Things to Do in Çıldır: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Çıldır

• 3 Historic
• 2 Religious
• 2 Nature

i Photo: Erkan Karagöz (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

1 🌳 Nature

Lake Çıldır

The lake that gives the district centre its name, around which the Kingdom of Iganiehi once ruled.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Şeytan Castle (Şeytan Kalesi)

Believed to have been built in the 8th-9th centuries BC in the Urartian period, Şeytan Castle stands on steep cliffs in the middle of a deep canyon in Çıldır district. It was transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2024, and restoration work has begun.

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3 🏛️ Historic

Akçakale Island

On Akçakale Island, in the middle of Lake Çıldır, are the remains of a medieval castle. The island can be reached by boat in summer and visited on foot across the frozen lake in winter.

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4 🌳 Nature

Lake Çıldır Bird Observation Area

Lake Çıldır and its surroundings are home to bird species such as flamingos, pelicans, cranes and ducks during migration periods. It is an important stopover for bird watchers, especially in spring and autumn.

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5 🏛️ Historic

Şeytan Castle

A castle in Yıldırımtepe village, close to the centre of Çıldır district.

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6 🕌 Religious

Çala Church

A Georgian church in the village of Çala in Çıldır.

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7 🕌 Religious

Ampuri Church (Kenardere)

A church in the village of Ampuri, now known as Kenardere, in the Çıldır area.

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

• Horse-Drawn Sleigh Tour on Çıldır Lake — When the lake freezes (usually January–February), horse-drawn sleighs set off from the villages on the shore for tours across the ice.
• Ardahan Castle — A medieval castle with a rectangular plan and 14 towers on the bank of the Kura River in the city centre; it appears in Ottoman records as Parakan Castle.
• Ardahan Congress Building — The historic building in the Halilefendi neighbourhood, just below Ardahan Castle, where the Ardahan Congress met during the War of Independence; it is a memorial to the recent history of the city.
• Akçakale and the Island in Çıldır Lake — The village of Akçakale (Georgian Tetrtsihe, 'white castle'), 20 km from Çıldır, is linked to an island in the lake by a stone-filled causeway built in the 19th century.
• Kura River — Flowing across the whole Ardahan plateau, the river passes through Georgia and Azerbaijan and reaches the Caspian Sea.
• Damal Atatürk Silhouette — Every year between 15 June and 15 July, in the evening hours, the shadow that falls on the ridges of Karadağ resembles Atatürk's profile for about 20 minutes.

Practical Information for Visiting Çıldır

Suggested time

1-2 days

Best time to visit

Winter months (December-February) for the frozen lake, summer months (June-August) for nature

Places to visit

7 places

• 🍖

  Goose Meat Kavurma

  Geese slaughtered in Çıldır in autumn have their meat salted and dried, then prepared as kavurma. This winter staple protein is fried in butter and served.

• 🐟

  Lake Fish (Carp)

  Carp caught in Lake Çıldır is eaten grilled or fried in a pan. In winter, fishing through holes cut in the ice in the Eskimo style is one of the district's traditional activities.

• 🥟

  Lor Dolması

  Prepared by wrapping fresh lor cheese in thin yufka pastry and baking it. Served with melted butter and red pepper sauce poured on top, lor dolması is a traditional winter dish in Çıldır.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Çıldır

• 🐴

  Horse-Drawn Sledge Tradition on Ice

  When Lake Çıldır freezes in winter, horse-drawn sledge tours are organised. This tradition is both the local people's means of transport and a unique experience for tourists. Thousands of visitors come to Çıldır for this activity every year.

• 🎣

  Eskimo-Style Fishing

  Traditional fishing through holes cut in the ice of frozen Lake Çıldır is a tradition that has been maintained for centuries. In winter, fishing is carried out from tents set up on the lake.

Local Products

• Lake Çıldır Fish — Carp and trout species are caught in Lake Çıldır. Fishing on the ice in winter is both a traditional source of livelihood and a tourist activity.
• Ardahan Honey — Honey obtained from the endemic vegetation of Çıldır's high plateaus is known for its dark colour and intense aroma. The honey, gathered from keven and alfalfa flowers, is a valuable product of the region.

Economy

The economy of Çıldır consists of livestock farming, fishing and tourism. Large and small livestock are raised on the high plateaus, and dairy production takes place. Carp is fished in Lake Çıldır. In recent years, winter tourism has become an important source of income; horse-drawn sledge tours on the frozen lake and fishing on the ice attract thousands of tourists.

How to Get to Çıldır

Çıldır is reached by road, 45 km from Ardahan provincial centre. The nearest airport is Kars Harakani Airport (60 km). Regular minibus services run from Ardahan and Kars.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Ardahan

Çıldır: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Çıldır Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Ardahan The province's 13 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Ardahan

• Ardahan Central District 4 places Kura River Valley, Yalnızçam Ski Centre and Lake Çıldır
• Damal 8 places Damal Dolls, Damal Dolls (Stone Statues) and Damal Castle
• Göle 4 places Göle Plain, Çakıl Lake and Göle Castle
• Hanak 7 places Kura River Canyon, Şeytan Castle and Hanak Castle
• Posof 5 places Türkgözü Border Gate, Posof Castle and Çoruh River Source