Havza is placed on Ankara-Samsun Highway and railway that connect coastline cities with Central Anatolia, Aegean, and Mediterranean and Marmara regions. It is 84 km far away from Samsun and 53 km far away from Amasya. It is 24 km far away from Merzifon, 15 km far away from Suluova, 30 km far away from Vezirköprü, 32 km far away from Ladik and 33 km far away from Kavak. Transportation is with highway and railway.

The district is on a rough terrain, which is partly plain and partly hilly. The center is on a plain that is surrounded on three sides by mountains.

Due to its geography, Havza is on a transition region from continental climate to sea climate. For this reason, it is getting less rain in comparison with the coastline of Black sea Region. It is seen fog, snow, icing in winter.

District Center

Towards to center of Havza, your travel is between fields and greens. Two flat houses, with shops at first floor are at the entry of Havza. There are Atatürk Monument and Büyük Termal Hotel at the square of Havza. It is a live place which is settled on a ramp. It has a distinctive structure and thermals. For unprepared visitors, it is possible to find all necessary stuff at the shops around the thermals. Historical baths unfortunately have lost their originality because of modifications.

The Role of Baths at the Development of Havza

Havza was a small settlement area at the west part of Tersakan River when it came under the domination of Ottoman Empire. The bath, which is placed on a hill at the west part of the town, was flooded by visitors. Because people believed that it is curative for skin diseases and for some internal diseases. When Turks see this influx of visitors, they built buildings like a bath, guest house to satisfy the needs of visitors.  

Firstly Sultan Mesut Bath and then Şadi Paşa Bath was built. It is possible to understand that Şadi Pasha Bath is a Seljuk artifact because of its architectural style.

Diversity in Economy

Thermal tourism has an important place at Havza economy. Lots of hotels, motels and hostels are welcoming the visitors during four seasons. People are also engaged in agriculture and stockbreeding. People live in the forest villages are engaged in forestry. There are lignite coal mines in Old and New Çeltek.

Havza, During the National Independence War

In the book of “Yurdumuz Havza” Zübeyirzade Mehmet Fuat Efendi tells about the Havza Days of Mustafa Kemal. The book was about financial and emotional damages after Ottoman-Russian War, Balkans War, First World War and Çanakkale War. He tells that:

“Mustafa Kemal Pasha passed from Havza to Amasya on June 13, 1919. During 18 days in the district, he stayed in Mesudiye Hotel which is a museum now. He laid the foundations of the National Independence War and got his healthy again through the baths.” 

Cure-all Curative Waters

Temperature of bath water at the source is 55 degrees. 100.000 people make use of baths yearly, and the water includes arsenic, silex, steel, bicarbonate, sodium, sulphate and partly calcium. The most seen diseases are skin diseases, neurological disorders, gynecological diseases, rheumatism, arthrolith, myalgias, myalgia and neurological disorders after accidents, stroke, anaemia, stomach-bowel and liver diseases, kidney and urinary tract diseases and impotence.

Miracle Tale of Havza Baths

Tales of 5 baths which are placed in İmaret Quarter, 1 km far away from Samsun-Ankara Highway are very interesting:

2000 years ago, an earthquake happened. There was a church at the place that there is a bath today. The church was demolished and hot water came out. Hot water is continuing heal people for 2000 years and it is serving people today as the historical health facilities of the region. Three of them are historical ones. There are Aslanağzı-Kız Gözü, Maarif and Şifa Baths. Other two ones are Modern Turk Bath and Lokman Hekim Baths which were built after 1986.

“The Commemoration of Atatürk” Festival

During the National Independence War, Atatürk came to Havza on May 25, 1919 and stayed here 18 days. To cherish the memory of these days, May 25 was celebrated as a “local festival” from the first days of Independence till 1989. In 1989, it converted to “The Commemoration of Atatürk Festival”.

Every year concerts, theatre and folk dancing performances, exhibitions, conferences, panels and different contest are being organized.  The most popular contests are 13-20 age group bicycle contest, inter-high school knowledge contest, amateur knowledge contest and amateur song contest. The other important feature of this festival is May 25 Grease Wrestling called as “Karadeniz Kırkpınarı”.

Havza, which has one of the most beautiful wrestling areas of Anatolia, deserves the title of “Karadeniz Kırkpınarı” due to the participation to contests, audiences and perfect organization.

Havza Kitchen

Keşkek and Tirit are the most popular foods of Havza like in almost all districts. Pastry is also popular.