Photo: Ingeborg Simon (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source Pertek Castle
A castle bearing remains from the Urartian period, situated on the Murat River and on Keban Dam Lake.
View on map5 places to visit in the Pertek district of Tunceli: Pertek Castle, Keban Dam Lake and Pertek Grand Mosque. Plan your trip to Pertek with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Origins and Etymology
The fact that local people still use Armenian names for some neighbourhoods and villages in Pertek district suggests that its name originally meant “Kalecik” (“little castle”) in Armenian.
History
Settlement in the region north of the Euphrates, where Pertek lies, began in the Neolithic period. After the 1071 Battle of Manzikert, the region was exposed to Turkish raids; it was taken by Çubuk Bey after the Byzantine general Philaretos Brachamios. After the 1514 Battle of Chaldiran, Pertek was the scene of the Ottoman–Safavid struggle, and after the Battle of Ovacık it came under Ottoman rule.
Economy
Livestock farming, agriculture and ferry operations on Keban Dam Lake bring economic returns to the district. Crops include barley, wheat, sugar beet and chickpeas; livestock products include milk, cheese, red meat, honey and eggs.
History and Culture
In the Seljuk and Ottoman periods the district was developed into a centre of culture and art. The district received its name Pertek because of a bird sculpture set up on the castle. Pertek is described as the district with the second-largest number of historic monuments in Tunceli, after Çemişgezek. In 1916, with the establishment of the Tunceli province, Pertek became a district of Tunceli.
Highlights
Pertek formed one of the four sanjaks (Çarsancak) during the Çemişgezek Beylik period. Pertek was added as a district of Tunceli Province, which was established in 1935.
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