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9 places to visit in the Kargı district of Çorum: Kargı Castle, Kızılırmak Canyon and Kargı Grand Mosque. Plan your trip to Kargı with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Kargı is a district of Çorum province, with an area of 1,174 km² and an altitude of 385 metres. It is said that the name of the place before Turkish settlement was Blaene.

Tarihçe

According to legends, the district took the name Kargı in the first quarter of the 16th century. Towards the end of the 11th century the region came under Turkish rule, but Kargı did not become important for many years. In the 1521 tax survey (tahrir) it appears as a small district of 44 villages attached to the Çankırı sanjak. In 1936 the Kargı sub-district (bucak), attached to Tosya district of Kastamonu province, became a district, and in 1953 it was attached to Çorum province.

Kültür

Kargı is famous for tulum cheese produced by traditional methods and stored in genuine leather tulums. Its rich food culture includes keşkek, onion kalle, sac meat and sırık kebabı. Kargı Bezi (Kargı cloth) weaving is a handicraft that met the local people’s clothing needs and has recently been revived.

Ekonomi

Economically valuable crops such as rice and okra, along with forest products, contribute to the district’s economy. The mountains between 1,500 and 1,800 metres to the south and north of the district are covered with dense pine forests.

Tarihçe ve Kültür

Kargı became a district in 1936. It is said that the name of the place before Turkish settlement was Blaene. Kargı bezi is the most important of the handicrafts made in the district.

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Places to Visit in Kargı

  • 4 Historic
  • 1 Religious
  • 4 Nature

Historic Sites 4

Historic

Kargı Castle

The castle on the hill overlooking the district centre was built in the Byzantine period and used in the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. From the castle walls you can see the Kızılırmak valley and the district centre.

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Historic

Historic Houses of Hacıhamza Village

In Hacıhamza village, attached to Kargı, there are stone houses that are examples of Ottoman-period civil architecture. These houses, which reflect traditional Anatolian village architecture, are under protection.

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Historic

Mihrihatun Mosque and Hammam

In Karaseki village, a mosque and hammam built in the name of Mihrihatun, wife of Murad IV.

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Historic

Oğuz Village (Çobanpaşa) Mosque

In Oğuz village, a mosque said to date from the Seljuk period.

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Religious Buildings 1

Religious

Kargı Grand Mosque

Built in the Ottoman period, the Grand Mosque is the district's oldest place of worship. Its stonework and wooden ceiling decorations reflect classic Ottoman mosque architecture.

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Natural Wonders 4

Nature

Kızılırmak Canyon

The Kızılırmak River, flowing through Kargı, creates deep canyons and dramatic natural scenery. Trekking and nature photography can be done along the canyon.

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Nature

Kargı Plateau

A plateau in the high mountainous area north of Kargı district.

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Nature

Abdullah Plateau

A plateau on Köse Dağı (2,050), the highest point in the province.

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Nature

Kızılcaoluk Waterfall

A waterfall near Başköy. Being close to Kargı Holiday Village, it is one of the places visitors stop at.

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Places to Visit Around Çorum Province

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While you are in Kargı, you can also see the highlights of Çorum province. These places are in other districts; Kargı is about 100 km from the provincial centre.

  • Hattuşa (Boğazköy) — The Hittite capital, 82 km south-west of Çorum and 4 km east of Boğazkale.
  • Hattuşa Great Temple and Green Stone — The Great Temple in the Lower City, measuring 65 × 42 metres and thought to have been dedicated to the Storm God and the Sun Goddess.
  • Yazılıkaya — The Hittite open-air sanctuary 2 km north-east of Hattuşa.
  • Alacahöyük — A mound 15 km north-west of Alaca, where 15 building levels from four cultural phases have been identified.
  • Şapinuva — A military and religious centre at Ortaköy, known as the second largest city of the Hittite Kingdom.
  • Boğazköy Museum — A museum at the entrance to Hattuşa displaying the tablets, seals and ceramics unearthed at the site.

Practical Information for Visiting Kargı

Suggested time
1 day
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn
Places to visit
9 places

What to Eat in Kargı

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  • Kargı Tulum Peyniri (Kargı tulum cheese)

    Kargı Tulum Peyniri was registered as a protected designation of origin on 26 October 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 933). Product group: cheeses. Registered by: Kargı Municipality.

  • Kargı Pidesi (Kargı pide)

    Pide specific to Kargı, cooked in a wood-fired oven. Its minced meat, kaşar cheese and egg varieties are the district's best-known flavours.

  • Yanıç (filled flatbread)

    Thin sheets of yufka are filled with walnut, poppy seed or cheese and cooked on a griddle. It is one of the traditional pastries of the Çorum region.

  • Kömbe (Çorum sweet bread)

    Made by baking dough prepared with flour, oil and sugar in an oven. A traditional Çorum dessert served at festivals and on special days.

  • Sırık Kebabı

    A local speciality and one of the best-known foods in the region.

  • Kargı Çeltiği ve Bamyası (Kargı paddy rice and okra)

    Paddy rice and okra produced in the district, known and preferred throughout the region.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Kargı

  • Kızılırmak Culture

    Kargı has a settlement tradition that developed along the Kızılırmak River. Throughout history, the river has shaped the district's farming, transport and cultural life.

  • Yörük Tradition

    Yörük communities living in Kargı's mountainous regions partly continue their nomadic traditions. Plateau transhumance and livestock culture remain alive.

Local Products

  • Walnuts — Walnut trees are widespread in Kargı's mountainous regions. Local walnuts are known for their large kernels and oily aroma.
  • Honey — Beekeeping is carried out in Kargı's forest and plateau areas. Pine and flower honey production is among the district's important local products.

Economy

Kargı's economy rests on agriculture, livestock farming and forestry. Wheat, barley and maize are the main crops. Walnut and honey production are also important sources of income. Vegetables and fruit are grown on the fertile land of the Kızılırmak valley.

How to Get to Kargı

Kargı is 100 km from Çorum city centre. The district is connected by road via Çorum and Kastamonu. Minibus and bus services run.

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Kargı: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Kargı?

The 9 main sights in Kargı are: Kargı Castle, Kızılırmak Canyon, Kargı Grand Mosque, Historic Houses of Hacıhamza Village, Kargı Plateau, Abdullah Plateau, Kızılcaoluk Waterfall, Mihrihatun Mosque and Hammam and Oğuz Village (Çobanpaşa) Mosque.

What is there to eat in Kargı?

Kargı Tulum Peyniri, Kargı Pidesi, Yanıç and Kömbe are the standout flavours at Kargı's tables.

What is Kargı famous for?

Kargı is known for walnuts and Kızılırmak culture. Walnut trees are widespread in Kargı's mountainous regions, and local walnuts are known for their large kernels and oily aroma.

How do I get to Kargı?

Kargı is 100 km from Çorum city centre. The district is connected by road via Çorum and Kastamonu. Minibus and bus services run.

How much time should I set aside for a visit to Kargı?

Recommended visit length: 1 day. Best time to visit: spring and autumn.

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