Isparta, city in southwestern Turkey, the capital of Isparta province. The city is located about 100 km (about 60 mi) north of Antalya in the western lakes region of the Plain of Konya. Isparta is famous for its carpets and attar of roses (fragrant rose oil). The region's sandy soil is particularly well suited to the growth of roses, an industry that developed in the late 19th century when rose varieties from Bulgaria were established here. Most of Isparta's attar is exported to France for use in perfumes. The city is at an important highway junction on the main route to Antalya. Originally a Byzantine settlement, Isparta was captured by the Seljuk Turks in the early 13th century and incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the late 14th century. Population (1990) 112,117.
