Things to Do in Karayazı: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Karayazı

1 🌳 Nature

Aras River Banks

The area that forms the foundation of the district's historic heritage. In antiquity it left remains in the villages of Salyamaç, Yolgören and Çelikli.

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i Photo: Mustafa urgun (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

2 🌳 Nature

Köyceğiz Reservoir

A reservoir used as a picnic area in the district.

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3 🌳 Nature

Çakmak Mountain

A mountain right behind Karayazı, known for its cold spring waters and wild flowers.

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4 🌳 Nature

Gola Plateau

Plateau also known as Gölköy, lying at the foot of Göksu Pass (2,353).

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While you are in Karayazı, you can also see the highlights of Erzurum province. These places are in other districts; Karayazı is about 150 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 Karayazı

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 Karayazı, it has a special flavour from the sheep raised on the district's wide pastures.

• 🥣

  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 Karayazı'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 Karayazı cuisine.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Karayazı

• 🏛️

  Settlement History of the Aras Basin

  Because Karayazı 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.

• 🗺️

  Border Region Culture

  Because of its location close to the Iranian and Ağrı borders, Karayazı has been an area where different cultures interacted throughout history. This geographic position has shaped the district's cultural diversity.

Local Products

• Karayazı 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 Karayazı by traditional methods.

Economy

The economy of Karayazı rests largely on livestock farming. Cattle and sheep farming and dairy production are the main sources of income. Wheat, barley and fodder crops are grown.

How to Get to Karayazı

Karayazı is about 150 km from Erzurum city centre. Access is by road via the Erzurum–Ağrı route. The nearest airport is Erzurum Airport. The district can be reached by minibus.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Erzurum

Karayazı: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Karayazı 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
• Çat 4 places Çat Dam and Lake, Çat Castle and Çat Plateaus
• 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
• 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