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6 places to visit in the Sarıkamış district of Kars: Sarıkamış Ski Resort, Sarıkamış Forests and Tsar Nicholas Pavilion. Plan your trip to Sarıkamış with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Sarıkamış is a district of Kars province in the Eastern Anatolia Region. The district covers 2,038 km², and its average elevation above sea level is 2,101 metres.

History

The district has many historic monuments from the Russian period, the most striking of which is the Tsar Nicholas Pavilion in Upper Sarıkamış. The district’s history goes back to the Byzantine period. In 1064, the Seljuk commander Alp Arslan captured the region from the Byzantine king in battle on 16 August 1064. During the war between the Ottoman and Russian empires, the Sarıkamış Operation resulted in the deaths of 33,000 Ottoman soldiers.

Geography and Climate

Some 30,000 hectares of Sarıkamış’s territory are covered by Scots pine (sarıçam) forests.

Winter Sports

Sarıkamış is one of Türkiye’s main winter tourism regions. Snow is abundant, and the area is under snow for six months of the year.

History and Culture

The Sarıkamış Operation resulted in the deaths of 90,000 Ottoman soldiers. Alp Arslan of the Seljuks captured the region in 1064. In February 2024, the Sarıkamış stage of the Turkish Rally Championship was run.

Highlights

The Katerina Hunting Pavilion was built in 1896 by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Sarıkamış Ski Resort lies on a plateau at 2,200–2,900 metres, surrounded by famous Scots pine forests.

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Places to Visit in Sarıkamış

  • 3 Historic
  • 1 Nature
  • 2 Attraction
Sarıkamış Ski Resort - Sarıkamış Photo: Teskilatorg (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source
Attraction

Sarıkamış Ski Resort

One of Türkiye's major winter tourism centres.

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Nature

Sarıkamış Forests

An area of 30,000 hectares covered with Scots pine (sarıçam) forests.

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Historic

Tsar Nicholas Pavilion

The most striking historic building from the Russian period.

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Historic

Micingirt Castle

One of the main historic and tourist sites of Sarıkamış.

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Historic

Micingirt, Kızlar, Yedi Kilise (Yenigazi), Zivin, Köroğlu and Zek castles

Castles counted among the main historic sites of Sarıkamış.

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Attraction

Sarıkamış winter tourism area

One of Türkiye's main winter tourism areas, where snow lies for six months of the year.

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Places to Visit Around Kars Province

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While you are in Sarıkamış, you can also see the highlights of Kars province. These places are in other districts.

  • Ani Ruins — A medieval city on the banks of the Arpaçay, 45 km east of Kars, the capital of the Bagratid kings from 961 to 1045; with its cathedral known for the "thousand and one churches", the churches of Tigran Honents and St Prkiç, its walls and the Lion Gate, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016.
  • Ebu'l Menüçehr Mosque (Ani) — A building at Ani that is thought to have been commissioned by the Shaddadid ruler Ebu'l Menüçehr after the conquest of 1064 and is regarded as the first Turkish mosque in Anatolia; its octagonal minaret looks out over the Arpaçay valley.
  • Kars Castle — According to its inscription, a castle built in 1152 on the order of the Saltukid Sultan Melik İzzeddin, destroyed by Timur in 1386 and rebuilt by Lala Mustafa Paşa in 1579; it offers the widest view of the city and the plain.
  • Church of the Apostles (Kümbet Mosque) — A church built in the 10th century under the Bagratid King Abbas I, with reliefs of the twelve apostles on its drum; it was converted into a mosque after 1064, used as a church again in the Russian period, and today serves as the Kümbet Mosque.
  • Fethiye Mosque — A building of dark and light tuff, built in the late 19th century in the Russian period as the Alexander Nevsky Church; it was converted into a mosque after the War of Independence.
  • Kars Museum — A museum founded in 1959 and moved to its present building in 1981; it displays finds from Ani, Urartian and Bronze Age works, an ethnography collection and Kars carpets.

Practical Information for Visiting Sarıkamış

Suggested time
1–2 days
Best time to visit
Winter months (December–April for skiing)
Places to visit
6 places

What to Eat in Sarıkamış

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  • Sarıkamış Obsidian Stone

    Sarıkamış Obsidian Stone was registered as a protected geographical indication on 18 July 2023 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1412). Product group: other products. Registered by: Kars Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

  • Kars Kaşarı

    Kaşar cheese made from the milk of animals grazing on Sarıkamış's plateaus, one of the finest varieties of Kars kaşarı.

  • Hangel

    A type of mantı specific to Kars, made by boiling large pieces of dough filled with minced meat. Its fresh, natural ingredients make it a healthy choice.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Sarıkamış

  • Sarıkamış Operation Commemoration

    The Sarıkamış Martyrs Commemoration March, held every year in December and January, attracts thousands of participants. It honours the soldiers who died of exposure in the winter of 1914–1915.

Local Products

  • Sarıkamış Kaşarı — Kaşar cheese produced on Sarıkamış's high plateaus, gaining an intense flavour through a long maturation process.

Economy

Sarıkamış's economy rests on tourism, livestock farming and forestry. The ski resort brings in winter tourism income. Dairy production and the timber industry are other sources of income.

How to Get to Sarıkamış

Sarıkamış is 55 km from Kars. Bus and minibus services run from Kars. The Eastern Express train line passes through Sarıkamış.

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Sarıkamış: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Sarıkamış?

The 6 standout places in Sarıkamış are Sarıkamış Ski Resort, Sarıkamış Forests, Tsar Nicholas Pavilion, Micingirt Castle, Micingirt, Kızlar, Yedi Kilise (Yenigazi), Zivin, Köroğlu and Zek castles, and the Sarıkamış winter tourism area.

What is there to eat in Sarıkamış?

Sarıkamış Obsidian Stone, Kars Kaşarı and Hangel are the standout flavours on Sarıkamış's tables.

What is Sarıkamış famous for?

Sarıkamış is known for Sarıkamış Kaşarı and the Sarıkamış Operation Commemoration. The kaşar cheese produced on Sarıkamış's high plateaus gains an intense flavour through a long maturation process.

How do I get to Sarıkamış?

Sarıkamış is 55 km from Kars. Bus and minibus services run from Kars. The Eastern Express train line passes through Sarıkamış.

How much time should I set aside for a visit to Sarıkamış?

Suggested visit length: 1–2 days. Best time to visit: winter months (December–April for skiing).

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Other Districts of Kars

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