As it is
same with most of the other universities in Turkey, Anadolu University located
in Eskişehir has also a huge campus where all the faculties and university
related centers are gathered. But different from the others, Anadolu University
is on the top ten biggest campuses list. The university has two campuses, Yunus
Emre and 2 Eylül. The one I visited is the main campus, Yunus Emre.
The day was
really wonderful for October. The sun was shining and the weather was around 25
degrees. It was a perfect moment to explore the main campus of Anadolu
University. The campus is so near to the city center. The university avenue
takes you directly to the university from the city center within 2 km. or
taking the tram can also be a good option but then it stops at the Eczacılık entrance
of the campus.
Entering to
the university from the main entrance the sculpture of Yunus Emre ( A famous
Turkish philosopher) one of the many sculptures spreaded around in the campus,
which I actually more focused on, welcomes you to the university. From the entrance
of the university it is normal to get impression that the campus is nicely
structured and planed and not even one tree left alone. This is basically true.
The campus is really well kept by the gardeners and the buildings are nicely
located in between the green areas. The campus actually has more than two entrances
but the most used ones are the main entrance and the one where the tram stops
(Eczacılık). There are many people using bicycles even though there is no any bicycle
ways in the campus.
One of the
main things that can get the attention on easily is that all the buildings in
the campus are built by red tiles. This actually proves that Eskişehir is
famous with its tile. The first tile fabrics in Turkey had opened in Eskişehir,
now the fabrics are restored as hotels, nightclubs, bars and restaurants. The
red tile buildings remind me the mid-old apartment districts in Canada and in
Western European cities. It gave the campus a nice and calm atmosphere with a
nice view. The roofs are in a harmony with the tile color and going all the way
down to the first floor in many buildings, and looks like some ski resorts in
Alps. It is hard to find a ugly building in the campus. Just to remind, to help
your tour there are maps in big billboards located in different places at the
campus too.
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| Rector's Building |
Especially
the rector’s building and the library are good presenters of the campus's
architectural structure. Mezzanine floor between these two buildings, which
handles the role of connection for four directions and the central point of whole
campus, keeps little secret gardens under it. Under the mezzanine near the gardens
there are bookstores, banks and post office, even a gift shop where you can buy
something souvenir of the university. In the warm days like the day I had my
tour, if it gets too warm and it discomforts you can sit near the sprinklers in
these small gardens and rest a bit. The mezzanine keeps the place cool. To
satisfy the hunger The Stone House (Taş Bina) Restaurant would be a nice idea,
which is located so near to the rector’s building. The Stone House has also
it's own style of outseen. The building is covered by stones. The place would
be really cozy during winter time. Near by The Stone House, there is Kahve
Dünyası (Coffee World) and Simit Sarayı (Bagel cafe) situated nicely on the
most crowded street of the campus. It can easily be understood that these two
cafes are the ones where everyone meets with friends. Chocolate fondue in Kahve
Dünysı can be a good tip. There is a modern arts museum at the same time
exhibition hall near to the fine arts faculty where different exhibitions are
being shown. The place is active, meaning that it is there is usually some
exhibitions. The building has also a nice style, which reminds old day's
railway stations and in a good harmony with red tiled buildings.
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| The Stone House |
The Secret
Garden of the Campus
Exploring
more the campus, there is a place called Japanese Garden where the students are
not allowed to go in. The place is like a huge forest with lakes and
restaurants in it. When entering to the area it gives the feeling of going in
to Alice's wonderland. Huge and old trees, gardens, flowers and kept well
nature welcomes you directly after you pass the entrance. There are two places
to sit and eat. One of them is the Anadolu Hotel's restaurant and the other one
is the cafe near by a lovely lake. The area is also the only place in campus
where it is found alcoholic drinks. The place would a good alternative to sit
and drink a beer or a Turkish coffee after a nice lunch at The Stone House. A
long pathway near by the big lake, between the cafe and the Hotel's restaurant,
takes you to a bridge where you can sit on a bench and watch the fishes moving
around in the lake at the same time a wonderful view of the forest and the city
seen in between the trees' leaves. There are some pathways going in to the
forest, to some places where you clearly see the view of the city but I preferred
to watch the wonderfully shaped old trees and the fishes in the lake.
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| Japanese Garden |
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| Japanese Garden pathways |
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Entrance from the side of cafe |
Continuing
to the tour, the campus has a huge green space which is formed by small hills.
There is a open air amphitheater at the highest place of the area, where you
can see a good view of the green area and the ornamental pools gathered with
some sculptures. The pathways going to different directions on the green area
are actually connecting the different parts of campus. I went to that amphitheater and sat down watched the view of the green. There was many students lying down on the grasses. But the only kitsch in the scene was definetly the open faculty building, which has nothing to do with the main style of the campus. But at least that was the only building, which was not related to anything in the campus, at least from my eyes.
As I wrote
before, the campus is surrounded by many sculptures. This is also a affect of
the fine arts faculty and it's students. When you walk somewhere in the campus,
a sculpture can easily show up somewhere in the corner.
In the
north part of the campus where the center is a bit away, there is a new built
center with cafes, banks, a tailor and a hair dresser. The place looks cute
with one floor red tiled buildings and a clock tower in the middle of the
square. The place is quieter comparing to the area near by the Rector’s
building and The Stone House. A perfect place to experience the tranquility...
The
university gives the feeling that there are many opportunities of restaurants,
cafes and different places for its students and staff.
One thing
to be careful in the campus is that especially in the north part of the campus
the sidewalks are not really suitable to walk on them without looking down
because of the trees' roots that damage the sidewalks.
The best
time to visit the campus and the city would be during autumn or spring. If you
do not care about the cold the winters at the campus is wonderful. The snow
covers everywhere and the red buildings make a really good combination with
nature’s white. But summers are not so welcoming in Eskişehir. You can really
feel the drought continental climate's hot summer.
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| Amphitheatre |
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| The Green Area |
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