Things to Do in Olur: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Olur

• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Religious
• 3 Nature

While you are in Olur, you can also see the highlights of Erzurum province. These places are in other districts; Olur is about 170 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 Olur

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Spring and summer (May–September)

Places to visit

5 places

• 🍖

  Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb)

  Lamb roasted on a horizontal spit over a wood fire. In Olur it has a special flavour thanks to the sheep raised on the district's plateaus.

• 🥣

  Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup)

  A traditional soup made with yoghurt, bulgur and mint, a nourishing dish that is never missing from tables on cold winter days in Olur.

• 🥟

  Lor Dolması (lor cheese pastry)

  A traditional börek made by wrapping a filling of lor cheese and herbs in yufka pastry. It is one of the distinctive flavours of Olur cuisine.

• 🍽️

  Lor peyniri (lor cheese)

  Lor cheese made locally; the district's name is said to come from this cheese.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Olur

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  Forestry Tradition

  Olur is one of the greenest districts of Erzurum, with extensive forest areas. For centuries forestry has been a livelihood for the local people and part of their cultural identity.

• 🏛️

  Border Region History

  Close to the Artvin and Ardahan borders, Olur has been a meeting point of different cultures throughout history. Strategically important in the Ottoman–Russian wars, the district has a layered history.

Local Products

• Olur Honey — Flower honey gathered in the district's forests and plateaus. Thanks to the rich vegetation, it is an aromatic and natural variety of honey.
• Civil Peyniri (stringy cheese) — Civil cheese made from fresh milk and separated into threads, produced in Olur by traditional methods.

Economy

Olur's economy rests on forestry, livestock farming and agriculture. Its extensive forests are used for timber production. Small livestock farming and beekeeping are the main sources of livelihood.

How to Get to Olur

Olur is about 170 km from Erzurum city centre. Road access is via Oltu. The nearest airport is Erzurum Airport. The district can be reached by minibus.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Erzurum

Olur: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Olur 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
• 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
• 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