Kars is a key city in northeastern Turkey, close to Armenia and Georgia. Due to its strategically important location, it has been a battleground many times throughout history. Therefore, historical tourist spots such as castle ruins are scattered throughout Kars!
The border with Armenia has remained closed since 1993, but an international train connecting Kars with Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is scheduled to begin operating in 2017. Let's introduce recommended sightseeing spots in Kars, a Turkish city accessible to the Caucasus region.
1. Kars Castle
On the rocky mountain inside where the Kars River bends sharply, the Kars Castle ruins, a symbol of Kars, rise. It is a fortress built by the Seljuk dynasty in 1153, and battles have been repeated many times until the Russo-Turkish War at the end of the 19th century.
If you climb the castle ruins, which still retain the remains of strong walls and towers, you can easily realize how important the town and castle of Kars were. Also, from the top of the castle, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the town of Kars below and the mountains on the Armenian border in the distance.
If you visit Kars for sightseeing, first of all, aim for this Kars Castle.
Name: Kars Kalesi
Address: Kaleiçi Mahallesi, 36000 Kars Merkez
Official/Related Site URL: http://www.turkeytravelcentre.com/blog/kars-castle-east-of-turkey/
2. Kars Museum
Kars Museum, which quietly stands in the northeastern part of Kars town. Established in 1963, this museum exhibits various historical materials from the prehistoric Bronze Age to the present day around Kars. The exhibits are diverse, including folk costumes, old building doors with detailed decorations, bronze ornaments, and large ancient pots.
Originally, it was located on the grounds of the current Kars Cathedral, but it was relocated to its current location when a new building was completed.
Name: Kars Museum
Address: İstasyon Mah. Cumhuriyet Cad. No:315
Official/Related Site URL: http://www.muze.gov.tr/tr/muzeler/kars-muzesi
3. Kars Cathedral
Kars Cathedral is located at the foot of the Kars Castle ruins. Although it is not a large building as a religious building, it is a tourist spot with an impressive stone-built, solid appearance.
Also known as the Holy Apostles Church, this cathedral was built as an Armenian church in the 940s AD. However, as Kars was caught up in the war and the rulers changed, it was changed to a mosque and a Russian Orthodox church.
It became the building of the aforementioned Kars Museum in 1969, but it has been used as a mosque again since 1993. It can be said to be a valuable tourist attraction that tells the story of Kars's complex history.
Name: Cathedral of Kars
Address: Şht. Öğretmen Vedat İnan Sk. No:4, Kaleiçi Mahallesi, 36000 Kars
Official/Related Site URL: http://www.virtualani.org/karscathedral/index.htm
4. Stone Bridge
The "Stone Bridge (Taş Köprü)" over the Kars River at the foot of Kars Castle is a historic bridge built by the Ottoman Empire in 1579 and renovated in 1725.
On the opposite bank across the bridge, there are also ruins and old mosques, making it suitable for strolling during Kars sightseeing. Above all, the area around this Stone Bridge is an excellent photo spot to capture the Kars Castle ruins on the rocky mountain towering across the river!
It is a little off the center of Kars, but let's not forget to visit for sightseeing.
Name: Taş Köprü
Address: Mimar Oktay Ekinci Cd. No:43, Kaleiçi Mahallesi, 36000 Kars
Official/Related Site URL: http://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/kars/gezilecekyer/tas-kopru
5. Archaeological Site of Ani
Finally, I would like to introduce a tourist attraction that is a little far from Kars, but I would like you to visit. The archaeological site of Ani, located about 30km east of Kars, on the border with Armenia, is a valuable urban ruin registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ani was an important point where multiple trade routes, including the Silk Road, intersected, so it prospered so much that it was called "a city with a thousand and one churches" with a population of about 100,000 at its peak around 1000 AD.
However, it declined due to the Mongol invasion in the 13th century and earthquake damage in the 14th century, and completely lost its function as a city by around the 17th century. Therefore, many buildings remain as they are, and it is a valuable ruin where you can see the state of the Kars surrounding area in the Middle Ages.
Currently, several churches and mosques, including cathedrals, and castle walls are scattered over a wide area. As it is a scale that probably requires a full day for the tour, it is better to rent a car in Kars or participate in a tour.
Name: Archaeological Site of Ani
Address: Ocaklı Güllüce Mahallesi Ocaklı Köyü, Kars Merkez
Official/Related Site URL: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1518
◎ Summary
Kars, a key city where the struggle between Turkey, Armenia, and Russia has been repeated. Its history can be seen in the castle ruins, religious facilities, and abandoned city ruins remaining in the city.
When it comes to sightseeing in Turkey, it tends to be biased towards the western half of the Anatolian Peninsula, but why not visit Kars for a hidden historical sightseeing spot?