 Kars
|
|
Kars, situated over 5,000 feet above sea level, is one of the coldest places in Turkey in the winter. The fortress, which was used from the time of the Urartians up to the more recent Russians, gives a great panoramic view of the town and surrounding areas.
|
|
|
From the researches and studies, it was determined that the history of Kars extends to the Polished Stoned Age (BC 9000 - 8000). Hurri, Urartu, İskit, Part, Sasani and Byzantine civilizations had dominated the region. Seljukian Monarch Sultan Alpaslan had conquered the city and the surrounding area in 1064 and therefore the road of Anatolia had been granted for the following Turkish nations. After the conquest of the city by the Turks, the city and the region had been dominated by Mongols and Turkish States like Akkoyunlu and Karakoyunlu and finally the city had been entered under the reign of Ottoman Empire after 1514 by the conquest of Yavuz Sultan Selim.
The Cathedral of the Holy Apostles built in 937 A.D. was originally used as a church. However, after the Ottoman Era it was used as a mosque. The 15th century stone bridge, Tas Kopru, is also interesting. The Kars Museum houses artifacts mainly from nearby Ani.
The main reason to visit Kars is to head east and see the medieval metropolis of Ani. It is one of the most interesting sites in Eastern Turkey. At its peak, the city is said to have had close to 100,000 people living there. Ani’s golden age came during the reign of Gagik I (989 – 1020), when it rivaled Constantinople in fame. Many churches and civic buildings were built. In 1319, an earthquake devastated the city and it was soon abandoned.
WHERE TO EAT
Beside the famous sheep cheese and honey, the province of Kars own rich food and beverage varieties. Among the original local meals, umaç halvah, elma dolması (apple stuff), hörre (flour) soup, evelik meal cooked from a plant called evelik, bread meal cooked by pouring hot butter and yogurt over bread, pişi, kuymak, hengel (meat pastry), haşıl cooked from wheat, bozbaş, piti which is a soup cooked with meat, pilaf cooked with sultani grape and Kars pastry could be counted.
WHAT TO BUY
The Kars carpets and pileless carpets weaved from natural painted cotton, hair, silk and wool threads having interesting local patterns are famous. The local silver belts, headgears and various silver jewelry are the authentic souvenirs of Kars. The feather stuffed pillows made from the feathers of goose are very healthy.
DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT
- Visiting ancient ruins of Ani and Kars Castle,
- Visiting the Museum,
- Eating yellow fish at the banks of Çıldır Lake,
- Tasting the famous honey, sheep cheese and gruyere,
- Buying Kars Caucasian Carpet,
- Watching Caucasian Folk Dances,
- Skiing at Sarıkamış
|
Places Wich You Must See
|
|
Ani Church
|
 Ani ( Ocaklı )
The Ani Ruins are at 48 km distance to the Kars Province. The ancient city is founded at the banks of the Arpaçay River flowing in the vicinity of Turkey - Armenia border and is in the borders of Mevcut Ocaklı Village. The foundation date is estimated to be in BC 350 - 300 years. The tourists coming to our country frequently visit the ruins of Ani. The ruins of city walls, Medieval churches and Seljukian architecture creations of the Ani ruins are magnificent art works and they worth visiting.
|
The Ramparts
The Northern ramparts are firstly constructed in the year 972. By the addition of eastern ramparts between 977 - 990 years, these ramparts had been strengthened. The three northern entrance gates are worth seeing. The Dragon Tower, which was used as a hospital by Seljukians in12th Century is one of the oldest hospitals of Anatolia.
|
MUSEUMS
Kars Museum The museum is one of the richest museums of Eastern Anatolia Region. The museum is separated into two main sections. At the archeological findings hall, ceramic and bronze works, ring stones, various coins, embroidered wooden doors, niches, bells discovered at the excavations executed in the Kars region are exhibited while at the ethnographic works hall the objects used by the folk of Kars during the history are exhibited. Also in the courtyard of the museum, relieves of various periods, ram statues and tombstones are displayed.
|
|
« go back to list
|
|
 |
|
|
Resort Pictures |
|
|
|
Ani
|
|
|
Folk Dance
|
|
|
Kars Honey
|
|
|
Carpets
|
|
|
|
