Artvin is located in the eastern part of the Black Sea region on the Chorohi River near the border of Georgia. Artvin is one of the Turkish cities that stand out for their historical monuments, natural and cultural landmarks. However, the city has a rather harsh and complex geography. Most of its territory is mountains. Mountains are everywhere, but they create the superb beauty of these places.
The city begins its history around the 11th century, when this area was captured by the Seljuk Turks. In 1878, the city, along with other lands in the Kars region, was liberated from the Turks by Russia, and by 1918 it was part of the Russian Empire. In 1918, the Bolsheviks donated these lands to the Turks. However, in fact, from the end of 1918 to 1921, the city was under the control of Georgia. And only in 1921, under the agreement between Kemal Ataturk and Bolshevik Russia, did Artvin and the neighboring Ardahan and Kars return to the Turks.
Places to visit in Artvin
The city of Artvin, as an infusion hospitable host, offers many different options for recreation for its guests. First of all, active tourism is developed here: rafting on numerous rivers, biking, hiking, paragliding, camping and much more. However, Artvin also has several historical monuments. They will appeal to those tourists who love sightseeing holiday. In addition, in the vicinity of the city there are several National Parks, where tourists can fully enjoy the beauty of the local nature. The city center is very small and you only need a couple of hours to inspect it. But the most interesting is outside the city. So, buy a bus ticket or get behind the wheel of a car and go ahead to meet adventures! The following is a summary of some places to visit in Artvin;
The Kafkasor Plateau
The Kafkasor Plateau is located 10 kilometers from the city center. This is one of the first places that comes to mind when Artvin is mentioned. At an altitude of 1250 meters from the sea level there are bungalows and places for recreation. In July of every year there are various national holidays and festivals. Usually they last for three days. Locals and tourists watch the bullfights, folklore shows, traditional Turkish wrestling and musical performances with interest. All this is accompanied by excellent Turkish and European cuisine, which you can try.
Atatepe
The most important place in Artvin Turks consider Atatepe. Here is the monument to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the legendary military leader, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. The monument has long been under restoration. And only in 2017, it was reopened to visitors and tourists. Atatepe is located on top of three valleys. This is the perfect place to observe Artvin and the surrounding area. The Ataturk Monument in Atatepe is built using 40 tons of steel and 10 tons of copper. It symbolizes Ataturk’s position in Afyon-Kochatape before the last attack and the Great Victory.
Church of Dolishane
The church of Dolishane was built by King Bumbat in the middle of the 10th century. It is perfectly preserved to this day and is one of the rare historical monuments from that period. The church is located in the village of Hamamli, which is connected to the central region of the province of Artvin. Initially, the monastery also entered the architectural complex, but only the church has survived to this day. After the Turks returned to the region, the church was turned into a mosque. The Christian frescoes on the inner walls of the church were painted white.
