Kalecik

Kalecik lies northeast of Ankara near the Kızılırmak River, beneath a castle rising above the town. The river valley softens the dry plateau climate and supports vineyards, including the dark grape known as Kalecik Karası. The fortress passed to Turkish rulers after the Byzantine defeat at Manzikert and later came under Ottoman control. Mosques, tombs and a bridge over the Kızılırmak mark the town's older routes and communities.