Things to Do in Kemah: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Kemah

• 1 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Religious
• 1 Nature

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

1 🏺 Ancient City

Kemah Castle

A castle on a rocky site that played an important role in history. Its natural structure makes it very suitable for defence. Some sections have been restored in recent years and it is now open to visitors.

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2 🌳 Nature

Fırat River (Karasu) Valley

The Karasu River flows right beside Kemah, forming an important natural feature that makes all kinds of water sports possible.

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3 🕌 Religious

Kemah Melik Gazi Tomb

The Melik Gazi Tomb, dating from the Mengücek Beylik period, is an important example of 12th-century Seljuk architecture. Notable for its stonework and geometric decoration, the tomb is part of the region's Turkish-Islamic heritage.

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4 🏛️ Historic

Kemah Historic Bazaar

The historic bazaar in the district centre reflects the commercial tradition of the Ottoman period. Its narrow streets of stone buildings and traditional shops preserve the historic fabric of the area.

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While you are in Kemah, you can also see the highlights of Erzincan province. These places are in other districts; Kemah is about 45 km from the provincial centre.

• Karanlık Canyon — A 25-km-long, 1,000-metre-deep canyon at Kemaliye, cut by the Karasu (Euphrates) through the Munzur Mountains between the village of Bağıştaş in İliç and the village of Dutluca in Kemaliye; its slopes reach a gradient of 90%. It joined the UNESCO Tentative List in 2021 together with Kemaliye.
• Kemaliye (Eğin) — A historic amphitheatre-shaped town that climbs the slope from the Euphrates bank, from 845 to 1,100 metres.
• Taş Yol — The historic road to Kemaliye, passing through tunnels cut into the walls of Karanlık Canyon; the most impressive views of the canyon are seen from this road.
• Girlevik Waterfall — A waterfall in the town of Çağlayan, 30 km south-east of Erzincan, which drops 30–40 metres in three stages.
• Altıntepe — An Urartian fortress at Üzümlü, on a volcanic cone rising 60 metres above the plain.
• Mama Hatun Tomb and Caravanserai — A tomb (kümbet) at Tercan, attributed to the Saltukid ruler Mama Hatun and dating from the late 12th or early 13th century.

Practical Information for Visiting Kemah

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

4 places

• 🍖

  Kemah Tandır Kebabı (tandoor-baked lamb)

  Prepared by slowly cooking lamb for hours in a clay tandoor oven. Made on special occasions in Kemah's villages, tandır kebabı is the region's most loved dish.

• 🥣

  Kesme Çorbası (hand-cut noodle soup)

  A traditional soup of thinly cut pieces of dough cooked in meat broth. It is an indispensable part of Kemah's winter tables.

• 🧀

  Tulum Peyniri (tulum cheese)

  Tulum cheese, made from goat and sheep milk produced on Kemah's plateaus, is matured using traditional methods. Kemah is one of the key production centres of the Erzincan tulum cheese tradition.

• 🍽️

  Erzincan tulum peyniri

  A cheese with geographical indication, produced on plateaus belonging to the districts of Tercan, Kemah, Refahiye and Çayırlı. Kemah salt, specific to the region, is used in its production.

• 🍽️

  Kemah tuzu

  A salt produced in Kömür Village, 4 km from Kemah, which has received a geographical indication certificate.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Kemah

• 🏰

  Border Castle Heritage

  For centuries Kemah was a border fortress of strategic importance in the Byzantine–Islamic border wars. This historical heritage forms the foundation of the district's cultural identity.

• ⚔️

  Mengücek Beylik Period

  In the 12th century Kemah was one of the important centres of the Mengücek Beylik. The tomb and architectural works from this period bear traces of pre-Seljuk Turkish-Islamic culture.

Local Products

• Kemah Doğal Kaynak Tuzu (Kemah natural spring salt) — Kemah Natural Spring Salt was registered as a protected designation of origin on 3 September 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 880). Product group: flavourings and seasonings for food, sauces and salt. Registered by: Kemah District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.
• Tulum Peyniri (tulum cheese) — Tulum cheese produced on Kemah's plateaus is an important part of the Erzincan tulum cheese tradition. Matured in goatskin, the cheese is known for its sharp aroma.
• Honey — Honey obtained from the district's rich flora is produced using traditional beekeeping methods. Honey produced on high-altitude plateaus stands out for its quality.

Economy

Kemah's economy rests on livestock farming, agriculture and small-scale trade. Tulum cheese production is an important source of income. Small-livestock farming and cereal growing are the main livelihoods.

How to Get to Kemah

Kemah is 45 km from Erzincan city centre. It is reached by road via Erzincan. Minibus services run from Erzincan.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Erzincan

Kemah: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Kemah Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Erzincan The province's 10 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Erzincan

• Erzincan Central District 3 places Girlevik Waterfall, Erzincan Grand Mosque and Erzincan Museum
• Çayırlı 5 places Çayırlı Castle, Karasu Valley and Çayırlı Grand Mosque
• İliç 6 places Fırat Nehri Valley, İliç Castle and İliç Merkez Mosque
• Kemaliye 6 places Karanlık Canyon, Kemaliye Historic Houses and Euphrates (Karasu) River Views
• Otlukbeli 5 places Otlukbeli Battlefield, Otlukbeli Lake and Otlukbeli Martyrs' Monument
• Refahiye 11 places Dumanlı Plateaus, Köroğlu Cave and Kadıköy Church
• Tercan 9 places Mama Hatun Caravanserai, Mama Hatun Tomb and Kötür Bridge
• Üzümlü 5 places Altıntepe Mound, Üzümlü Castle and Üzümlü Hot Springs