Kars Attractions
Northeast Anatolia
Northeast of Aras Nehri (Araxes) beyond the Kura pass and near the Turkish-Georgian border stretches the biggest and highest lava plateau in Anatolia. Predominantly basalt and andesite but also tuff, pitchstone and volcanic rock, the impressive, monotonous landscape consists mainly of grazing pastures, with cattle and sheep farming the primary occupation of the local population. The high steppes of Kars and Ardahan, (up to 2,500m/8,200ft) are dominated in places by volcanoes and divided into four sections by deep hollows. In one of these valleys between the Ardahan and Kars Yaylasi lies the provincial capital of Kars, which was settled by Turks before 130 B.C., but there are many reminders particularly in the architecture of the period of Russian domination before the First World War. The new town is laid out in a chequerboard pattern and many of the houses display the colonial style typical of many Russian cities such as St Petersburg.
The modern town center was planned after 1877 during the Russian occupation. There is still a community of Protestant Germans in the village of Karacaören only a short distance from Kars. They were brought here by the Tsars over a hundred years ago. With little industry to speak of, the region is best known for the manufacture of hand-woven carpets displaying eagle and shield motifs. Many of the local cheese factories owe their origins to the Volga German settlers who moved here in the 19th century
History
The history of Kars is closely linked with the fate of Armenia. Ashot the Iron Man (914-918) expelled the Moslem emirs and opened the way for his brother Abbas I to establish a Bagratid kingdom with Kars as the capital. The town remained the royal seat under the rival Mushegh (962-984) and his successors Abbas and Gagik, when Ashot III (The Merciful, 952-977) moved the capital to Ani. The collapse of Armenia into a number of principalities occurred at around the same time. In 1050 Kars fell to Byzantium, but in 1064 the Seljuk Alp Arslan won control. The majority of the Armenian population fled south to Cilicia. From 1205 to 1585 under Georgian rule Kars enjoyed a degree of prosperity, before falling to the Ottomans. The Kars and Ardahan region belonged to Russia in 1807, 1854-1856 (Crimean War) and again from 1873 to 1921.
Northeast of Aras Nehri (Araxes) beyond the Kura pass and near the Turkish-Georgian border stretches the biggest and highest lava plateau in Anatolia. Predominantly basalt and andesite but also tuff, pitchstone and volcanic rock, the impressive, monotonous landscape consists mainly of grazing pastures, with cattle and sheep farming the primary occupation of the local population. The high steppes of Kars and Ardahan, (up to 2,500m/8,200ft) are dominated in places by volcanoes and divided into four sections by deep hollows. In one of these valleys between the Ardahan and Kars Yaylasi lies the provincial capital of Kars, which was settled by Turks before 130 B.C., but there are many reminders particularly in the architecture of the period of Russian domination before the First World War. The new town is laid out in a chequerboard pattern and many of the houses display the colonial style typical of many Russian cities such as St Petersburg.
The modern town center was planned after 1877 during the Russian occupation. There is still a community of Protestant Germans in the village of Karacaören only a short distance from Kars. They were brought here by the Tsars over a hundred years ago. With little industry to speak of, the region is best known for the manufacture of hand-woven carpets displaying eagle and shield motifs. Many of the local cheese factories owe their origins to the Volga German settlers who moved here in the 19th century
History
The history of Kars is closely linked with the fate of Armenia. Ashot the Iron Man (914-918) expelled the Moslem emirs and opened the way for his brother Abbas I to establish a Bagratid kingdom with Kars as the capital. The town remained the royal seat under the rival Mushegh (962-984) and his successors Abbas and Gagik, when Ashot III (The Merciful, 952-977) moved the capital to Ani. The collapse of Armenia into a number of principalities occurred at around the same time. In 1050 Kars fell to Byzantium, but in 1064 the Seljuk Alp Arslan won control. The majority of the Armenian population fled south to Cilicia. From 1205 to 1585 under Georgian rule Kars enjoyed a degree of prosperity, before falling to the Ottomans. The Kars and Ardahan region belonged to Russia in 1807, 1854-1856 (Crimean War) and again from 1873 to 1921.
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Ani, Turkey
(Near Kars)
Ani was once the Armenian capital but abandoned in the 16th C. A portion of the ruins can be visited but restrictions apply.
Kümbet Camii
This mosque which was until recently Kars museum was built under the Bagratid Abas I (of Ani) 930-937 as the Church of the Apostles, but became a mosque in 1664. When the town was under Russian control it became a church again until 1921. The tall drum is embellished with reliefs of the Twelve Apostles.
Narin Kalesi
An Armenian castle and later an Ottoman citadel dominates the old town of Kars. It stands on Urartian foundations and was altered around the middle of the 12th century by the Saltukogullari and then rebuilt on the orders of Sultan Murat III after it was completely destroyed by the Mongol Timur in 1386. The castle site is unchanged since the 19th century Crimean War.
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Çildir Gölü
Çildir Gölü is a large, deep lake (130 m) that covers an area of 128sq.km. Around the lake are a number of old churches.
Ardahan, Turkey
(Near Kars)
The regional center of Ardahan is situated some 95km/60mi northwest of Kars. It lies in the Ardahan valley below the Yalnizçam Daglari and it is reached by crossing the 2,640m/8,660ft Cam Geçidi in the heart of Turkish Georgia. Ardahan is dominated by a huge fortress with square towers (up to 12m/40ft high). The present fortress was built by Selim I. Ardahan formed a part of the Russian Empire from 1873 to 1921.
Beylerbey Saray
The ruined Governor's Palace in the lower castle in Kars is also known as Pasa Sarayi. It was built in 1579 by Lala Mustafa Pasa.
Camuslu, Turkey
(Near Kars)
Stone Age cave drawings of deer can be seen in the village of Çamuslu, some 65km/40mi south of Kars.
Celal Baba Türbesi
The tomb of the local saint of Kars, Celal Baba who perished in the Mongol invasion of 1239 is open to visitors on Thursdays.
Cildir, Turkey
(Near Kars)
About 90km/57mi north of Kars lies the small town of Çildir. In a long valley about 14km/8mi further along the Aktas Gölü road (the last 4km/2.5mi have to be covered on foot) stands a medieval castle. Known as Seytan Kalesi (Devil's Mountain) or more correctly Rabat Kalesi meaning "fortified monastery", it perches at a dizzy height on a rocky peak. Because of the proximity to the Armenian-Turkish border visitors require a special pass from the military.
Cradle Mosque
The Besik Camii (Cradle Mosque) below the castle in Kars was built in 1045 by the Bagratids and is used today as a warehouse.
Evliya Camii
The Evliya Camii in Kars is a rather nondescript building which was constructed in 1589 when the town underwent restoration. It was destroyed in 1604 and again in 1626 during an attack by Safavids. It was then renovated and covered with a mud roof. In the garden stands the türbe of St Evliya.
Ilbeyoglu Hamami
The Ilbeyoglu Hamami, Turkish baths in Kars with 18th century reliefs and ornaments are still in use. With the long balcony overlooking the river also known as the Balkonlu Hamam.
Kecivan, Turkey
(Near Kars)
The old Armenian town of Artageyra lies about 65km/40mi southwest of Kars. Some Seljuk remains include a mausoleum (kümbet) with relief carvings on the entrance.
Museum
The museum in Kars can be found in a road which forks off the road to Ani (Ani Yolu) in the northeast of the town. Finds from the Bronze Age to the present day are on display. An annex also houses an ethnography department. Of special interest are the panels of a carved, Armenian church door and a Russian church bell which dates from the time of Tsar Nicholas II.
Old town
The old town of Kars is said to have been enclosed by a 27km/17mi wall with 220 towers. At the moment the only remains lie in a neglected part of the town with three preserved towers: Su Kapisi (Water Gate) or Ceribasi Kapi in the west, Kagizman Kapisi in the middle and Behram Kapisi or Bayram Pasa Kapisi in the east.
Sarikamis, Turkey
(Near Kars)
The garrison town and regional center of Sarikamis lies about 80km/50mi southwest of Kars. Until the First World War it was a border town for Tsarist Russia. A small skiing center with a lift is situated nearby.
Yusuf Pasa Camii
According to an inscription on the gate, this mosque was built by the provincial governor Seyyid Yusuf Pasa. A wooden minaret was later replaced by one made of stone.
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