Kalkanlı: Waterfall, Rocks and Caves

Near Kalkanlı in Yayladere District, Pargasur Waterfall, a multi-level rock settlement, and nearby caves come together as reasons to visit. The waterfall showcases the rocky landscape, while the settlement and caves offer different perspectives on the area’s cultural heritage.

Waterfall and Rocky Landscape

Pargasur Waterfall is located within the village boundaries of Kalkanlı and plunges about 30 meters amid rocky terrain. The Pargasur rock complex is also within the village. The rock settlement was carved into rocks that are 40 to 45 meters high. It is important to distinguish between these measurements: around 30 meters refers to the waterfall’s drop, while 40 to 45 meters refers to the height of the rocks. These are two different features of the landscape, not two measurements of the same height.

Rock Settlement: Layout and Interpretation

The Pargasur rock settlement has a multi-level structure. The lower level contains a niche and two rooms. These details help explain the site both through its overall form and through its individual spaces: the multiple levels describe its layout, while the niche and rooms add detail about the lower level. For those interested in architecture, this combination offers a vivid way to understand the settlement’s spatial organization.

The Pargasur rock complex is considered an important example of rock chapels built by groups who were under strong pressure and rejected traditional religious beliefs. They created safe places and refuges. A section carved into the rock on the eastern side, resembling an apse, is interpreted as a church. Thus, specific architectural features sit alongside religious interpretation: the complex has multiple levels, while the designation as a church is an interpretation of the eastern section.

Caves and Rock Images in the Surrounding Area

The Kalkanlı caves are nearby and decorated with numerous rock engravings and rock images. The caves and the Pargasur Waterfall surrounded by them are considered important for tourism. While the settlement draws attention to its levels and rooms, the engravings and images direct attention to the worked surfaces of the caves. The settlement and caves thus offer two different perspectives on the area’s cultural heritage.

The Yayladere Pargasur Şelalesi Cycling Route

The Yayladere Pargasur Şelalesi cycling route includes visits to the caves below and around Pargasur Waterfall. Physical accessibility may vary; take this into account when planning a cave visit. Further along the route, it passes through oak forests where wild animals and mountain goats can be found. The route thus covers both the caves by the waterfall and the wider region’s landscape.

For your planning, keep two aspects separate: cave visits are part of the route itinerary, while oak forests, wild animals, and mountain goats characterize the route through the wider region. If you are considering the cycling route as part of your trip to Kalkanlı, take the variable accessibility of the caves into account.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Yiğitler Köyü, Bingöl, Sancak, Topraklık Köyü, Çayağzı.

Go to the main travel overview: Bingöl.