Yozgat is a provincial capital on Turkey's central Anatolian plateau, sitting at roughly 1,300 metres above sea level. The city is the gateway to Turkey's first designated national park — Çamlık Milli Parkı — a fragrant pine and oak forest established in 1958. The surrounding province harbours outstanding archaeological heritage: Hittite and Bronze Age sites at Alacahöyük, the enigmatic Iron Age city of Kerkenes Dağ, and the important excavations at Çadır Höyük. Yozgat retains a quiet, traditional Anatolian character with cobblestone streets, Ottoman-era stone houses, a historic clock tower, and a welcoming local culture that sees very few foreign visitors.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Yozgat.
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1
Chalcolithic occupation at Çadır Höyük — one of Turkey's longest continuously excavated sites
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2
Bronze Age royal burials at Alacahöyük — 13 shaft graves with gold ornaments, bronze standards, and cult objects
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3
Hittite Empire period — Alacahöyük becomes a major ceremonial site; sphinx gate constructed circa 1400 BC
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4
Kerkenes Dağ Iron Age city flourishes — possibly ancient Pteria mentioned by Herodotus; city destroyed by fire circa 547 BC
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5
Roman provincial period — roads and settlements on the Bozok plateau
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6
Seljuk and Beylik period — Anatolian Turks settle the plateau following the Battle of Manzikert
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7
Modern Yozgat city founded by Canikli Ali Paşa dynasty; Çapoğlu konak (mansion) built
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8
Yozgat designated a provincial capital (vilayet) under Ottoman administrative reorganisation
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9
Integration into Turkish Republic following War of Independence
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10
Çamlık Milli Parkı established as Turkey's first officially designated national park
Historical sites
Places where Yozgat's past comes alive.
Alacahöyük
Where: 80 km north-west of Yozgat
Kerkenes Dağ
Where: 55 km south-east of Yozgat
Çadır Höyük
Where: 40 km west of Yozgat
Boğazkale / Hattusha
Where: 120 km north-west of Yozgat (UNESCO)
Yozgat Clock Tower
Where: City centre