Getting to know Kepez
Kepez is one of Antalya’s central districts, extending inland behind the coastal city. It has a different identity from Kaleiçi or the beachfront at Konyaaltı. Residential neighbourhoods, former industrial land, cultural spaces and natural water features all contribute to its urban character.
Upper Düden Waterfall and DokumaPark offer two very different introductions. The waterfall reveals a water landscape within the metropolitan area. DokumaPark tells a more recent story through the reuse of the former Antalya textile factory. Together they show that Antalya’s heritage is not confined to ancient monuments or the old harbour.
History and local character
The textile factory was an important part of the city’s industrial history. Its later transformation into DokumaPark created a setting for museums, galleries, libraries and a science centre. The cultural value lies partly in that continuity: a place associated with production has become a public setting for learning, recreation and memory.
Landscape and local life
Kepez is also part of everyday metropolitan Antalya. Its neighbourhoods should not be described as a coastal resort simply because they share the provincial name. The distinction between Upper and Lower Düden is especially useful: Upper Düden belongs to the inland water landscape, while the Lower Düden falls reach the sea at the cliff coast in Muratpaşa.
