Things to Do in Pazar: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Pazar

• 2 Historic
• 3 Nature

1 🌳 Nature

Pazar Coast

The Black Sea coastline east of Rize.

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2 🌳 Nature

Pazar Plateaus

The plateaus in the higher parts of the district, surrounded by tea gardens and forests, are preferred in summer for their cool air. Local people keep their cultural heritage alive by holding traditional plateau festivals every summer.

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3 🌳 Nature

Pazar Tea Gardens

Tea gardens covering the district's slopes show every shade of green. Their clean air and natural beauty make them a suitable place for day visits. Footpaths winding between the gardens form pleasant routes for hiking.

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i Photo: محبوب حسین زاده (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

4 🏛️ Historic

Kız Castle

Located west of Pazar district centre, on a small peninsula cut off from the mainland. It stands with a single watchtower. Its construction date is not known for certain, but it is thought to have been in use in the 13th or 14th century.

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5 🏛️ Historic

Ciha Castle

A castle within the boundaries of Pazar, known to have been built by the Genoese.

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While you are in Pazar, you can also see the highlights of Rize province. These places are in other districts; Pazar is about 20 km from the provincial centre.

• Ayder Plateau — A highland pasture 19 km south-east of Çamlıhemşin, at 1,350 metres, surrounded by spruce and beech forests; with its hot spring, waterfalls and wooden houses it is the best-known tourist centre in the Kaçkars.
• Zilkale — A medieval castle with eight towers in Çamlıhemşin, on a steep rock above the Fırtına Valley, thought to have been built in the 14th–15th centuries.
• Fırtına Stream and the Arch Bridges — A 68 km stream that rises in the Kaçkar Mountains and flows into the Black Sea near Ardeşen; it is known for the historic stone arch bridges strung along the valley and for its rafting course.
• Pokut Plateau — A highland pasture at 2,032 metres, 15 km from the district centre in Çamlıhemşin; with its wooden houses and views over a sea of clouds it is a favourite of photographers.
• Kaçkar Mountains National Park — A national park of 51,550 hectares, most of it in Çamlıhemşin, known for its glacial lakes, alpine meadows and hikes up to the Kaçkar summit (3,937 m).
• Palovit Waterfall — A waterfall in Çamlıhemşin, within the boundaries of Kaçkar Mountains National Park, dropping 15 metres amid forests.

• 🍽️

  Derepazarı Pidesi

  Derepazarı Pidesi was registered as a protected geographical indication on 30 January 2018 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 324). Product group: bakery and pastry products, dough dishes, desserts. Registered by: Derepazarı Municipality.

• 🧀

  Muhlama

  Prepared with cornmeal and cheese melted in butter. This dish has an important place on local tables and is made using traditional recipes. An important part of the district's gastronomic identity, it is a favourite of visitors.

• 🐟

  Hamsi Tava (fried anchovies)

  Prepared by frying fresh anchovies in cornmeal. Passed down from generation to generation, this dish is an important part of the region's culinary culture. Anchovies caught in the cold waters of the Black Sea reach their most delicious in winter.

• 🥬

  Karalahana Sarması (stuffed kale leaves)

  Prepared by wrapping kale leaves around rice and minced meat and cooking them. Each household has its own version of this kale dish, which reflects family traditions in the kitchen.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Pazar

• 🍵

  Tea Culture

  Tea farming forms the basis of the district's culture in Pazar. This tradition is passed down from generation to generation as an important element of local cultural identity.

• 💃

  Horon Tradition

  Horon, danced to the accompaniment of the tulum at weddings and festivals, is part of the district's cultural identity.

Local Products

• Pazar Çayı (Pazar tea) — Tea grown in the district, one of the quality varieties of Rize tea.
• Pazar Balı (Pazar honey) — Honey obtained from plateau flowers, known for its natural qualities.

Economy

Pazar's economy rests on tea production and trade. Tea factories provide employment in the district.

How to Get to Pazar

Pazar is 20 km from Rize city centre. It is 60 km from Rize–Artvin Airport. Being on the coastal road, it has frequent bus services from the direction of Trabzon and Artvin.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Rize

Pazar: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Pazar Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Rize The province's 10 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Rize

• Rize Central District 4 places Ziraat Botanik Tea Garden, Rize Museum and Rize Castle
• Ardeşen 6 places Ardeşen Shore, Fırtına Stream and Tunca Valley Nature Park
• Çamlıhemşin 10 places Fırtına Deresi Valley, Ayder Plateau and Kaçkar Dağları National Park
• Çayeli 4 places Çayeli Coast, Çayeli Tea Gardens and Çayeli Plateaus
• Derepazarı 4 places Derepazarı Tea Gardens, Derepazarı Stream and Valley and Village Mosques
• Fındıklı 7 places Fındıklı Beach, Fındıklı Plateaus and Fındıklı Tea Gardens
• Güneysu 4 places Güneysu Tea Gardens, Güneysu Plateaus and Güneysu Valley
• Hemşin 4 places Hemşin Valley, Hemşin Arch Bridges and Hemşin Plateaus
• İkizdere 10 places Anzer Plateau, İkizdere Valley and Foothills of the Kaçkar Mountains
• İyidere 6 places İyidere Coast, Metropol İlçe İyidere and İyidere Valley
• Kalkandere 6 places Kalkandere Castle Remains, Çağlayan Village Waterfall and Kalkandere Valley