Gumushane
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GÜMÜŞHANE
Area: 10.227 km²
Population: 169.375 (1990)
Traffic Code: 29
History of Gümüşhane, a transition region between Eastern Anatolian and Black Sea Region, reaches till to the 1500s B. C. It was founded on the historical trade road between Trabzon and Iran. It is a natural break point within fruit gardens and wild roses, between Trabzon and Erzurum. It is one of the richest cities of Turkey in connection with plateaus.
Districts : Kelkit, Köse, Kürtün, Şiran and Torul.
How to Get
Transportation to Gümüşhane is only maintaned via road. Coach station is in the city center.
Coach Station Tel : (+ 90 - 456) 213 64 83
Where to Visit
ANCIENT CITIES
Sadak Settlement Ancient city, which is also known as Satala is 17 km. south east of Kelkit province. Today's Sadak Village was known with Satala name during ancient ages. It is thought that Sadak Village was the most important military camp of the ancient Roman Empire at east. This place is reigned by Hittites, Assyrians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines and Trabzon Comenoses. Today, ruins in Sadak Village are at the feet of a mountain rising like an amphitheater. There is a Nike relief on grave sites of Sadak Village.
CASTLES
It is known from the sources that approximately 35 castles with the aim of defending and watching Gümüşhane region are constructed. But most of these castles could not be reached today. Some of the castles are; Canca Castle, Akça Castle, Ardase Castle, Kodir Castle, Satala Castle, and Kov Castle.
MOSGUES, MAUSOLEUMS AND CHURCHES
Süleymaniye Mosque It is in the previous Gümüşhane settlement and in Süleymaniye District. It was constructed by Magnificent Suleyman, and repaired several times till today.
Küçük Mosque It is in previous Gümüşhane settlement and within gardens behind Süleymaniye Mosque.
Çit Village Mosque Balcony It is a mosque balcony in Çit Village of Torul Province. It is not an original balcony structure, and wooden adornment made for church. Its balcony is a good sample for wood craft. It is made with a deep craft, and an original wooden craft sample.
Mausoleums There are Pirahmet Mausoleum, Baba Çağırgan Mausoleum, Firdevs Hanım mausoleums within Gümüşhane.
Churches There are numerous churches within Gümüşhane. These are; Santa Çakallı Church, Santa Terzili Church, Hagios - Georgios Monastery Church, Pavrezi Chapel, Ayvalok Church, Çakırkaya (Kalur) Rock Church, Panagina (Mother Mary) Manastır Church, Vank Church, Mivaaras Church, Hagios Ioannas Manastır Church, Stephanus - Timios Stavroz Church, Satamoni Church (Yağlıdere Parti District).
Religion Tourism
Santa Churches Complex (Dumanlı-Center): Santa district (Dumanlı in the present), which was a major settlement site in the past is located 45-50 km of Gümüşhane. Among the churches present in this location, the major ones are; St. Theodor Church in Terzil, Prophet İlyas Church in Binatlı, St. Kiryaki Church in İşhan, St. Christopher Church in İşhan Piştoflu, Çakallı Church in Çakallı, St. Konstantinos Church and St. Petros Churches in Çinganlı. These churches are assumed to be constructed between the date 1860 - 1870. The original door and window frames, the embossed crosses and bell towers are attractive.
NATIONAL & NATURAL PARKS
Artabel Lakes Natural Park
Gümüshane - Artabel Lakes
Location: The Arbatel Lakes are 50km from Gumushane, 120km south of Trabzon, in the Black Sea region, and 5km from the village of Gulacar.
Transportation: The best public transport to the area is from Gulacar. Gumushane can easily be reached by road from Trabzon, Bayburt or Toral.
Highlights: The entire region of the park is filled with lakes and mountains, which forms a wonderful area for trekking. Karanlik Gol (Dark Lake) is the north-east foot of Artabelinbasi Peak, four lakes known as Besgoller, on the west of Sofraninbasi Peak, and three lakes known as Karagoller are at the foot of the eastern peak of Gavurdagi Mountain. The summers are hot and dry, and the winters cold and rainy.
The main trees in the forests are Scotch pine and fir, and there are many animals and birds in the area. The area around the lakes has very rich geologic and morphologic characteristics, especially with its rich collection of flora and fauna. The 5859 hectares were granted status of Natural Park in 1998, mainly to preserve the 18 glacier crater lakes.
Kıranı Evliya Ardıcı, Ali Ağanın Kavağı Natural Monuments
Gümüşhane - Kıranı Saint Juniper (Kırana Evliya Ardıcı)
Place: Gümüşhane
Characteristics: A juniper tree at the altitude of 2123 meters which is 700 years old, 4.80 meters tall, have a diameter of 1.32 meters and circumference length of 4.15 meters.
Foundation Date: 26.06.1995
CAVERNS
There are numerous large and small caverns due to the geological structure of Gümüşhane. Karaca, Arılı, Kartalkaya, K. Ardıçlı, Ambela, Köprübaşı, Taşbaşı, Altıntaş, Yaylım, Üstüaçık, Cingora, İnönü, Kabanbaşı, Mamatlar, Arsa, İkisu cavers are the most important ones.
Karaca Cavern
Location: Gümüşhane, Torul District
The cave is located at 17 kilometers northwest of Gümüşhane. From the 12th kilometer of Gümüşhane-Torul highway, the road leading to Korum Creek Valley which Cebeli village is located is taken and Karaca quarter is reached. From this location, walking 750 meters towards west to Kırantaş locality is necessary in order to reach to the cave.
Properties: The total length (with its branches) of the cave is 105 meters and is 1550 meters high above the sea level.
Karaca Cave is currently in a condition of fossil cave. Because of this reason, the improvement of the cave is halted but despite this fact, the waters leaking from the crack systems cutting each other caused the formation of interesting damlataş as stalactites, stalagmites, flag shapes, organ patterned walls, travertine pools, cave pearls and cave flowers with various colors and patterns in great numbers. This formation still continues in current period.
Karaca Cave has developed horizontally and is composed of combination of four separate saloons in the shape of ellipse. The giant pillars reaching up to 15 meters resembling giant tree trunks and wonderful wall formations dividing two of the above mentioned saloons into two chambers, causing the total number of the saloons to become six, displays that the formation period of the cave continues from a long time.
HIGHLANDS
Plateaus of Gümüşhane
Zigana Tourist Center-Zigana Highland
Transportation: After going through the Zigana tunnel 60 km out on the Gümüşhane - Trabzon road, turn east on the gravel road and continue on 3.5 km. From the center of Trabzon to Zigana is 112 km on an asphalt road.
Description: The 2032 m. high Zigana Highland is also a ski center. Its infrastructure is completed.
Zigana is one of the few places in Turkey where one can ski in the winter and do 'grass sledding' in the summer. It is a very interesting place caught between the sea climate on one side and the continental on the other.
Accessed by a 3 km path from Zigana Highland, Lake Lima (Saran) is definitely worth seeing. You may reach the lake by way of Kalkanlı with a rented car. The road is asphalt for 11 km; the remaining 8 km is a dirt road. The village of Kalkanlı has electricity, running water, a post office and there is a small market, butcher, green grocer and teahouse open year-round.
Accommodation - Food and Drink: Because it is used as a ski center, it has every kind of lodging as well as shops to buy food and drink.
Şiran - Tomara Waterfall
Transportation: Fourteen km southwest of Şiran, the Tomara waterfall can be reached by a gravel road. The village of Seydibaba is only 2 km from the waterfall and there is a minibus service to this village.
Description: The waterfall formed by a powerful spring which spills over rocks and falls 8 m. is ice-cold. The pristine surroundings are covered with lush hazelnut, oak and hornbeam trees.
The untouched natural surrounding of Seydibaba Village which is full of orchards and vegetable gardens, makes a perfect campsite. The vitality and simplicity of nature beckons for you to sit and enjoy.
Accommodation - Food and Drink: There are no facilities in the vicinity of the waterfall. Bring your own camping gear if you intend to stay. Basic necessities can be
Altıntaşlar (Kalis) Highland
Transportation: Take the Gümüşhane - Torul road 15 km south and turn towards Şiran. You will go through the villages of Hasköy and Gülaçar. The first 40 km is asphalt and the last 12 km a simple dirt road. The village can also be reached by turning west at the 40 km mark on the Gümüşhane - Şiran road and following the rushing waters of Altıntaşlar Creek with its scenic vistas.
Description: There is a small stream running through this village in which some infrastructure improvements have been made. There are numerous trout in the Altıntaşlar Creek and it is said that there used to be a gold mine nearby.
Six kilometers away in Altıntaşlar, there is a small market, butcher, teahouse and a restaurant.
Accommodation - Food and Drink: If you want to stay overnight in this pristine area bring your camping gear. Basic necessities can be obtained in nearby Altıntaşlar.
Çam Picnic
Transportation: After taking the Gümüşhane- Bayburt road for 2.5 km., turn south and follow the dirt road another 15 km. There is a minibus service to Çam Picnic from Gümüşhane.
Description: There is electricity and water as well as trash collection sites, a fountain, toilets and stone circles for lighting camp fires in the forest. The forest which is made up of mostly fir, spruce, alder and wild hazelnut trees is a popular recreation spot with the locals.
Accommodation - Food and Drink: Bring camping equipment as well as basic food stuffs.
SPORTS ACTIVITIES
Gümüşhane has mysterious plateaus, which are hidden between forests and plentiful oxygen and dense forests. There are camping and caravan camping possibilities within most of these plateaus. Zigana, Taşköprü, Kazıkbeli, Kadırga, Artabel, Erikbeli plateaus are ready to submit all possibilities on these matters. These plateaus have trekking appropriate routes.
Zigana Ski Center
GÜMÜŞHANE - Zigana
The Zigana Ski Centre is in the Black Sea Region, 40km north of Gumushane.
Arrival: Zigana is 60km south of Trabzon, the closest airport, and just 500m from the main road leading north of Gumushane. There is public and private transport from the ski centre to the city.
Geography: Covered mainly with forest, the ski runs are between altitudes of 1900-2500m, and covered with grass for most of the year. The season is between December and April, and there is an average snow depth of 1.5m.
Facilities: The ski centre has a lodge, a T-bar and baby-lift. The ski run is around 200m wide, with an average gradient of 20%.
Gography
Generally climate of Gümüşhane has a characteristic which is very dry during summers and rainy during winter, spring and autumn months. Once you have rise from the sea level, territorial climate characteristics are faced.
History
First known natives of Gümüşhane region are Azzi and Hayaşas, which lived during 1500s B. C. Gümüşhane, which had witnessed Urartu, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Arabian, Seljuk, İlhanlı, Eretna, Karakoyunlu, Akkoyunlu periods, finally entered the reign of Ottoman government in 1461 by Fatih Sultan Mehmet.
Where to Eat
Tourism Facilities Data Base Updating Project is still in progress.Upon the end of the current process some of the shortcomings related to Tourism facilities and regarding information will be removed.
What to Buy
Pestil - kömeyi and kuşburnu products which are produced within Gümüşhane, zilli kilim from Kelkit, Hereke type silk and wool carpets from Torul and Kürtün provinces, and wooden products can be purchased.
Don't Leave Without
- Enjoying the excitements of plateau festivals during June, July and August, Eating lunch in Taşköprü Plateau,
- Inhaling thousands of age history in Santa Ruins,
- Having an overnight at Mount Zigana Ski House,
- Tasting tunny fish and regional named meals in restaurant facilities on Trabzon - Gümüşhane Highway main tour route,
- Buying beauty elixir, kuşburnu products, pestil - köme, zilli kilim from Kelkit, Hereke type silk and wool carpets from Torul and Kürtün provinces, and wooden products,
- Seeing Tomara Waterfalls, Çakırkaya Rock Church, Kelkit Sadak (Satala) Antique City, Çakırgöl, İmera Monastery, Kazıkbeli Monumental Trees and National Park (fauna)
Sites
Registered Immobile Cultural and Natural Heritages in Gümüşhane
Sites
Archaeological Sites: 7
Urban Sites: -
Natural Sites: 3
Historical Sites: -
Total: 10 Cultural (at Single Construction Scale) and Natural Heritages: 139
TOTAL: 149
Contact Information
Provincial Cultural Directorate
Tel: (456) 213 34 73
Fax: (456) 213 34 73
Camps
Zigana Tourism Center Gümüşhane
Tel: (456) 611 31 11
Gülaçar Köyü Alabalık Tesisleri Gümüşhane
Tel: (456) 625 75 13
Governorship : (+90-456) 213 10 05
Municipality : (+90-456) 213 10 10
Hospital : (+90-456) 213 15 56
Police : (+90-456) 213 14 67
Gendarme : (+90-456) 213 10 51
Provincial Directorate : (+90-456) 213 34 72
LINKS
The Provinces Of 
