29 · City guide
Gümüşhane
Province of Karaca Cave, pestil and köme
Gümüşhane takes its name from the silver (gümüş) mines worked in the Ottoman period; it lies in the Harşit Stream valley, on the historic trade route between Trabzon and Erzurum–Erzincan. The old town was founded in the Süleymaniye neighborhood above today's center, where the remains of a mosque, a hammam and a church can be seen. Karaca Cave in Torul, with its dripstone formations, is the province's most visited natural site. The Limni Lake and Artabel Lakes nature parks, Tomara Waterfall in Şiran and the Zigana mountains make up the nature route. The Santa ruins in Dumanlı village reflect an old Greek settlement scattered across the mountainsides; Satala near Kelkit was a base for Roman legions. Mulberry pestil, köme and rosehip are the province's signature products.
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Where shall we explore?
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Nature park
Artabel Lakes Nature Park
Torul, Gümüşhane
A nature park declared in 1998 in the high part of the Gümüşhane Mountains, within the boundaries of the village of Gülaçar, with more than 20 glacial lakes.
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Lake
Çakırgöl
Merkez, Gümüşhane
A glacial lake surrounded by sheer cliffs at an altitude of about 2,550 meters in the high part of the Zigana Mountains.
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Çakırkaya Monastery
Şiran, Gümüşhane
A monastery in the village of Çakırkaya in Şiran, made by carving a rock mass about 65 meters high, referred to as 'the Sumela of Gümüşhane'.
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Castle
Canca Castle
Merkez, Gümüşhane
An old castle on a rocky hill, considered the first settlement of Gümüşhane, which gained importance through silver mining.
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Museum
İkizevler City Museum
Merkez, Gümüşhane
A city museum in a historic Gümüşhane mansion, telling the story of traditional home life through room arrangements and ethnographic works.
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Monastery
İmera Monastery
Merkez, Gümüşhane
A monastery church dedicated to St. John Prodromos in the village of Olucak (İmera) near the Krom Valley, notable for its stone-decorated door.
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Mosque
Kabaköy Ayasofya Mosque
Merkez, Gümüşhane
A village mosque in Kabaköy, built as a church and later converted into a mosque; referred to as one of the buildings named Ayasofya in Türkiye.
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Kadırga Highland (Yayla)
Kürtün, Gümüşhane
A high highland on the Trabzon–Gümüşhane border hosting the traditional Kadırga Festival every July, known for its historic open-air mosque.
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Karaca Cave
Torul, Gümüşhane
One of Türkiye's most famous dripstone caves, near the village of Cebeli, with its colorful dripstones, pools and cave pearls.
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Castle
Kov Castle
Merkez, Gümüşhane
A medieval castle built on top of a steep rock mass rising about 130 meters above its surroundings, in the village of Esenyurt.
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Limni Lake Nature Park
Torul, Gümüşhane
A highland lake at the foot of Zigana Dağı, surrounded by Scots pine, fir and spruce forests, declared a nature park in 2011.
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Santa Ruins
Merkez, Gümüşhane
The stone house and church remains of an old Greek mining settlement with seven neighborhoods spread over the slopes of the Yanbolu Valley in the village of Dumanlı.
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Architecture
Sarıçiçek Village Rooms (Köy Odaları)
Merkez, Gümüşhane
Historic village rooms in the village of Sarıçiçek, with their Baroque- and Rococo-influenced wooden decoration preserved.
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Satala Ancient City
Kelkit, Gümüşhane
The remains of a legionary camp in the village of Sadak, home to Rome's Fifteenth Apollinaris legion, and of the ancient city that grew around it.
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Süleymaniye Neighborhood (Old Gümüşhane)
Merkez, Gümüşhane
A historic neighborhood founded near silver deposits in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent, carrying the city's old settlement fabric with the remains of mosques, churches, hamams and mansions.
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Mosque
Sultan Süleyman Han Mosque
Merkez, Gümüşhane
A mosque with wooden posts forming the core of Old Gümüşhane, dated to the time of Suleiman the Magnificent and preserving its original minaret.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Yayla (highland pasture)
Taşköprü Highland (Yayla)
Merkez, Gümüşhane
A wide highland at an altitude of about 2,100 meters above the Yağmurdere valley; a stopping point on routes toward Santa and Çakırgöl.
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Tomara Waterfall Nature Park
Şiran, Gümüşhane
A waterfall south of Şiran, declared a nature park in 2011, where powerful karstic springs emerging from the slope pour over a sloping rock face.
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Torul Castle and Glass Viewing Terrace
Torul, Gümüşhane
A medieval castle on the steep rock above Torul and the glass-floored viewing terrace built beside it, overlooking the Harşit Valley.
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Ski resort
Zigana Winter Sports and Tourism Center
Torul, Gümüşhane
A winter sports center on Zigana Dağı near the pass on the Trabzon–Gümüşhane road, where skiing and sledding are possible from December to March.
Practical information
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.- Note
- Roads to high areas such as Artabel and Santa may close in winter; check Karaca Cave's current visiting hours in advance
- Climate
- Black Sea influence in the north, continental climate in the south (Kelkit, Şiran, Köse); winters are cold and snowy
- Best time
- June–September; July–August for the high lakes and yaylas
- Getting there
- The nearest airports are Trabzon and Erzincan; the Trabzon–Gümüşhane road runs through the New Zigana Tunnel, opened in 2023
- Getting around
- The center stretches along the Harşit valley; a private vehicle is needed for Süleymaniye, Karaca Cave and the lakes