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History and archaeology / Castle

Mazgirt Castle

Mazgirt, Tunceli

CommonMachine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.

A historic castle rising above the Mazgirt district center, linked to the Urartian period, at whose foot the district was built.

Safety warning

The remains are unprotected and rocky; take care at steep edges. Check transport and security conditions in the area with the local authorities (governorship/district governorate, gendarmerie) before visiting.

Its story

Mazgirt is a district built at the foot of the castle on the Kert Mountains, an extension of the Munzur Mountains. Sources link Mazgirt Castle, together with Bağın Castle east of the district, to the Urartian period. It is suggested that the district's name comes from the Armenian Medzgerd, meaning 'great fortress', and this name too shows the castle's place in the settlement's identity. After the Urartians the region saw Median, Persian, Roman and Byzantine rule, then Artuqid, Mengujekid, Seljuk, Akkoyunlu and Ottoman rule; in the 16th century Mazgirt was for a time a sanjak center. Today the castle remains offer a wide view over the district center, the Elti Hatun Mosque and the hills descending toward the Keban Dam Lake. A visit together with the Elti Hatun Mosque and Tomb is recommended.

Key facts

Period
Urartian origins; medieval use
Admission
Open area
Getting there
Mazgirt district center
Visit duration
45 minutes

Trip purpose

  • Free
  • Photography

Location

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39.02300, 39.60082

Where to eat nearby

No food & drink venues listed nearby.

Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors; Overture Maps

Reviews

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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazgirt | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131901873 | https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/372816120