Kars

The history of Kars, featured in Orhan Pamuk’s famous novel “Snow,” dates back to 5000 BCE. The region of Kars and Ardahan has been home to and ruled by numerous civilizations, including the Urartians, Persians, Macedonians, Armenians, Seljuks, Georgians, Mongols, Russians, and many Turkish tribes, leaving behind many artifacts for you to explore.

During the period of Russian rule from 1877 to 1918, many stone buildings were constructed in Kars by architects from the Netherlands. The Fethiye Mosque (originally the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral) is one of the most well-known of these structures. Besides this, a short tour around Kars will reveal many other stone buildings from the Russian era, many of which are still in use today.

The Church of the Twelve Apostles, built by the Armenians in the 10th century, is located at the foot of Kars Castle. In the 16th century, it was converted into a mosque, known as Kümbet Mosque. Nearby, the Evliya Mosque, also dating back to the 16th century, stands as another significant historical structure.

Kars Castle was constructed by the Saltukids during the Seljuk period. Overlooking the city of Kars, this fortress is one of Turkey’s largest and best-preserved castles. At its base are several baths and bridges from the Seljuk era.