Situated in the heart of ancient Caria and, during the 13th - 14th centuries, of the territory of the Anatolian beylik of Menteşe, the district has several localities of interest rich in history.

[citation needed] At a distance of 10 km (6 mi) to the west of the district center, in the direction of Milas, is the ancient site of Stratonikeia, in the present-day village of Eskihisar, and at walking distance from the ancient city is its sanctuary Lagina, near the present-day township of Turgut.

The village has an old and restored coffee house, Belen Kahvesi, mentioned in a nationally renowned song called "Ormancı", which has as theme a tragic event that took place there in 1946.

The coffee house is a tourist attraction today both because of the curiosity aroused by the song and also due to its views of the surrounding plain.

There have been campaigns to shut it down by Greenpeace since 1994, and several shutdown court orders have been issued, only to be overruled or ignored because of an energy shortage at that time.