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Information about Kars, Turkey
Kars is situated in the northeastern corner of Turkey at an altitude of 1750m in a sea of dry grass swept by the wind. The climate is rather severe, the winters are long and very cold, with temperatures going down to -30C, summer is short and cool. The Turks named the place Kar-su "snow-water", due to the ponds formed by melting snow, which eventually was shortened to "Kars".
The region is one of the oldest human settlement areas in Anatolia, with abundant prehistorical remains. Kars was the capital of Bagatrid Kingdom, an Armenian state of the 9th and 10th centuries. The Bagatrid were invaded first Byzantium and then by the Turks in the early 11th century. By the late 11th century Armenian dynasties re-emerged and ruled until the arrival of the Mongols. Ani was destroyed by Tamerlane in 1386 and was captured and rebuilt by the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century. It was reduced by the Persians to ruins in 1604 and again rebuilt. In 1731 it withstood a Persian siege and in 1808 resisted the Russian army. During the rest of the 19th century Kars was in the epicenter of the Russian-Turkish conflicts. In 1828-30, 1855, and 1877 the city returned to European rule under the Russian Empire, and it was ceded to Russia together with the surrounding territories by the congress of Berlin in 1878
The province lies at the foot of a magnificent fortress, the Kars Kalesi from the 12th century. This castle constructed by the Seljuks, was later restored in the 19th- century, and it affords a wonderful view of the land below. Nearby is an old cathedral, which was subsequently used as a church, named as the Havariler Museum (the Church of the Apostles) where some relief of the Apostles can be seen.
One of the most important sights in Kars is the Kars Museum, housing many archaeological finds from the earliest ages. Beautiful woodcarvings, and a wide collection of coins found in the area are exhibited here, together with some ethnographic works of art, such as fine kilims, carpets and local costumes.
42 km east of Kars lies Ani, a fascinating medieval town, situated on the ancient Silk Road. This impressive place was once the capital of Urartians, later invaded by the Byzantines and the Mongols, and is located near the Arpacay River, which flows between the Turkish and Armenian Republics. The proximity of this ghost town to the border, places some restrictions on visitors, but the ruins of the mosques and numerous churches, together with the cathedral and the citadel, all inside city walls, are really worth seeing.
Fifty kilometers north of Kars, nature lovers may consider excursions to Lake Cildir, with its artificial island. This area, possessing many different kinds of fish and birds, is a nature preserve, and it is a lovely spot for relaxation and picnicking. 53 km from Kars is Sarikamis, another pretty town, which is a ski center, surrounded by large pine forests. It is an attractive resort with modern facilities, providing opportunities for every type of winter sport. Kagizman is famous for its rock reliefs belonging to the Neolithic Age. The Aras River canyon is full of wild, natural beauties. The other significant locations are Tuzluca for its salt caves, Gole for its meadows and Aygir Lake, Posof for its forests and mountains is heavenly and Digor where it is believed that the famous Turkish poet Dede Korkut lived.
Regarding the specialties of the region, folkloric values play an important role, and visitors will enjoy the traditional entertainment of rich and interesting folk dances. The kilims and carpets woven in the area are also famous for their colors and designs. Delicious honey is another specialty of Kars, and tasty "kasar" (Keshkawal) cheese is produced by the villagers in this city of pastures and dairy products.
The city is served by its own airport, located 6km from the center (airport code: KSY). Turkish airlines operates internal flights, allowing good international connections via Istanbul and there are also long distance coach connections. |
