Things to Do in Araban: 13 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Araban

• 7 Historic
• 4 Ancient City
• 2 Nature

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

• Zeugma Mosaic Museum — Opened in 2011 and displaying about 1,700 m² of mosaics, this is one of the largest mosaic museums in the world.
• Zeugma Ancient City — A bridgehead city on the Euphrates at Nizip, founded by Seleucus I, a general of Alexander the Great, and estimated to have reached a population of 70,000–80,000 in the Roman period.
• Gaziantep Castle — A castle with 12 towers and a circumference of 1,200 metres on a hill in the middle of the city; it is thought to have served as a lookout since the Hittite period and to have taken its present form through Byzantine, Ayyubid and Mamluk repairs.
• Rumkale — A castle on sheer rocks at the confluence of the Euphrates and the Merzimen Stream, turned into a peninsula by the reservoir; with the Church of St Nerses, the Barsauma Monastery and its cisterns, it bears traces of the Late Roman and medieval periods.
• Yesemek Open-Air Museum — At İslahiye, used in the Hittite and Late Hittite periods, this is the largest known quarry and sculpture workshop of the ancient Near East, covering about 100,000 m²; unfinished lion, sphinx and mountain-god sculptures stand on the slopes.
• Zincirli Höyük (Sam'al) — North of İslahiye, this was the capital of the Late Hittite kingdom whose Aramaic name was Sam'al; the lion sculptures and orthostats excavated in the 19th century are now in the museums of Berlin and Istanbul.

Practical Information for Visiting Araban

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn months (April–May, September–October)

Places to visit

13 places

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  Araban Kebabı (Araban kebab)

  A local kebab of lamb marinated in special spices and cooked over charcoal. It is Araban's own interpretation of Gaziantep cuisine.

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  Lahmacun

  Araban's lahmacun, made by spreading a mixture of minced meat, onion, tomato and pepper over thin dough and baking it in a stone oven, is known for its thin dough and generous topping.

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  Katmer

  Prepared by filling thin yufka with Antep pistachios and kaymak and cooking it on a griddle. Katmer, the emblematic dessert of Gaziantep, is also an indispensable part of breakfast tables in Araban.

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  Firik pilavı (firik pilaf)

  A dish made with firik, obtained from young wheat, and preferred especially on special occasions.

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  Sarımsak kebabı (garlic kebab)

  A dish that brings together Araban garlic and meat, and is identified with the district.

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  Araban sarımsağı (Araban garlic)

  Garlic grown in Araban, registered with a European Union geographical indication.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Araban

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  Raban Historical Heritage

  Araban's historical name is Raban, and it was an important settlement during the Byzantine, Crusader, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. The region, held by the Armenian ruler Kogh Vasil in 1097, was conquered in 1150 by the Seljuk Sultan Mesud I.

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  Southeastern Anatolian Culture

  Araban is known for its traditional wedding ceremonies, folk dances and local crafts, which reflect the rich cultural fabric of Southeastern Anatolia. Coppersmithing and kilim weaving are traditional crafts that continue to this day.

Local Products

• Araban Sarımsağı (Araban garlic) — A product registered as a protected designation of origin with TÜRKPATENT.
• Araban Zeytinyağı (Araban olive oil) — Cold-pressed olive oil obtained from olives grown on the district's fertile soils. It is the most important agricultural product of the region.
• Antep Fıstığı (Antep pistachio) — Antep pistachio, a geographically indicated product of Gaziantep, is also grown on Araban's dry lands and contributes to the local economy.

Economy

Araban's economy rests on agriculture and livestock farming. Olives, Antep pistachios and grapes are the main agricultural products. Olive oil production is the district's most important source of income. Small-scale industry and trade have also developed in recent years.

How to Get to Araban

Araban is approximately 70 km from Gaziantep city centre. It lies on the Gaziantep–Adıyaman highway. Gaziantep Oğuzeli Airport is approximately 90 km away. Transport to the district is provided by minibus and bus services.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Gaziantep

Araban: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Araban Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Gaziantep The province's 14 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Gaziantep

• İslahiye 11 places Zincirli Mound (Sam'al), Yesemek Open-Air Museum and Amanos Mountains
• Karkamış 5 places Euphrates Riverbank, Karkamış (Kargamış) Ancient City and Historic Euphrates Railway Bridge
• Nizip 7 places Zeugma Ancient City (Belkıs), Rumkale (Hromgla) and Nizip Fevkani Church
• Nurdağı 6 places Sakçagözü Mound, Gedikli Mound and Amanos Mountains Passes
• Oğuzeli 3 places Gaziantep Oğuzeli Airport Area, Barak Plain and Oğuzeli Mounds
• Şahinbey 7 places Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Historic Gümrük Han and Gaziantep Defence and Heroism Panorama Museum
• Şehitkamil 5 places Gaziantep Castle, Dülük Ancient City (Doliche) and Gaziantep University Campus
• Yavuzeli 5 places Rumkale (Hromgla), Halfeti Sunken Town View and Kasaba Village