Erzurum: Culture, History and Hotels

Erzurum brings together historic buildings and museums with a nearby ski resort and two recommended dishes. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether architectural and urban history, museum visits or skiing will shape your stay. The places mentioned offer different points of reference: some are on the same street, while others can be located in relation to prominent buildings. With these interests in mind, you can then search for a hotel for your stay in Erzurum.

Getting your bearings in the city centre

Cumhuriyet Caddesi is a point of reference for several historic sites: the Cimcime-Hatun Kümbet is on this street in the city centre; the Yakutiye Medrese is also located there, next to the Lala Pasha Mosque. Ulu Camii is also on Cumhuriyet Caddesi, west of the Çifte Minareli Medrese and south of Erzurum Castle. These location details can help you distinguish between sights and understand how they are situated in relation to one another. Taşhan Bazaar is in Yakutiye. It was originally built as a caravanserai and now serves as a historic bazaar. This place thus combines its former function with its present-day use as a bazaar.

Castle, mosque and monumental tombs

Erzurum Castle has a history dating back approximately 2,500 years. Another historic landmark is the Three Tombs: monumental tombs believed to date from between the 12th and 14th centuries. The Emir-Saltuk Kümbet is the largest of the three tombs. It is dated to the second half of the 13th century and is also considered one of Anatolia’s earliest dated kümbets. The dating of the Emir-Saltuk Kümbet is more specific, but is still expressed cautiously. Ulu Camii also shapes the city’s historic character: it is regarded as one of Erzurum’s most important and oldest mosques. The Çifte Minareli Medrese is also in the city centre.

Historic museums

The Congress Building hosted the Erzurum Congress from July 23 to August 5. The museum in the Congress Building displayed around 250 rare works, as well as an Esmaül-Hüsna collection described as the only one of its kind in Turkey. The opening dates of the historic museums also mark different stages: Atatürk House Museum opened to visitors in 1984. The Yakutiye Medrese opened as the Museum of Turkish-Islamic Art and Ethnography on October 29, 1994. On July 17, 2021, the Çifte Minareli Medrese opened to visitors as the Vakıf-Eserleri Museum. If you plan to visit museums, check their current accessibility in advance.

Skiing and local dishes

If you are considering winter sports alongside historic sites, Palandöken is another element to include in your trip plans. The ski resort is close to the city centre, about a ten-minute drive away. You can ski there during the day and at night. The estimated driving time offers a rough guide for planning. Dishes to try before leaving Erzurum include Cağ kebabı and kadayıf dolma. So alongside historic sites, skiing and two specific dishes offer different ways to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations

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For the parent travel overview: Erzincan.