Fethiye
A harbour town on the Lycian coast, built over ancient Telmessos and named after an aviator.
The Turkish name
Fethiye
At a glance
- Province
- Muğla
- Ancient name
- Telmessos, later Meğri
- Renamed
- 1934, after aviator Fethi Bey
- Near
- Ölüdeniz, Göcek, Saklıkent
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The story
Fethiye stands at the head of a sheltered bay on the western edge of the Mediterranean coast, close to Ölüdeniz, Göcek and Saklıkent gorge. The long, thin Şövalye island closes the bay and makes the harbour calm.
The town sits on the site of ancient Telmessos, on the border of Lycia and Caria. It later became Meğri, and in 1934 Atatürk renamed it Fethiye in memory of Fethi Bey, one of the first Ottoman airmen to die, when his plane came down in 1914.
Two strong earthquakes in April 1957 badly damaged the town, which was rebuilt with a modern harbour and marina. Ancient Lycian cities such as Tlos, Pınara, Letoon and Xanthos lie within reach, and the Lycian Way walking route passes nearby.
