Discover Zilkale

There are several ways to plan a trip to Zilkale: Palovit Waterfall is nearby, summer hikes take place in the Kaçkar Mountains, and several structures in the Hemşin Valley are culturally significant attractions. If you are looking for hotels in Zilkale, you can weigh nature and culture as the main focuses of your trip.

Nature and hiking around Zilkale

Palovit Waterfall is in Kaçkar Mountains National Park and is one of the waterfalls with the highest flow rates in Rize Province. You can view the waterfall from an elevated spot in rocky terrain. At kilometer 19 of the Çamlıhemşin–Çat road, a four-kilometer road branches off to the left at a fountain and leads to the waterfall. This describes both a striking natural site and a specific route to get there.

There are eight hiking trails in the Kaçkar Mountains, where hikes take place in summer. If hiking is an important part of your trip, the season is a relevant consideration. The trails are part of the wider mountain area; they should not be confused with nearby Palovit Waterfall.

Historic structures in the Hemşin Valley

The historic stone arch bridge over the Fırtına River stands in the village of Şenyuva. It dates from 1696 and was formerly also known as the Çinçiva Bridge. Its dimensions are recorded as 54 meters long and 2 meters wide, and its form is defined by a single arch. Rubble stone and ashlar were used in its construction: the arch is made of ashlar, while the remaining parts are made of rubble stone. This helps put both its age and the different uses of the materials into context.

The road from Çamlıhemşin first leads to the historic Çinçiva (Şenyuva) stone arch bridge and then on to Zilkale. In the Hemşin Valley, Zilkale, Kale-i Bala, and the bridges over the Fırtına River are considered culturally significant attractions.

Kale-i Bala, also known as Varoş Kale, is in the village of Kale in Çamlıhemşin district. The fortification is situated at a spot overlooking the Fırtına River; a wide entrance gate is still visible on its northwest side. Its architecture and masonry strongly resemble those of Zil Kale. Kale-i Bala is near the Başhemşin and Tatos passes. Both cross the Kaçkar Mountains and provide access to the interior of Anatolia—another aspect of the historic travel routes in this mountain region.

Regional cuisine

The cuisine of Çamlıhemşin is shaped by the rainy climate and mountainous landscape of the eastern Black Sea region. Corn and collard greens are among the important agricultural products. Thanks to transhumant pastoralism, butter and Kolot cheese are commonly used in local cuisine. If you are interested in regional food culture, you will find plant-based produce alongside products from mountain pastures.

Discover more destinations: Yenikale, Akkaya, Dikkaya, Dernek, Ardeşen, Tunca Belediyesi, Hoşdere, Çamlıhemşin

See the main travel overview: Rize.