İsmetpaşa Village combines a varied administrative history with traditions passed down from Balkan immigrants. For planning your trip, its location ten kilometres southwest of Mahmudiye and a municipal bus route are also useful points of reference. Horse-riding activities and races, by contrast, are associated with the wider Mahmudiye District.

Village history and archaeological heritage

İsmetpaşa was founded around the 1920s by İsmet İnönü. The first settlers were Balkan immigrants from Bulgaria, including people from Razgrad and Kalava. In 1939, İsmetpaşa became a nahiye, a historical subdistrict administrative unit. In 1950, this nahiye was abolished and İsmetpaşa became a village again; its territory and the associated villages were attached to the Mahmudiye nahiye.

Another point of interest is the Kocaören Archaeological Site. It was registered under this name on 26 June 2024. The site lies within the boundaries of the İsmetpaşa and Orta neighbourhoods in Mahmudiye District. The registration thus connects the name Kocaören with both neighbourhood areas.

Traditions and Hıdırellez

The connection with Balkan immigrants is also reflected in the traditional festival culture. At henna nights, girls and women wear Bindallı, traditional clothing associated with Balkan immigrants. The clothing is part of a specific occasion and is one of the traditions observed during Hıdırellez.

These Hıdırellez traditions include a group of young people going from house to house. They play the tef, zilli maşa and darbuka by fires, and receive a small gift from each house. The collected gifts are kept overnight under a rose tree and returned to their owners the next morning as Manis are recited. The evening collection is thus followed by overnight storage and a return of the gifts in the morning.

Young people also organise social gatherings after the religious festival greeting. They play Mendil Kapmaca, Eş Durma and Yüzük Saklama, and sing songs. These traditions offer a glimpse into the community’s distinctive ways of celebrating.

Wedding traditions and dishes

A traditional wedding in İsmetpaşa lasts three days and three nights. Wedding dishes include Kırma Böreği and Dızmana. Both are pastries associated with Balkan immigrants. The dishes are therefore also connected with the village’s settlement history.

Location and travel

İsmetpaşa is ten kilometres southwest of Mahmudiye. İsmetpaşa and Türkmenmecidiye share a connecting road. A municipal bus route runs between Mesudiye MH. and Türkmen Mecidiye MH., stopping at İsmetpaşa MH. The timetable shows an update to operating times dated 30 December 2024; check current departures before travelling.

The distance and named road connection help you orient yourself, while the stop provides a specific reference point along the bus route. If you are planning to take the bus, arrange your trip around the departures that apply to your travel day.

Horse-riding activities in Mahmudiye District

In Mahmudiye District, you can hire horses and go riding. The regional equestrian facilities include a grass track 2,020 metres long and 25 metres wide, as well as a sand track 1,800 metres long and 20 metres wide. An open-air grandstand has a capacity of 400 people. Local horse races are held there in autumn. If a race is a key part of your trip, check the current dates in advance.

When planning your stay, it is helpful to distinguish between the village and the district: the Hıdırellez and wedding traditions described here belong to İsmetpaşa, while the horse-riding activities and racetracks are in Mahmudiye District. You can use this distinction to choose accommodation based on the focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Sivrihisar, Alpu, Karapazar, Kümbet, Mahmudiye, Mihalgazi, Çalkaya, Han.

For the full travel overview: Eskişehir.