Things to Do in Posof: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Posof

• 1 Historic
• 3 Nature
• 1 Other

i Photo: Oğuzhan Taşçı (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

1 📍 Other

Türkgözü Border Gate

A border gate within the district boundaries that opens to Georgia.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Posof Castle

Castle ruins near the centre of Posof district, dated to the Georgian Kingdom period. Part of the defensive line of the Samtskhe region, the castle was also used in the Ottoman period.

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3 🌳 Nature

Çoruh River Source

The source area of the Çoruh River, one of the fastest-flowing rivers in Türkiye, lies within the boundaries of Posof district. The mountainous terrain around the source offers routes suitable for hiking.

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4 🌳 Nature

Posof Wildlife Development Area

A wildlife development area in Posof district, established to protect species such as brown bear, wolf, lynx and wild goat. The pine-forested area is an ideal setting for nature photography.

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5 🌳 Nature

Posof Stream and Valley

The Posof Stream, which rises from the western plateaus of the district and flows east.

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

• Çıldır Lake — Covering 123 km² on the border of Ardahan and Kars, this is the largest freshwater lake in Eastern Anatolia, at an altitude of 1,959 metres and up to 42 metres deep.
• 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.
• Şeytan Castle — A medieval Georgian castle (Georgian Kacistsihe, 'devil's castle') on a rocky hill with cliffs on three sides, 1.3 km north of the Yıldırımtepe neighbourhood of Çıldır.
• 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.

Practical Information for Visiting Posof

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Summer months (June-August)

Places to visit

5 places

• 🦢

  Goose Meat

  Goose farming is widespread in Posof, and goose meat is the main protein source in winter. Salted and dried goose meat is served as kavurma or cooked in a tandır oven.

• 🍜

  Erişte (Noodles)

  Handmade erişte is one of the traditional flavours of Posof cuisine. Thin strips of dough are dried and stored, then cooked in meat broth or yoghurt in winter.

• 🧀

  Herbed Cheese

  Herbed cheese, made with wild herbs gathered from Posof's high plateaus, is one of the region's distinctive flavours. It is made from fresh milk by traditional methods.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Posof

• 🚪

  Border Gate Culture

  Thanks to the Türkgözü Border Gate on the Georgian border, Posof has been a point of cultural exchange between the two countries throughout history. Traces of Georgian and Turkish cultures coexist in the area.

• 🏛️

  Samtskhe Heritage

  Posof was historically part of the Georgian Samtskhe region. Castle ruins and church foundations from this period are evidence of the region's many-layered history.

Local Products

• Posof Apple — Posof Apple was registered as a protected designation of origin on 22 April 2019 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 429). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit, vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Ardahan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Posof Bean — Posof Bean was registered as a protected designation of origin on 23 November 2020 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 609). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit, vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Ardahan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Economy

The economy of Posof rests on livestock farming and border trade. Large and small livestock farming and dairy production are the basic sources of livelihood. Trade with Georgia through the Türkgözü Border Gate contributes to the district's economy. Beekeeping and honey production also play an important role.

How to Get to Posof

Posof is reached by road, 75 km from Ardahan provincial centre. The nearest airport is Kars Harakani Airport (165 km). Regular minibus services run from Ardahan. Crossing into Georgia is possible via the Türkgözü Border Gate.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Ardahan

Posof: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Posof 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
• Çıldır 7 places Lake Çıldır, Şeytan Castle (Şeytan Kalesi) and Akçakale Island
• 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