Things to Do in Demirözü: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Demirözü

• 1 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 1 Museum
• 3 Nature

i Photo: Emredogan34 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

1 🌳 Nature

Demirözü Dam

The Demirözü Dam, built on the Çoruh River, serves irrigation and energy production. Around the reservoir there are picnic areas and opportunities for angling.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Demirözü Castle

The castle ruins on a hill near the district date from the Seljuk period. From the castle there are views of the Çoruh valley and the surrounding mountains.

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3 🌳 Nature

Çoruh Valley (Demirözü section)

The section of the Çoruh River that passes through Demirözü, with its deep valley and rocky slopes, is a suitable route for hiking and photography.

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4 🕌 Religious

Demirözü Mosque

The district mosque, built in the Ottoman period, is an example of local mosque tradition with its stonework and simple architecture.

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5 🌳 Nature

Yakup Abdal Village Nature Park

The nature park in Yakup Abdal village has a picnic area among pine forests.

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6 🖼️ Museum

Kenan Yavuz Ethnography Museum

A private ethnography museum located in Beşpınar village.

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

• Bayburt Castle — The castle on the hilltop overlooking the city.
• Bayburt Grand Mosque — A congregational mosque believed to have been built during the reign of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Gıyaseddin Mesud II (1282–1298); it was rebuilt in the 1970s, remaining faithful to the original plan.
• Dede Korkut Tomb (Masat) — An old Turkmen tomb (türbe) near the village of Masat, 39 km from Bayburt, known locally as 'Ali Baba'. The theory that it belongs to Dede Korkut was put forward by Orhan Şaik Gökyay.
• Dede Korkut Monument and Festival — The monument in the city centre symbolises the 'Heritage of Dede Korkut / Korkut Ata', which UNESCO added to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2018. The international Dede Korkut Culture and Arts Festival is held every year in the third week of July.
• Baksı Museum — A museum of contemporary art and traditional handicrafts in the village of Bayraktar (formerly Baksı), 45 km from Bayburt, founded by the Bayburt-born painter Prof.
• Aydıntepe Underground City — An underground city carved into volcanic tuff, found by chance during building excavations in 1988 at Aydıntepe, 25 km from Bayburt.

Practical Information for Visiting Demirözü

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Summer months (June-September)

Places to visit

6 places

• 🥩

  Ehmedek Köftesi (meatballs with bulgur)

  Finely minced lamb is kneaded with bulgur and spices and then boiled to make ehmedek köftesi. It is also widely eaten in Demirözü.

• 🥣

  Centrüm Çorbası (dried meat soup)

  Prepared with dried meat, wheat and yoghurt, Centrüm Çorbası is an essential dish of the winter months.

• 🥟

  Hingel (dumplings)

  Pieces of dough filled with minced meat or potato and boiled, hingel is one of the traditional flavours of Bayburt cuisine. It is served with garlic yoghurt.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Demirözü

• 🏞️

  Çoruh Valley Culture

  Demirözü's location in the Çoruh River valley has shaped the way of life of its people. Valley farming and livestock farming are traditions maintained for generations.

• ⛰️

  Plateau Tradition

  The plateaus in the higher parts of Demirözü are used for livestock farming and rest in summer. The tradition of plateau migration is still continued.

Local Products

• Honey — Honey produced on the high plateaus of Demirözü, known for its floral aroma.
• Dairy Products — Cheese and yoghurt made from the milk of animals grazing on the plateaus are the traditional products of the region.

Economy

Demirözü's economy is based on livestock farming and agriculture. Grain and pulse cultivation is carried out in the Çoruh valley. Cattle and sheep farming are the main sources of livelihood. Demirözü Dam provides irrigation and energy production.

How to Get to Demirözü

Demirözü is 30 km from Bayburt provincial centre. Transport is by road. There are regular minibus services from Bayburt. The nearest airport is Erzurum Airport (90 km).

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Bayburt

Demirözü: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Demirözü Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Bayburt The province's 11 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Bayburt

• Bayburt Central District 8 places Bayburt Castle, Çoruh Valley and Baksı Museum
• Aydıntepe 4 places Aydıntepe Underground City, Aydıntepe Plain and Aydıntepe Mosque