Erzincan, one of the oldest cultural centers of Anatolia, is a green city with its fertile plain stretching between two majestic mountain ranges, the exact equivalent of the local people's saying "mountain around, vineyard in the middle".
Located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of our country and on the historical silk road, Erzincan has had a vibrant historical and cultural life for centuries. The first name of the city, known to have been inhabited since the Bronze Age, is Zuhma (Suhma). It is thought that the name Erzincan comes from Eriza and Aziriz. The city, which was under the rule of Urartu, Med, Persian, Helen, Roman and Byzantine, passed into the hands of the Turks after 1071 and lived the Mengücek, Seljuk and Eretna periods. With the Otlukbeli War in 1473, the city came under Ottoman rule and was occupied in the First World War, and was liberated by the Turkish Army in 1918.
Places to visit
Since Erzincan is in the earthquake zone, if it had not been wiped off the map 10,000 times in the last 1000 years, it would have had so many places to visit.
Located in Kemah, 50 km from the city centre, Kemah Castle is one of the oldest castles in Anatolia. It has seen many civilizations in history, and is shown among the few natural castles of the world in terms of its natural formation and location. B.C. The castle, which was built during the Hittite-Urartian period in the 3rd century and repaired by Mengücek Bey in the 12th century, has an area of 8000 square meters and a height of 80 meters. The castle, which is mentioned in Evliya Çelebi's travel book, is an important stop on an Erzincan tour…
Mama Hatun Caravanserai is located in Tercan. The building, which is estimated to have been built in the 12th century, is a Seljuk architectural masterpiece worth seeing. The Mama Hatun Tomb, which was built in the name of the Saltuk Princess, is very close to the caravanserai and is part of a large complex. The body of the tomb, which has a unique architecture, is cylindrical and its body is covered with a sliced conical cone.
Melik Gazi Tomb in Kemah, where the tomb of Melik Gazi, the founder of the Mengücek Principality is located, and Hıdır Abdal Sultan Tomb in Kemaliye, built with Seljuk and Ottoman architecture, and Gülabibey Mosque, also in Kemah, are the must-see historical textures of Erzincan.
Abrenk Church, one of the strongest Armenian monasteries of Anatolia, is located in Tercan, 15 km from the center. The church, built in 1854, has two obelisks and a chapel. Altıntepe Ruins, one of the ancient Urartian cities that sheds light on Turkey's rich history, is the ancient city where the remains of a temple, palace, reception hall, open-air temple, warehouse and cemetery have survived.
Erzincan, with its plain where the Euphrates River animates, is like a paradise adorned by nature: Girlevik Waterfall, located 30 kilometers from the city center, is a natural wonder flowing from many branches. It is a place to go even for a delicious and fresh trout feast at the restaurants around the waterfall.
Otlukbeli Lake is perhaps the most interesting place in Erzincan and the most attractive place for tourists. Located 6 km northwest of the center, the lake is a travertine wall formed by mineral waters. It is described as a natural monument with its bowl and formation being the only type in the world among the lake types known until today. Those who do not come will not know, this is a magical geography! Erzincan, which is also rich with its hot springs and drinking water, has many healing waters, especially Ekşisu Hot Spring. With a water temperature of 33 degrees, Erzincan Hot Spring has 12 indoor pools.
The Munzur Mountains, the highest mountain chain in the west of the Eastern Anatolia Region, is a special region of international importance as it is home to different plant species that only grow here in the world and 11 butterfly species. It's an incredibly elegant space.
If you want to visit the Erzincan Museum located in Atatürk Mahallesi while you are here, let us remind you that both ethnographic and archaeological artifacts are exhibited.
Without coming to Erzincan and tasting pan roasted chickpeas and tulum cheese; It is unthinkable to return without buying handmade ornaments such as samovar, tray, wall plate, vase, each of which is finely crafted by hand coppersmiths, and seeing their carpets, each of which is a work of art.
What to eat?
Erzincan cuisine is rich in food types and mainly consists of pastries. Wheat, bulgur, cracked wheat, tarhana, noodles and batter and animal foods form the basis of the meals. Among the most special flavors are the famous Ketesi, which is cooked by putting walnut and tahini filling in the dough, Sırını, which is cooked on the hair and poured with molasses butter, Gasefesi, which is sprinkled with walnuts by drizzling dried apricots in a pan, and Cut Soup and Leaf Wrap.
How to go?
A large part of Erzincan's territory is in Eastern Anatolia, and a small part is in the Black Sea Region. If you want to come to the city by road, it is 1019 kilometers from Istanbul, 688 kilometers from Ankara and 1277 kilometers from Izmir. From the bus terminal, it is in the city center and you can easily reach any place you want with the bus line.
