Things to Do in Çat: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Çat

• 1 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 2 Nature

While you are in Çat, you can also see the highlights of Erzurum province. These places are in other districts; Çat is about 70 km from the provincial centre.

• Çifte Minareli Madrasa — The symbol of the city, a two-storey Seljuk madrasa with an open courtyard, built in the mid-13th century.
• Yakutiye Madrasa — Built in 1310 by Hoca Cemalettin Yakut during the reign of the Ilkhanid ruler Öljeitü, this is the largest madrasa with a covered courtyard in Anatolia.
• Erzurum Grand Mosque — Built in 1179 under the Saltukid ruler Melik Nasirüddin Muhammed, this is the oldest and largest mosque in the city, also known as the Atabey Mosque.
• Three Tombs (Üç Kümbetler) — Three monumental tombs south of the Çifte Minareli Madrasa, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries.
• Erzurum Castle and Clock Tower — The inner citadel on the highest point of the city, founded in the Byzantine period and repaired under the Saltukids and the Ottomans.
• Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque — A classical Ottoman mosque attributed to Mimar Sinan, built in 1562–1563 for Lala Mustafa Paşa, the beylerbey of Erzurum.

Practical Information for Visiting Çat

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Summer months (June–September)

Places to visit

4 places

• 🍖

  Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb)

  Cağ kebabı is prepared by roasting lamb on a horizontal spit over a wood fire. In Çat, it has a special flavour from the sheep raised on the district's plateaus.

• 🥣

  Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup)

  Traditional soup made with yoghurt, cracked wheat and mint, a nourishing dish that never goes missing from tables during Çat's cold winter days.

• 🥣

  Kesme Çorbası (hand-cut pasta soup)

  Soup made by cooking thin-cut pieces of dough in meat broth, one of the winter classics of Çat cuisine.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Çat

• 🏛️

  Settlement History of the Aras Basin

  Because Çat lies in the Aras River basin, it has been settled since ancient times. Remains from the Urartian, Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk periods are found in the area.

• 🐑

  Plateau Migration Tradition

  For centuries the people of Çat have migrated to the high plateaus in summer to raise livestock. This seasonal migration tradition has shaped the social life and food culture of the area.

Local Products

• Çat Honey — Flower honey gathered on the district's high plateaus. The rich flora gives it an aromatic and natural character.
• Civil Peyniri (civil cheese) — Civil cheese made from fresh milk and separated into fine strands, produced in Çat by traditional methods.

Economy

Çat's economy rests on livestock farming and agriculture. Small livestock farming and beekeeping are the main sources of livelihood. Wheat, barley and fodder crops are grown. Çat Dam contributes to power generation and irrigation.

How to Get to Çat

Çat is about 70 km from Erzurum city centre. Access is by road via Erzurum. The nearest airport is Erzurum Airport. The district can be reached by minibus.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Erzurum

Çat: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Çat Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Erzurum The province's 20 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Erzurum

• Aşkale 4 places Karasu Valley, Aşkale Castle and Aşkale Hot Springs
• Aziziye 5 places Aziziye Redoubts, Ilıca Hot Springs and Nene Hatun Monument
• Hınıs 4 places Hınıs Castle, Hınıs Plain and Hınıs Grand Mosque
• Horasan 5 places Horasan Castle, Aras River Valley and Horasan Grand Mosque
• İspir 5 places Çoruh Valley, İspir Castle and İspir Yedigöller (Seven Lakes)
• Karaçoban 7 places Karaçoban Castle, Foothills of the Bingöl Mountains and Karaçoban Plateaus
• Karayazı 4 places Aras River Banks, Köyceğiz Reservoir and Çakmak Mountain
• Köprüköy 5 places Çobandede Bridge, Aras River Valley and Köprüköy Castle
• Narman 5 places Narman Fairy Chimneys, Narman Five Lakes and Red Hills (Rainbow Hills)
• Oltu 8 places Oltu Castle, Oltu Taşı Mines and Gökkaya (Rainbow) Hills
• Olur 5 places Olur Castle, Çakoş Plateau and Olur Waterfall
• Palandöken 4 places Palandöken Ski Centre, Ejder 3200 Ski Centre and Atatürk House Museum
• Pasinler 5 places Pasinler (Hasankale) Castle, Pasinler Hot Springs and Pasinler Plain
• Pazaryolu 4 places Medieval castle ruins, Pazaryolu plateaus and Norgah Castle
• Şenkaya 5 places Şenkaya Castle, Bardız Stream Valley and Şenkaya Plateaus
• Tekman 9 places Tekman Castle, Tekman Plain and Tekman Plateaus
• Tortum 5 places Hahuli Monastery, Tortum Waterfall and Tortum Lake
• Uzundere 7 places Tortum Waterfall, Tortum Lake and Öşkvank (Öşk Vank) Kilisesi
• Yakutiye 6 places Yakutiye Madrasa, Çifte Minareli Madrasa and Erzurum Castle and Clock Tower