On the ocassion of the EHTTA General Assembly held in Bursa in October 2015, the city held this 9th Café of Europe, the first one who was not direct part of the SOURCE Project, but continued the concept and philosophy of the initiative and previous cafés: to explore the -sometimes hidden- cultural aspects of our thermal tradition in all its diversity.
Bursa, former capital of the Ottoman Empire and a city of waters, was one of the most importsnt centres in the world for the commerce of silk and spices between the 14th and 15th century; a final stop on the fabled Silk Road. The Road today has been revitalized as an UNWTO programme and collaborative initiative designed to enhance sustainable tourism development along the historic route.
This Café explored the singular development of Ottoman thermal culture during the splendour times of the Silk road, the Middle Ages where the bathing tradition in Christian Europe was almost dilapidated. Bursa was then - and remains today - a health tourism destination, a world of hammans and Turkish baths were arts and prosperity grew side by side. As a testimony of this rich heritage, traditional music, folklore dance and traditional silk fashion were showcased in this Café..
Governor of Bursa
Minister of Health
EHTTA President
Mayor of Bursa
History Professor at University of Düzce
A brief introduction into the history and culture of the Silk Road and Bursa position in it
Head of Culture & Tourism of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality
The Silk Road nowadays, the story of an adaptation
Musician
Music heritage on the Silk Road
Vice Director of BUSAT (Bursa Health Tourism Association)
Thermalism on the Silk Road today: thermal offer and facilities in Bursa and its touris dimmension .
Actor,writer and film director
Travel Diaries - Photographs - Video
Video & Photo Artist
Loiez Déniel lives and works in Auvergne (and sometimes Istanbul). Video maker photographer artist, independent researcher in multimedia integration solutions and operational poetry, he is also president of the International Video Art Festival VIDEOFORMES.