TR RU

9 places to visit in the Tercan district of Erzincan: Mama Hatun Caravanserai, Mama Hatun Tomb and Kötür Bridge. Plan your trip to Tercan with local food, practical tips and transport information.

Share with friends

Tercan is one of the nine districts of Erzincan province in Türkiye. The district covers an area of 1,614 km² and has an average elevation of 1,432 metres above sea level. The district has three towns (belde), seventy-one villages and seventeen neighbourhoods (mahalle).

Tarihçe

Under Ottoman rule, the settlement was named after the Mama Hatun complex located there, and it became a military stopping point. In a 1591–92 register, there were 24 men (nefer) in the settlement known as Mama Hatun, and an 1635 record states that Sultan Murad IV ordered that the village be reopened for settlement. The district, which had previously belonged to Erzurum and whose municipal administration was established in 1923, was attached to Erzincan in 1938.

Tarihçe ve Kültür

During the Ottoman period, the settlement was recorded in registers under the name of its founder, Mama Hatun, because of the existence of the complex. The district remained within the sphere of influence of the Urartians and Assyrians. Tercan came firmly under Ottoman rule in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent. The district was attached to Erzincan by Law No. 3383, adopted on 11 May 1938.

Last updated:

Places to Visit in Tercan

  • 5 Historic
  • 1 Ancient City
  • 1 Religious
  • 2 Nature

Historic Sites 5

Mama Hatun Caravanserai - Tercan Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source
Historic

Mama Hatun Caravanserai

A caravanserai from the Ottoman period in the settlement centre of Tercan, part of the Mama Hatun complex.

View on map
Mama Hatun Tomb - Tercan Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source
Historic

Mama Hatun Tomb

The tomb, located near the caravanserai, has a unique architectural form, with a cylindrical tower rising from the middle of a circular courtyard. The muqarnas-decorated entrance portal and the arched niches in the courtyard wall reflect the artistic sensibility of the Saltukid period.

View on map
Historic

Kötür Bridge

A historic stone bridge over the Tuzla River near Tercan, a transport structure from the Ottoman period. Built from dressed stone, its arches represent the engineering heritage of the region.

View on map
Historic

Pekeriç Castle

Located north of Tercan, Pekeriç Castle contains the remains of Pekeriç, the main settlement of the region in antiquity. Of strategic importance in the Byzantine and Seljuk periods, the castle controlled the Erzurum–Erzincan road.

View on map
Historic

Vank Church

Located in Üçpınar village; one of the archaeological sites of the area.

View on map

Ancient Cities 1

Ancient City

Kefrenci Temple

Located in Oğulveren village; its decorations are of significance.

View on map

Religious Buildings 1

Religious

Oklu Baba

A cemetery on a hill in Çadırkaya town; it is said to belong to a holy man who was martyred by an arrow in battle.

View on map

Natural Wonders 2

Nature

Kadıgölü

A water source that is the subject of various legends.

View on map
Nature

Şirinkayalar Caves

Located in Esenevler village.

View on map

Places to Visit Around Erzincan Province

See all →

While you are in Tercan, you can also see the highlights of Erzincan province. These places are in other districts; Tercan is about 100 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.
  • Kemah Castle — A castle on a rock 80 metres high at Kemah, dated to around 205 BC. It passed from the Safavids to the Ottomans with the Siege of Kemah in 1515. Excavation and restoration work is continuing.

Practical Information for Visiting Tercan

Suggested time
1 day
Best time to visit
Spring and summer (May–September)
Places to visit
9 places

What to Eat in Tercan

Food guide →

  • Tercan Honey

    Tercan Honey was registered as a protected designation of origin on 21 November 2025 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1792). Product group: honey. Registered by: Tercan Village Services Union.

  • Tandır Kebabı

    Lamb slow-cooked for hours in an earth tandır oven. It takes on a special flavour from the meat of sheep raised on Tercan's highland pastures.

  • Kesme Çorbası (thin-cut dough soup)

    A traditional soup of thinly cut dough pieces cooked in meat broth; a dish never absent from tables in Tercan's harsh winter conditions.

  • Ekşili Köfte (sour meatballs)

    Meatballs kneaded from fine bulgur and minced meat, cooked in a sour tomato sauce. One of the characteristic flavours of Erzincan cuisine, this dish is also widely prepared in Tercan.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Tercan

  • Melike Mama Hatun Heritage

    Tercan is associated with the name of Melike Mama Hatun, the female ruler of the Saltukid Beylik in the 12th century. Mama Hatun made the region an important trade and lodging centre by building a caravanserai, a tomb, a mosque and a hammam. The district's former name was also Mama Hatun.

  • Historic Trade Route Junction

    In the Middle Ages, Tercan was a strategic junction where the road from Erzurum–Erzincan–Sivas met the road coming from the Upper Kelkit basin. In the 17th century, Evliya Çelebi also visited Tercan and described its Saltukid buildings.

Local Products

  • Tercan Honey — Flower honey gathered on the high pastures of the district; thanks to its rich flora, it is an aromatic and high-quality product. Beekeeping is an important livelihood in the region.
  • Tulum Cheese — Tulum cheese, produced from goat's and sheep's milk by traditional methods, takes on its distinctive sharp taste when matured on Tercan's highland pastures.

Economy

Tercan's economy rests on livestock farming and agriculture. Small-livestock farming and beekeeping are carried out on the high pastures. Wheat, barley and fodder crops are grown in agriculture. Cultural tourism is also developing thanks to the Mama Hatun Caravanserai and Tomb.

How to Get to Tercan

Tercan is about 100 km from Erzincan city centre and 120 km from Erzurum. It lies on the Erzincan–Erzurum road. The nearest airports are Erzincan and Erzurum airports. The district can be reached by intercity bus services.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Erzincan

Tercan: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Tercan?

The 9 highlights of Tercan are: Mama Hatun Caravanserai, Mama Hatun Tomb, Kötür Bridge, Pekeriç Castle, Kefrenci Temple, Oklu Baba, Kadıgölü, Şirinkayalar Caves and Vank Church.

What should I eat in Tercan?

Tercan Honey, Tandır Kebabı, Kesme Çorbası and Ekşili Köfte are the standout flavours on Tercan's tables.

What is Tercan famous for?

Tercan is known for Tercan Honey and the Melike Mama Hatun Heritage. Flower honey gathered on the district's high pastures is an aromatic and high-quality product thanks to its rich flora. Beekeeping is an important livelihood in the region.

How do I get to Tercan?

Tercan is about 100 km from Erzincan city centre and 120 km from Erzurum. It lies on the Erzincan–Erzurum road. The nearest airports are Erzincan and Erzurum airports. The district can be reached by intercity bus services.

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

Suggested visit length: 1 day. Best time to visit: spring and summer (May–September).

Continue Your Trip

Other Districts of Erzincan

Search 81 province guides and 968 district guides.