The village we now know as Oludeniz is actually called Belcegiz, and in the past only the lagoon was called Oludeniz.  Oludeniz means ‘dead sea’ in Turkish because the lagoon waters are so still. As tourists discovered this delightful place it wasn’t long before the village became known as Oludeniz to the outside world, and now it’s one of the top places to holiday in Turkey.

 

Though Oludeniz itself doesn’t have much in the way of historical sites you don’t have to travel far to find some. Up in the mountains above Oludeniz is a ghost town that’s been deserted since 1923. The forced population exchange between the Greek and the Turks means that the Greeks who once lived here were forced to move to Greece, even though for many of them this was the only home they’d ever known. The streets of Kayakoy have been empty since then and the town has not been inhabited by Turks as there are some who believe the Greeks would have cursed the place!

 

The only people you’ll find in Kayakoy now are the tourists who have come to visit this unique place. We recommend you visit it too while on holiday in Oludeniz!

 

Historical attractions are abound near Oludeniz – take a boat trip from the beach and you can visit an island that contains ruins from different periods in history. There’s the remains of a 7^th century Byzantine monastery, and a hamlet that dates from the 19^th century. From even further back in time are rock tombs. These can all be found on Gemile Adasi.

 

If you continue on from Kayakoy you’ll reach Fethiye. This large market town is also a popular holiday destination but it’s managed to retain much of its traditional Turkish charm. What Fethiye has also retained is several ancient archaeological ruins, making this a great place to visit. It’s most famous for its Lycian rock tombs that were carved into the mountain side thousands of years ago, but Fethiye also has an impressive amphitheatre, and the ruins of a medieval fortress.

 

The ancient history of this region is not hard to miss, there are remains from the many different civilisations who have called this region home over thousands of years so there are numerous places you can visit while on holiday in Oludeniz. Tlos is one of the popular sites within easy reach of the sandy beaches of Oludeniz, or a little further away are the ancient sites of Xanthos and Letoon – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.