Erzurum
The center of winter sports of the Mediterranean
The city of Erzurum is one of the most important tourism centers of the East Anatolian region and is host to the well-known Palandöken mountains where ski enthusiasts come often. The ski season at the Palandöken lasts approximately 5 months, starting from November/December until April. There are two registered ski slopes at Palandöken, and during your trip you can buy all sorts of ski gear or learn how to ski by taking private lessons. Erzurum has wonderful ski resort areas where you can benefit from different ski centers such as; the Kartepe Ski Center, Ilgaz Ski Center, Kartalkaya Ski Resort, Saklıkent Ski Resort, Bozdağ Ski Center and Erciyes Ski Resort. Due to the area’s vast ski utilities, it was announced that the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) will be hosted by the city.
Erzurum has constructed and restored ski facilities for the Winter Universidad Games of 2011. Due to all of these new facilities Erzurum become a real winter vacation center. The ice hockey rink that was built has a seating capacity of three thousand people.
Another sports activity that you can have the chance to taste the thrill of is rafting on the Çoruh river. In 1993, Çoruh River hosted the World Rafting Championships. The 446 km long rafting challenge proved to be a real test for the rafting enthusiasts. Another one of the many attractions Erzurum has are the hiking events and daily nature walks on the Dumlu Mountains, where visitors are able to see a branch of the Fırat River, the Karasu spring.
If you need a break from all that winter sports, you can visit the natural and historical beauties of Erzurum. At the end of your walk along the Tortum River, you will see a 50 meter high and a 20 meter wide Tortum Waterfall, with its high flow rates, it is the most magnificent waterfall in Turkey. If you want to rest in a hot water spring after a hard work out, a place you should definitely go to is Pasinler Spring or Erzurum Ilıca Spa Bath. If you prefer to enjoy the forest and the great outdoors, you can go to Nene Hatun National Park to get your fill of clean and fresh air. The city’s one of many wonders is the Narman Peribacaları (erosion columns). Narman Peribacaları hosts festivals every year and is one of the main tourist attractions in Erzurum.
Erzurum was the center of Eastern Anatolian history, and therefore is rich in historical artifacts. If you want to see the plethora of artifacts you can visit Erzurum Archeological Museum, Atatürk’s House and Yakutiye Madrasah (theological school). Main tourist attractions for history buffsis the Citadel of Erzurum, Three Vaults, Rüstempaşa Bedesten, Çobandede Bridge, Double-Minaret Madrasah (Çifte Minareli Medrese), Erzurum Clock Tower, and Lalapaşa Mosque. Cobandede Bridge -a must see- was built between the years of 1297-1298 and reflects the Seljuk architectural style.