Balıkesir

Template: Infobox city in Turkey / Maintenance / County

Balıkesir ( until 1926 Karesi, Greek Μπαλικεσίρ ) is a Turkish town between Bursa and İzmir with 317 839 inhabitants and the capital of the province of Balıkesir. The name derives from the Greek Παλαιοκάστρον ( Palaiokastron, German: old castle ) from.

The area is famous for vegetable and fruit growing, in the area there are some health spas.

Nearby are the ancient cities of argyria ( Agissa, Argiza ), skepticism and Ergasteria and Mount Ida, is said to have observed from the Zeus fights for Troy. The ancient Makestosbrücke lies on the path between Balıkesir and Miletopolis.

Balıkesir was for a time part of the Turkish Beyliks Karesi, later the vilayet Karesi and carried this name as a province by the year 1926.

Since November 2006, Balıkesir twin city of the German town of Schwäbisch Hall.