KARSKars, standing at an altitude of 1750 meters in Eastern Anatolia, has played an important role in Turkish history and was at the center of the Turkish-Russian War. The Russian legacy can still be seen in much of the town's architecture. The lower city unfolds at the foot of an impressive Seljuk fortress of the 12th century. Nearby, the Havariler Museum (the 10th century Church of the Apostles) reveals a curious mixture of architectural influences. Bas-reliefs representing the twelve apostles in rather stiff and awkward poses, ring the exterior drum of the dome.
The Archaeological Museum houses beautiful wood-carvings, an excellent collection of coins found in the surrounding region, as well as many ethnographic items relating to eastern Turkey. Kars is particularly known for its distinctive kilims and carpets,and it retains a strong heritage of folk dancing. Visitors always seem to enjoy this traditional entertainment. On the mountain pastures, villagers produce excellent Kasar cheese (yellow cheese) and delicious honey.
The Kur river divides Ardahan and separates the ancient part on one side and the new city on the other. A 16th century castle built by Sultan Selim the Grim, one of the most stately citadels in Turkey with 14 towers and a span of 745 meters, stands in the old part of the city.
Cildir takes its name from the nearby lake which lies at an altitude of 1965 meters. The scenic area around the lake provides a habitat for a fascinating variety of birds. In the lake, the man-made Akcakale Island was reputedly constructed with the labor of thousands; a temple with Urartian inscriptions remains. Seytan Kalesi (Devil's Castle) is near Cildir.
Sarikamis (53 km southwest of Kars) is a ski center with resort hotels, seting of a scenic pine forest.
ANI
A thousand years ago the city of Ani was the capital of an Armenian kingdom that covered much of present day Armenia Ani is now a ghost city, uninhabited for over three centuries and marooned since 1921 in a Turkish military zone right on the border and north-eastern Turkey. At that time Ani had a with modern Armenia. Today's visitors to Ani must explore the ruins under the population of at least 100,000 and its wealth and renown was such that it was known as the "city of a thousand and one hurches". Built on a spectacular site - a plateau almost encircled by deep ravines - Ani's many churches, palaces and fortifications were amongst the most supervision of soldiers, much of the extensive site is now off-limits, and all photography is forbidden. Enter this website for a building by building description of Ani, a history of the city, plus a selection of medieval Armenian churches, monasteries and castles that can be found elsewhere technically and artistically advanced buildings in the Europe of that period. within Turkey. |
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