Photo: Şenol zümrüt (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source 8 places to visit in the central district of Elazığ: Lake Hazar, Harput Castle and Harput Grand Mosque. Plan your trip with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Elazığ lies in the Upper Euphrates section of Eastern Anatolia, on a wide plain embraced by the Keban and Karakaya dam lakes. The historic core of the city is Harput, on a plateau 1,450 metres high, 8 km north of today’s centre. The new city founded when people moved down to the plain in the 19th century was first called Mamuratü’l-Aziz, then Elaziz, and in the Republican era took the name Elazığ.
Harput Castle, built by the Urartians in the 8th century BC, was the centre of the region in the Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Because of water shortages, the castle is said to have had milk added to its mortar, which is why it is also known as the Milk Castle. Harput was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List in 2018.
Elazığ has a continental climate, with hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. The best times to visit are May–June and September–October.
Elazığ Airport, opened to civil flights in 1960, is one of Türkiye’s first civil airports. The Van Lake and Güney Kurtalan express trains, which leave from Ankara, pass through Elazığ; the Elazığ–Tatvan regional train also departs from here.
Harput is the source of Harput music, with its distinctive makams and long airs, of gakkoş culture and of a rich cuisine.
Lake Hazar, to the south-east of the city, is a deep tectonic lake formed on the East Anatolian Fault.
The outer minbar of the Harput Grand Mosque is an important example of wood carving. According to the tax inscription of the Harput Grand Mosque, it was commissioned by the Artuqid ruler Karaaslan in 1156–1157. The discovery of the Mansur Baba Tomb is said to be based on a dream.
In 1834 Reşid Mehmed Paşa made the Agavat Mezrası the centre and moved the provincial capital from Harput to Elazığ. The name Mamuretülaziz means ‘the city built by Aziz’, because it was developed by Sultan Abdülaziz.
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Photo: HALUK COMERTEL (CC BY 3.0) · Source The historic Harput Castle, dating back to around 2000 BC, was used by the Hurrians, Urartians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans. Known as the 'Milk Castle', the structure overlooks the Elazığ plain and is the most important historic symbol of the city.
View on mapAn Ottoman hammam built in the early 16th century, next to the Sarahatun Mosque.
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Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source Built in the Artuqid period in the 12th century, the Harput Grand Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Anatolia. Notable for its leaning minaret and stonework, the mosque reflects Seljuk and Artuqid architecture.
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Photo: Şenol zümrüt (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source A deep tectonic lake formed on the East Anatolian Fault. It lies to the south-east of the city.
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Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source The Buzluk Cave in Harput is one of the rare natural formations where the internal temperature falls below 0 °C even in the summer months. Ice formations can be seen at the cave entrance, which also makes it scientifically interesting.
View on mapA museum displaying finds from excavations in Harput and its surroundings. It has a rich collection from the Hurrian, Urartian, Roman and Ottoman periods, and presents the region's 4,000-year history.
View on mapAn inner filling of fine bulgur and minced meat is wrapped in an outer shell of bulgur and minced meat, and the Harput köftesi is cooked in water with a tomato sauce. It is the best-known dish of Elazığ cuisine.
Fine bulgur dough is filled with minced meat, onion and spices, sealed and boiled. Served with a yoghurt and garlic sauce, oruk is the traditional dish of the region.
Prepared by slowly cooking lamb in a clay tandır oven for hours. The meat falls apart in the mouth and its rich aroma makes tandır kebab one of Elazığ's most beloved dishes.
Harput, with a history of more than 4,000 years, is one of the oldest settlements in Anatolia. With its castle, mosques, church and museum, Harput bears traces of different civilisations and is the foundation of Elazığ's cultural identity.
Harput is one of the most important centres of Turkish folk music. Folk songs sung in the Harput dialect are among the most valuable examples of Anatolian musical tradition.
Elazığ Merkez is the administrative and economic heart of the province. Fırat University contributes to education and research. Vine growing and wine production are important agricultural activities. The Keban and Karakaya dams provide energy. The organised industrial zone hosts food, textile and metal industries.
Elazığ is 680 km from Ankara and 1,100 km from Istanbul. Elazığ Airport has direct flights to Istanbul and Ankara. The intercity bus terminal connects with all major cities. There is also a rail connection.
The eight highlights of Elazığ Merkez are: Lake Hazar, Harput Castle, Harput Grand Mosque, Buzluk Cave, Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, Mansur Baba Tomb, Cimşit Bey Hammam and İmam Efendi Tomb.
Harput Köftesi, Elazığ Oruk and Tandır Kebabı are the standout dishes on Elazığ Merkez's tables.
Elazığ Merkez is known for Elazığ Öküzgözü Grapes and its Harput Cultural Heritage. Elazığ is the homeland of Öküzgözü, one of Türkiye's finest wine grapes. Red wines made from these grapes have won awards on the international stage.
Elazığ is 680 km from Ankara and 1,100 km from Istanbul. Elazığ Airport has direct flights to Istanbul and Ankara. The intercity bus terminal connects with all major cities. There is also a rail connection.