey | Esenyurt | 📞 +90 530 095 59 99 | – |
🎉 Tourist attractions Near Catalca
| Top attraction | Address | City | Discover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Şıramandere Piknik Alanı | 📍 İnceğiz, Mekan Çıkmazı Sokak, 34540 Çatalca/İstanbul, Turkey | Çatalca | Picnic ground |
| Yuksel Tourism | 📍 Mimarsinan Mahallesi, Cami Sok. Cami Sitesi No:19, 34535 Çatalca/İstanbul, Turkey | Çatalca | Travel agency |
| Polo Binicilik | 📍 Çakıl, Gülşen Sk. No:1, 34540, 34876 Çatalca/İstanbul, Turkey | Çatalca | Horseback riding service |
| Basilica Cistern | 📍 Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey | Fatih | Historical landmark |
| Topkapi Palace Museum | 📍 Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey | Fatih | Museum |
| Sancak Mosque | 📍 Karağaç Mah., Sırtköy Çiftliği Mevkii G 84 Bulvarı, 34500 Büyükçekmece/İstanbul, Turkey | Büyükçekmece | Mosque |
| İnceğiz Cave Picnic Area | 📍 İnceğiz Mh., Velibaba Sk No:7, 34540 Çatalca/İstanbul, Turkey | Çatalca | Campground |
| Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Köprüsü | 📍 Mimarsinan, Mimar Sinan Kavşağı, 34535 Büyükçekmece/İstanbul, Turkey | Büyükçekmece | Bridge |
| Alaiye Şehitliği | 📍 Yazlık, 34540 Çatalca/İstanbul, Turkey | Çatalca | Museum |
| Mubadele Museum | 📍 Kaleiçi, Bahar Sok. No:4, 34540 Çatalca/İstanbul – Avrupa, Turkey | Çatalca | Museum |
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