Discover Artvin: Castle, Mosque and Cultural House

Artvin brings together specific cultural sites with a river and castle setting: Merkez Çarşı Cami is in the centre, Artvin Kalesi is in the Çayağzı district, and you can eat regional dishes at Artvin Kültür Evi. These different focuses help you tailor your trip to your interests—from religious architecture and history to regional cuisine. The wider Artvin destination also offers nature, monastery and skiing activities.

Artvin Kalesi on the Çoruh

Artvin Kalesi is in the Çayağzı district, on a rocky outcrop that rises 70 metres above the bed of the Çoruh River. The castle is opposite Artvin Bridge. Its construction is dated to 937: it was built by the Georgian Bagrat king Büyük Oşet. Its location by the river and its historical date provide two different points of reference for understanding the site: its relationship to the landscape and its construction history.

Merkez Çarşı Cami and the history of the city

Merkez Çarşı Cami was built between 1860 and 1861 in the centre of Artvin. It is in Çarşı Mahallesi on Direkdibi Sokak and is a religious tourism site. Both the neighbourhood and the street are named to help you find your way. Its construction period is much later than the year 937 given for the construction of Artvin Kalesi. The two buildings thus represent different periods in Artvin's history.

Artvin Kültür Evi and regional cuisine

From Artvin city centre, you can reach Artvin Kültür Evi by dolmuş to the turnoff for the cultural house; from there, a walk of about 500 metres leads to it. As route arrangements can change, check the dolmuş connection before your visit. Regional dishes are served at the cultural house. This makes the journey a way to enjoy a specific culinary experience. Also check the current visiting conditions in advance.

More things to explore in the wider Artvin destination

Nature walks, trekking and orienteering are possible in Hatila Valley National Park. The park is within the village boundaries of Taşlıca in Artvin Merkez. These activities are quite different from the urban cultural sites: the focus here is on movement and nature. If you consider Artvin as a wider destination, they complement the themes of castles, mosques and regional cuisine with a distinct focus on activities.

The Okumuşlar Monastery complex is also part of the wider Artvin destination. It comprises a refectory, a church ruin and two chapels. Its earliest construction phase is estimated to date to the middle or second half of the 9th century. The buildings and the cautiously worded dating offer a different way to explore the region's history than the individual structures in the city.

Another historical stop in the wider Artvin destination is Çayağzı Mosque, also known as Salih Bey Mosque. It was built in 1792 (Hijri 1207) by Salih Bey, one of the sanjak beys of Livane (Artvin). It should not be confused with Merkez Çarşı Cami: the two mosques have different names and construction histories.

Artvin Ski Centre is also part of the broader range of activities. It has an 800-metre chairlift and slopes of varying difficulty. Thus, alongside architectural history and nature activities, the wider destination also offers skiing.

Discover more destinations: Arhavi, Yukarışahinler, Şavşat, Ortacalar, Akantaş Köyü, Kemalpaşa, Borçka, Kireçlik Köyü

For the wider travel overview: Artvin.