Things to Do in Kemalpaşa: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Kemalpaşa

• 2 Historic
• 1 Nature
• 1 Beach
• 1 Other

i Photo: Özgür Esen ( Surdurulebiliryasam ) (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

1 📍 Other

Sarp Border Gate

Because it lies within the district boundaries, border trade has grown in recent years.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Remains of Makriali Church

A single-nave church that was once decorated with wall paintings, of which only traces remain.

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3 🌳 Nature

Kemalpaşa Coast

The coastline where green slopes meet the sea, with tea gardens and seafront walks, offers typical Eastern Black Sea scenery.

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4 🏖️ Beach

Kemalpaşa Beach

A beach of 2 kilometres in Kemalpaşa district, Artvin, making it a popular destination.

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5 🏛️ Historic

Makriyali Church

A village church regarded as the most important historic building in Kemalpaşa.

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While you are in Kemalpaşa, you can also see the highlights of Artvin province. These places are in other districts; Kemalpaşa is about 42 km from the provincial centre.

• Artvin Castle — Known locally as Livane Castle, it was built in 937 by the Georgian king Ashot the Great and controlled the approach to the town and traffic along the Çoruh.
• Kafkasör Plateau — A forest-ringed highland pasture at an altitude of about 1,200 metres, 12 km from the city centre; it hosts the bull wrestling of the annual Kafkasör Culture, Tourism and Arts Festival.
• Hatila Valley National Park — A narrow V-shaped valley, in places a canyon, 10 km from Artvin centre; slopes reach gradients of up to 100 per cent in places.
• İşhan Monastery — A Georgian monastery in the village of İşhan in Yusufeli; it was founded in the 9th century by the monk Saba on the site of a 7th-century church and renovated in 1032 by the architect Ivane Morchaisdze.
• Dörtkilise (Othta Eklesia) — A 10th-century Georgian monastery 5 km from the village of Tekkale in Yusufeli; its name is a translation of the Georgian Othta Eklesia ("four churches").
• Barhal (Parhali) Church — The main church of the monastery in the village of Altıparmak in Yusufeli, built between 961 and 973 by the Georgian king David III; a three-aisled basilica measuring 28 × 19 metres, it is one of the best-preserved Georgian buildings in the region.

Practical Information for Visiting Kemalpaşa

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

May-October

Places to visit

5 places

• 🐟

  Hamsili Pilav (anchovy pilaf)

  This oven dish, in which anchovies wrap a rice pilaf, is one of the emblems of Eastern Black Sea cuisine.

• 🧀

  Muhlama (Kuymak)

  Made with cornmeal, butter and cheese, muhlama with its stretchy consistency is the star of breakfasts.

• 🥧

  Laz Böreği

  Laz böreği, filled with muhallebi and soaked in syrup, is the best-known dessert of the region.

• 🥬

  Karalahana Çorbası (collard green soup)

  A filling soup made with collard greens, cornmeal and beans.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Kemalpaşa

• 🌊

  Laz culture

  Around Hopa and Kemalpaşa, Laz language and Laz culture continue to be lived.

Local Products

• Tea — Tea is grown on the coastal slopes.

Economy

The economy rests on tea cultivation, border trade and the service sector.

How to Get to Kemalpaşa

Kemalpaşa lies about 42 km as the crow flies from Artvin city centre. The district is east of Hopa, on the Black Sea coastal road; Batumi can be reached quickly via the Sarp Border Gate.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Artvin

Kemalpaşa: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Kemalpaşa Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Artvin The province's 19 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Artvin

• Artvin Central District 11 places Artvin Castle, Çoruh River Valley and Camili Biosphere Reserve
• Ardanuç 10 places Gevhernik Castle, Ardanuç Castle and Bulanık Church
• Arhavi 8 places Ciha Castle, Arhavi Waterfalls and Arhavi Plateaus
• Borçka 8 places Borçka Karagöl, Macahel Valley (Macahel Vadisi) and Borçka Dam
• Hopa 6 places Sarp Border Gate, Hopa Port and Hopa Coast
• Murgul 5 places Murgul Copper Mine, Murgul Dam and Lake and Murgul Forests
• Şavşat 13 places Karagöl-Sahara National Park, Şavşat Castle and Sahara Plateau
• Yusufeli 10 places Barhal (Altıparmak) Church, Çoruh River Rafting Course and Barhal River Rafting Area