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6 places to visit in the Şiran district of Gümüşhane: Şiran Castle (Şiran Kalesi), Çimen Mountains (Çimen Dağları) and Şiran Plateaus (Şiran Yaylaları). Plan your trip to Şiran with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Şiran is a district in the southwest of Gümüşhane Province, with an area of 965 km². The district centre lies at an average elevation of 1,407 metres above sea level. The population is 18,377, and the area has been settled since before the Republican period.

History

Archaeological surveys have identified surface finds from the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age. From the 9th century onwards, Byzantine sources refer to the region by the names Khêriana and Khêrianôn. The name recorded as Şiryan in 16th- and 17th-century documents was gradually adapted into Turkish as Şiran. After the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, the region came under the Mengüçlü Beylik founded by Mengücek Gazi. After the Battle of Otlukbeli in 1473, the region was definitively incorporated into Ottoman rule.

History and Culture

After the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, the region came under the Mengüçlü Beylik, and in 1473 it was definitively incorporated into Ottoman rule. In 1894, a municipal administration was set up in Şiran, and its first mayor was Lütfullah Bey.

History and Culture

Şiran is a Persian word meaning “lions”. Şiran gained district status in 1925. The district centre was moved to its present site in the 1800s, when it was still at Erenkaya Village.

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Places to Visit in Şiran

  • 2 Historic
  • 1 Religious
  • 3 Nature
Historic

Şiran Castle (Şiran Kalesi)

Şiran Castle stands on a hill overlooking the district centre and is known for its Byzantine-period remains. From the castle, there is a panoramic view of the Kelkit Valley.

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Nature

Çimen Mountains (Çimen Dağları)

The Çimen Mountains rise to the south of Şiran, with peaks above 3,000 metres, making them suitable for trekking and mountaineering. Plateau life (yaylacılık) is practised here in summer.

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Nature

Şiran Plateaus (Şiran Yaylaları)

The plateaus in the higher parts of the district offer cool summer air and wide meadows, making them an attractive destination for nature lovers. The ecosystem, with its endemic plant species and butterfly diversity, interests natural scientists.

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Nature

Tomara Waterfall (Tomara Şelalesi)

A waterfall 130 km from Gümüşhane city centre and 14 km from the district centre.

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Historic

Firdevs Hanım Tomb (Firdevs Hanım Türbesi)

A tomb on Çilhoroz Mountain. It is listed among the places worth seeing in Şiran on the website of the Gümüşhane Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism.

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Religious

Çevrepınar Village Church (Çevrepınar Köyü Kilisesi)

A church listed among the registered churches on the list of the Gümüşhane Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. It was built away from the village's main settlement.

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Places to Visit Around Gümüşhane Province

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While you are in Şiran, you can also see the highlights of Gümüşhane province. These places are in other districts; Şiran is about 55 km from the provincial centre.

  • Karaca Cave — A cave in the village of Cebeli in Torul, 1,550 metres above sea level and 17 km from the city centre; with its stalactites, stalagmites, columns, cave pearls and travertine terraces, it is one of the most beautiful caves in Türkiye.
  • Santa Ruins — Former Greek mining villages scattered across the slopes of the Yanbolu valley at 1,600 metres, in the village of Dumanlı in the central district.
  • Limni Lake Nature Park — A highland lake surrounded by spruce and Scots pine forest in the village of Zigana in Torul; it was declared a nature park in 2011. There is a walking path around the lake, and on misty days it has a special atmosphere.
  • Artabel Lakes Nature Park — A mountainous area in Torul, declared a nature park in 1998, with more than 15 lakes formed in the Ice Age, five of them large; its highest point is the 3,331-metre Abdalmusa Peak.
  • Satala Ancient City — In the village of Sadak in Kelkit, the permanent camp of the XV Apollinaris legion on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire; Emperor Trajan visited it in 115. The remains of an aqueduct still stand, and the bronze head of Aphrodite of Satala in the British Museum was found here.
  • Süleymaniye (Old Gümüşhane) — The historic core of the city; of the old settlement that grew thanks to the silver mines and the Silk Road, examples of mosques, churches, hammams, fountains and civil architecture remain.

Practical Information for Visiting Şiran

Suggested time
1 day
Best time to visit
Summer (June-August)
Places to visit
6 places

What to Eat in Şiran

Food guide →

  • Şiran Kök Pekmezi (Şiran root molasses)

    Şiran Kök Pekmezi was registered as a protected geographical indication on 11 March 2024 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1559). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables, and mushrooms. Registered by: Kelkit Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

  • Siron

    Made by filling thin yufka dough with minced meat or potato, rolling it up and baking it. It is a traditional dish of Şiran.

  • Keşkek

    Prepared by simmering wheat and meat for a long time and then pounding them together, keşkek is an essential dish at weddings and festive tables in Şiran.

  • Pestil

    Pestil made from mulberry juice is Şiran's traditional sweet. Prepared with local ingredients, this treat reflects the region's gastronomic richness.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Şiran

  • Kelkit Valley Culture

    Şiran is one of the main settlements of the Kelkit Valley, where traditional farming culture and village life are still maintained.

  • Plateau Festivals (Yayla Şenlikleri)

    Traditional festivals held on the plateaus in summer, with wrestling, horse races and folk music events, are an important part of Şiran's cultural life.

Local Products

  • Şiran Honey (Şiran Balı) — Şiran honey, made from the flowers on the slopes of the Çimen Mountains, is known for its organic character.
  • Cereal Products — Wheat and barley grown on the fertile soils of the Kelkit Valley are Şiran's main agricultural products.

Economy

Şiran's economy is based on agriculture and livestock. Wheat, barley and sugar beet production are the main sources of income. Cattle breeding and beekeeping are also important livelihoods.

How to Get to Şiran

Şiran is 55 km from Gümüşhane city centre. It is reached by road. Trabzon Airport is about 160 km away.

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Şiran: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Şiran?

The highlights of Şiran are 6 places: Şiran Castle, Çimen Mountains, Şiran Plateaus, Tomara Waterfall, Firdevs Hanım Tomb and Çevrepınar Village Church.

What is there to eat in Şiran?

Şiran Kök Pekmezi, Siron, Keşkek and Pestil are the standout dishes on Şiran's tables.

What is Şiran famous for?

Şiran is known for Şiran Honey and the culture of the Kelkit Valley. The honey made from flowers on the slopes of the Çimen Mountains is known for its organic character.

How do I get to Şiran?

Şiran is 55 km from Gümüşhane city centre. It is reached by road. Trabzon Airport is about 160 km away.

How long should I spend on a trip to Şiran?

Recommended trip length: 1 day. Best time to visit: summer (June-August).

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