Erzurum is a city in Turkey. Located in the north-eastern part of the country. It is the administrative center of the same name silt. This is the western part of historical Armenia. The city has been a part of Turkey since 1923. In the article we will find out why Erzurum is attractive for tourists and what you can see here.
Location
In Turkey, the city of Erzurum is located in the north-east of the country, at a distance of 880 kilometers from Ankara. It is located on a plateau with a height of 1700 meters above sea level. It is the highest mountain settlement in Turkey.
Description
Erzurum is considered the main city in the Asian part of Turkey. Its name has Persian roots and comes from the words arz and rum, which mean "the border of Rome" in translation.
A railroad runs through the city that connects Anatolia with Iran. It was built on the site of the caravan route, which took place here in antiquity.
The city is built in a hollow surrounded by mountains. They are covered in snow most of the year. There are no forests, and the land is quite fertile. Erzurum is rich in natural sources. The entire territory of this area is famous for its waters. Not far from the city flows the Euphrates River. In Erzurum, you can see many fountains, next to which there are buckets hanging on a chain, with their help residents and tourists can drink water.
The city is rich in its sights. In addition, skiing is well developed here. At the resort, those who come here for the purpose of passive relaxation and those who want to spend their leisure time actively will find classes for themselves. No one will be disappointed after acquiring a tour to Turkey, to Erzurum.
Climate
Erzurum's weather conditions cannot be called mild. Here, diurnal temperature fluctuations often occur, which is typical for highlands. This is one of the coldest settlements in Turkey.
How to get there
You can get to the city of Erzurum in Turkey by plane. The local airport is located twelve kilometers from the city center in a northwest direction. Airplanes from such cities arrive here: Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Izmir and Trabzon.
From Ankara, Istanbul, Sivas, Kars and Kayseri can be reached by rail.
It is possible to get to Erzurum by public transport - bus. The journey from Ankara will take 13 hours, from Istanbul - 19, and from Trabzon - 6 hours.
There is one more option. It is perhaps the most convenient of all. This is a transfer. You can pre-order a car with a personal driver. The price of the service is fixed, it is set during the booking process. The price includes hour waiting at the airport and 15 minutes at the hotel. The client will be greeted with a nameplate, so knowledge of the language is not required.
History
Erzurum was founded at the beginning of the first millennium AD. Then it was called Karin, it was inhabited by the Hayasa-Azzi tribes. Later this territory became the possession of Byzantium. Emperor Theodosius during his reign strengthened the city and gave it the name Theodosiopol.
Later, the settlement changed its name more than once, it depended on the era and the ruling power. He was called over the years of its history and Kalikala, and Arsen, and Ardzn-Rum. Here, at one time, the Persians, and the Turks, and the Mongols, and the Armenian princes ruled, who played an important role in the history of this area. Russian troops entered the city more than once. A.S. Pushkin took part in the first such campaign.
Erzurum from the early Middle Ages is known throughout the eastern world as a center for carpet weaving. Since the beginning of the XXI century, the city has been performing the function of developing winter sports. Especially popular in the city of Erzurum in Turkey is skiing.
sights
The ancient city of Erzurum is rich in monuments of culture and architecture. This is due to its difficult history. There is a fortress, many mosques, several mausoleums, museums, lakes and waterfalls and many other interesting sights that are useful for tourists to see. Meet the best of them.
The most ancient building in the city is a fortress erected by Emperor Theodosius. It was built in the fifth century. It was this fortress that was attacked by Russian troops during their campaigns. She is standing on a hill. The fortress has been restored and rebuilt several times during its existence.
On its territory is a mosque of the XII century. The fortress has three minarets, one of which is called Saat Kulesi - the clock tower. Anyone can climb it. The clock was presented as a gift by Queen Victoria herself.
According to all traditions, the fortress is surrounded by a moat and has double iron gates that are connected by bridges. On this way, 10 guns were installed. Outside the fortress stands the Kesik-Kule tower. It also stores a dozen cannons, which in the old days did not leave a chance to approach enemies. Once in the citadel, there were 2080 loopholes. On the territory of the fortification there were about 1700 houses. Impassable mountains played an important role in this complex.
Entering the city, you immediately notice the presence of many mosques in it. Fearing earthquakes, local residents built low buildings. For this reason, they were not able to build a large mosque. One of them is named after Ibrahim Pasha. It is built from the same material as the fortress - black basalt of volcanic origin. This stone is well processed and stored for a long time, so the old buildings have been preserved to this day unchanged.
The mosque was built in 1748. She served as a library and school. Here Ibrahim Pasha and his sons are buried. The mosque is very beautiful and is of great architectural, historical and artistic value.
Among the attractions in Erzurum in Turkey, there are also three mausoleums - Uch Kümbetler. It originates in the XII century and are three burial grounds that belong to the emir Saltuk, the emir Sultan and the daughter of the Sultan Aladdin. All of them are decorated with beautiful ornaments.
This is not the whole list of attractions of the ancient city and not everything that tourists can see in Erzurum.
Dedeman Palandoken hotel 4 *
Palandoken in Turkey in Erzurum is a ski resort located on the border with Armenia 5 kilometers from the city. He is the youngest in the country, but has already gained popularity among tourists.
It offers beautiful scenery and excellent skiing conditions. The resort is suitable for beginners as well as professionals due to the diversity of its slopes. Here you can even leave children under the supervision of an instructor.
Lifts of different types and systems work according to the length of daylight hours. The most suitable period for a holiday is from December 10 to May 10.
Dedeman Palandoken hotel 4 * is one of the hotels where you can stay during your stay at the resort. It offers family rooms, non-smoking, for people with disabilities and others.
It offers guests a spa, fitness room, restaurant, laundry, dry cleaning, sauna, indoor pool, free Wi-Fi, a bar, free parking. There is the possibility of skiing from the hotel doors.
Reviews
Tourists who visited the Erzurum resort, positively comment on the rest spent here. They note the presence of a large amount of greenery, the beauty of narrow old streets, excellent Turkish service. The local color of the city of Erzurum in Turkey （the landscape of the city is visible in the photo） leaves no one indifferent.
It is recommended to purchase all-inclusive tours. Thus, there are many additional features, such as free storage of ski equipment, spa access and many others.
Erzurum is famous for its waters, so a good option is to combine the tour with a visit to the hydropathic. According to reviews, the resort is suitable for both adults and families with children.
The negative point is the relatively high prices and long lines at the airport during passport control. Most of the reviews about visiting the city of Erzurum in Turkey are positive.