ERZINCAN TURKEY

Erzincan

Erzincan, which had been hostedmany Anatolian civilizations, had lost most of its historical monuments due tobig earthquakes, while remains had been damaged, however, some have been ableto be repaired.

The cityis surrounded with mountains and is very convenient for outdoor sports. You canmake ski and off-road trips in Ergan Mountain, canoein Fırat River, experience adrenaline with rafting, doparagliding, explore Karanlık (Dark) Canyon. You may have a joyfulday on slope of Munzur Mountain.

Terzibaba Cemetery and Mausoleum

Sufismmaster Muhammed Vehbi is known by people as Terzibaba as hisreal job is tailoring. The name of Erzincan´s biggest cemetery KaledibiCemetery was changed as Terzibaba Cemetery due toTerzibaba being buried here, in 1848.

Mausoleumis entered via a stair having four steps. At the entrance there is a raincoving with two columns and covered with lead. Inside the mausoleum consists ofa plain, octagon cover. It has crossed iron cages on the gate and windows.

Çadırcı Turkish Bath

Builtin 1548, Çadırcı Turkish Bath (Çadırcı Hamamı) is one ofthe most durable classic Ottoman structures still standingin Erzincan. It has four iwans and corner cell. Entrance is via twodifferent gates on east side. The bath has three sections as changing room,cold and hot rooms, and is covered with pendant domes.

Taşçı Turkish Bath

Taşçı Turkish Bath (Taşçı Hamamı) has beendesigned according to Ottoman architecture at the beginning of 19th century ina rectangular plan, and has warmth room, four iwans hot setting and furnacesections which were not used after 1939 earthquake. Structure´s architecturefeatures are reflected best via north facade, while south facade is the sectionof bath most changed in past.

Hacı Hafız Mausoleum

Hafız Mehmet Rüştü Efendi is one of the veryfirst followers of Terzibaba and died in 1891. His mausoleum has an octagonplan, and there is a cantilever on two posts at the entrance. The mausoleum,having a window at each corner, has a conic roof covered with red tiles. HacıHafız Mausoleum (Hacı Hafız Türbesi) had been come down many times andundergone various repairs. 

Kızlar Castle

Kızlar Castle is near Altıntepe ArchaeologicalArea which includes ruins from Urartu period. Castle,in which ceramic artifacts are found from Urartu period, has been built bycarving the rocks. On northwest, there are two cisterns with three metersinterval, accessible with stairs. Cisterns are two meters high and two meterswide.

Clock Tower

The ClockTower still surviving today, was built instead of old Clock Tower camedown during 1939 earthquake. This square sectioned iconic artifact, refreshingan old memory, was built cut stone and divided into four floors withtransversal molds. Each floor was disposed on each other which are gettingsmaller upwards. On top of last floor, there are clocks on each side whilethere are wooden windows on each side of each floor. The tower has changingcolored lightening and is worth to see especially in nights.

Değirmenli Köy Church

Thechurch was built in 19th century with cut and undressed stones. There arerounded arched windows on both sides of entrance gate on west side of thebuilding.

İzzet Paşa Turkish Bath

This isan Ottoman bath which has been built in 1869. It isconstructed on a rectangular area using undressed stones. It consists of warmthroom, cold room, hot room and furnace sections. Also, there are ornaments onceiling and on various location of the bath.

Martyrs Memorial

Thememorial was built on top of a high hill in memory of martyred soldiersduring Otlukbeli War in 1473 between Mehmet theConqueror and Long Hassan.

Başköy Cemetery and Mosque

It isthough that the graves in Başköy Cemetery (Başköy Mezarlığı) arebelonging to soldiers martyred during Otlukbeli War. On the gravesof Akkoyunlu and Karakoyunlu people, thereare statues from 15th century, as well as pitcher, rush, poplar tree and horsemotives on gravestones those known having different meanings. On the otherhand, rose, bird, vase motives on gravestones dated in 16th centuryreflects Ottoman stone masonry arts. The mosque is still open forpray and has been used as madrassah for some time. 

Altıntepe Urartu Castle

Castle is15 km away from Erzincan centrum, and an old build hosted Urartu and Byzantine civilizations.It is one of the most durable Urartu castles reaching to present day.Restoration works on settlements built in Urartu period continues to this day.

Saztepe Tumulus

Tumulus,located within Üzümlü district, is about 500 mt. long and 20mt. high, and has ceramic artifacts from Urartu and Hellene periods. SaztepeTumulus (Saztepe Höyüğü) is an important historical location for beingnear to Altıntepe and Küçük Tepe tumulus aswell as for including valued ceramics.

Kemah Castle

Kemah Castle (Kemah Kalesi) had been being usedsince third and second thousand BCE until today. It is considered as one ofthe Anatolia´s oldest and world´s rare natural castles.The castle has been built on cliffs and surrounded by ramparts. Constructedwith large blocks of cut stones has been fortified with pentagonal bastions.

Melik Gazi Mausoleum

Themausoleum is from Mengücek Chiefdom, ruled the regionbetween 1071 - 1228. It is built on rocky platform northwest of Kemah. It hasbrick walls and eight corners.

Inmausoleum, also known as Sultan Melek by locale people, thereis mummy of Sultan Melik lived in Mengücek Chiefdom period,as well as five other graves.

Acemoğlu Bridge

The constructiondate of Acemoğlu Bridge (Acemoğlu Köprüsü) is not known. Thebridge is on Karasu River, connecting two sides of Acemoğlu Straitand built cut stones with single arch.

Gülabi Bey Mosque and Turkish Bath

It isthough that the mosque and bath, located in Kemah districtcenter, has been built in 15th century in Turkmen Akkoyunlu State period.

Cengerli Castle Roman Warehouse

Buildingoriginated from Hayasa and Urartu periods. RomanWarehouse on north section of Cengerli Castle (CengerliKalesi) consists of three rounded buildings.

Kadıköy Church

Thechurch is one of the oldest buildings located in Refahiye district.The cross motive engraved on lintel at the entrance, and icons drawn on wallsinside seem like shedding light to the history. 

Esat Muhlis Mosque

The Esat Muhlis Mosque (Esat Muhlis Cami) is located in Refahiyedistrict center, has western period ornaments, and there BahaattinPaşa Martyrs Memorial in the court. The historical mosque is restoredin 2013 and open for pray.

Orta Cami (Central Mosque)

It isthought that the mosque is an Ottoman monument dated in 17thcentury. The mosque has a single dome and colored cut stones had been used inconstruction. There are three gates of prayers place opening to narthex. Thereare marble grid windows over the gates having rounded arches. Minaret pedestalis quite high and has a thin body. 

Mama Hatun Complex

Thecomplex consists of Turkish bath and mausoleum. It is built by SaltukidPrincess Mama Hatun in 7th century. It has a square plan and is builtwith shaped yellow stone blocks. Mausoleum has been added to complex by MamaHatun later.

Abrenk Church and Obelisks

The Abrenk Church (Abrenk Kilisesi) is located in adepression southwest of Vank Maountain near Üçpınar Village.According to the information on its entrance, it has been built in 1854. Alongwith the church, there is a chapel and two obelisks. Obelisks has been stuck upin rocky ground in 17th century and an open-air prayer place has been createdby arranging the surrounding.

Oğulveren Church

On thescene-from-outside section of twin windows located in apsis part of thecircular planned church, two animal figures of arch pediment and in between ahuman figure raising hands were depicted. These illustrations are seen only inthis church so far.

Çadırkaya (Pekeriç) Castle

Thecastle, a settlement of Urartu, draws attention with itsarchitecture features and ornaments. Çadırkaya Castle (ÇadırkayaKalesi) was built on a 100 mt. high and 150 mt. long natural rockblock but there are no signs of its walls. However, carved roads, stairs,cisterns, caves and signs in the castle could survive until today.

Kemaliye Houses

Kemaliye Houses draw attention with their authenticarchitecture fabric. Having samples with two, three and four floors KemaliyeHouses´ first floors were built with stone. One of the most important symbolsof the houses are door knockers. There are two different types of knockers onouter doors with their ornaments and sizes. One of them is for men, and theother is for women. The one for women makes a treble sound, while for men makesa dead sound.  The guest is welcomed by man or woman of the houseaccording to the knocker sound.

Stone Road

The StoneRoad (Taş Yol), connecting Kemaliye and Divriği districts,is considered as one of the most difficult roads of the world, of whichconstruction has been completed in 132 years by carving the rocks ofunfordable Dark Canyon (Karanlık Kanyon) by locale peopleusing elemental tools.

Road isattractive for adventurers desiring to tour on road both by walking and byvehicle with its many tunnels, turns and steep cliffs.