HATTUŞA

Hattuşa, the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire, lies at an altitude of over 1,000 metres. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, this ancient city, built on rocky plateaus south of the Budaközü valley, covered some 180 hectares. Its history dates back to the 3rd millennium BC, but it was in the 17th century BC that Hattuşa became the capital under the reign of King Hattusili I. It was then the neuralgic center of the city. It was then the nerve center of a great Indo-European power that dominated Anatolia until the 12th century BC.

Protected by imposing, kilometer-long walls and adorned with finely decorated monumental gates, the city was home to temples, palaces and structured neighborhoods. Among its most remarkable buildings is the great temple dedicated to Teshub, god of storms, and to the solar goddess Arinna, symbol of divine power. Archives found on site testify to advanced political and religious organization, a complex written language and extensive diplomatic relations.

After the fall of the Hittite empire around 1190 BC, Hattuşa was abandoned for several centuries before being briefly reoccupied by the Phrygians, then transformed into a town in Roman and Byzantine times. Discovered in the 19th century by Charles Texier, Hattuşa has been the subject of archaeological excavations for over a century. Today, this fascinating site offers a unique testimony to a civilization that is still partially mysterious, between stone memory and the silence of the gods.