Things to Do in Besni: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Besni

• 3 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Religious
• 1 Nature

i Photo: Volker Höhfeld (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

1 🏛️ Historic

Besni Castle

The historic castle around which the town of Besni was founded, located at the district's old site.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Old Besni (Eski Kahta) Ruins

An archaeological site 5 km south of the district's present location.

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3 🕌 Religious

Besni Grand Mosque

An important religious building in Besni district.

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4 🏺 Ancient City

Sofraz Ancient City

One of the monumental works showing that Besni held an important place in the Commagene period.

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5 🏛️ Historic

Sofraz Tumuli

Monumental tomb mounds in Sofraz village, attached to Besni district.

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6 🌳 Nature

Değirmen Stream (Su Gözü)

About 10 km south of Old Besni, the source of the Sofraz Stream.

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While you are in Besni, you can also see the highlights of Adıyaman province. These places are in other districts.

• Mount Nemrut — On a 2,150-metre summit at Kâhta, the tomb-sanctuary built by Antiochus I of Commagene in 62 BC, with its giant tumulus of crushed stone and the statues of gods on its east and west terraces, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. The lion horoscope on the west terrace is considered the oldest known horoscope; sunrise is watched from the east terrace and sunset from the west.
• Arsameia (Old Castle) — On the east bank of the Kâhta Stream, 63 km from Adıyaman, Arsameia was one of the important centres of the Commagene royal family.
• Kâhta Castle (New Castle) — Rising on the rocky hill opposite Arsameia, the castle was taken from the Byzantines by the Seljuks in 1085 and changed hands often during the Mamluk–Mongol wars.
• Cendere Bridge — Built over the Cendere Stream in the name of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus (193–211), his wife and his sons, the bridge is known as the widest arch bridge built by the Romans, with an arch span of 34.2 metres.
• Karakuş Tumulus — This monumental tomb on Gösterge Hill, 12 km north of Kâhta, was built for Isias, the mother of King Mithridates II, and for the women of the royal family.
• Sesönk Tumulus — Standing on a high rock at Besni, this tumulus, about 2,060 years old, is a Commagene monumental tomb similar to Karakuş.

Practical Information for Visiting Besni

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

6 places

• 🥩

  Besni Çiğ Köftesi (spiced raw bulgur kofta)

  Made by kneading fine bulgur with isot pepper and spices, Besni çiğ köftesi is the best-known flavour of the area. The distinctive aroma of Adıyaman isot gives this kofta its characteristic taste.

• 🧀

  Besni Peyniri (sheep's milk cheese)

  Made from sheep's milk by traditional methods, Besni cheese is salty and firm and is indispensable on breakfast tables. It matures for months to acquire its distinctive sharp aroma.

• 🍄

  Keme Dolması (stuffed wild keme mushrooms)

  Prepared by filling wild keme mushrooms, gathered in spring, with rice and spices, this local dish is one of the seasonal specialities of Besni cuisine.

• 🥣

  Tırşik Çorbası (dried vegetable and yoghurt soup)

  Tırşik, made from dried vegetables and fermented yoghurt, is a traditional soup often eaten in Besni's winter months. Its sour flavour offers a different taste experience.

• 🍽️

  Besni Tavası (Besni pan dish)

  One of the vegetable dishes specific to the Besni area, it is a local pan dish recipe that also features in Adıyaman cuisine.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Besni

• 🎪

  Besni Culture and Arts Festival

  Held every year in the summer months, this festival is Besni's liveliest cultural event, with folk dance performances, concerts and local product exhibitions.

• 🌶️

  Isot Culture

  Isot pepper production has been a tradition in Besni for centuries. Drying the peppers laid out on rooftops in summer and the sweating process are an inseparable part of the region's daily life.

• 🧶

  Traditional Handicrafts

  Traditional crafts such as kilim weaving and coppersmithing are still kept alive in Besni's villages. These handicrafts are tangible examples of the region's cultural heritage.

Local Products

• Adıyaman Besni Üzümü (Besni grapes) — Adıyaman Besni Grapes were registered as a protected designation of origin on 8 June 2018 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 357). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruits and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Besni Municipality.
• Adıyaman İsot (isot pepper) — Grown on the fertile plains of Besni, isot pepper is dried in the sun and sweated to acquire its deep purple colour. One of the most valued spices of Turkish cuisine, isot is the emblem of Besni's agricultural identity.
• Besni Üzümü (Besni grapes) — Grapes grown in the district's vineyards are eaten fresh and also used to make pekmez and grape must. Besni grapes have a high sugar content due to the climate.
• Ceviz (walnut) — Walnuts grown in Besni's mountain villages are one of the region's important agricultural products. Sold fresh and dried, walnuts are also widely used in local desserts.

Economy

Besni's economy rests on agriculture and livestock farming. Wheat, barley, cotton and isot pepper are grown on its fertile plains. Viticulture and olive growing also contribute to the district's economy. Small livestock is an important source of livelihood. In the district, which was affected by the 2023 earthquakes, reconstruction work is contributing to economic recovery.

How to Get to Besni

Besni is 45 km from Adıyaman city centre and is reached via the D-400 highway. The nearest airport is Adıyaman Airport (55 km). There are regular minibus services from Adıyaman and Gaziantep. The district lies on the Gaziantep–Adıyaman road.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Adıyaman

Besni: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Besni Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Adıyaman The province's 14 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Adıyaman

• Adıyaman Central District 7 places Adıyaman Castle (Hısn-ı Mansur), Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) and Adıyaman Museum
• Çelikhan 4 places Abdulharap Stream and Çat Dam, Akdağ and Çelikhan Highland Pastures
• Gerger 5 places Roman Settlement Area, Euphrates River Banks and Gerger Rock Tombs
• Gölbaşı 9 places Azaplı Lake, Gölbaşı Lake (İnekli Lake) and Gölbaşı Castle
• Kahta 9 places Mount Nemrut, Cendere Bridge and Karakuş Tumulus
• Samsat 6 places View of Atatürk Dam Lake, Ruins of the Ancient City of Samosata and New Samsat Settlement
• Sincik 5 places Sincik Castle, Sincik Highland Pastures and Rock Tombs
• Tut 5 places Tut Castle, Tut Rock Tombs and Tut Valley