Historic & Cultural in Kars: Top Places

Historic & Cultural

Tiknis Castle, located in Kalkankale Village of Akyaka district in Kars, was built in the Middle Ages by Armenian Bagratid kings to defend their capital Ani from the north. Constructed from neatly cut basalt stones and featuring a three-wall system, the castle shares architectural similarities with the Ani archaeological site. Although almost intact at the beginning of the 20th century, the castle is now largely in ruins.

Historic & Cultural

Historic & Cultural

Historic & Cultural

Historic & Cultural

Historic & Cultural

Historic & Cultural

The Cathedral of Ani is the largest standing building in Ani, the capital city of medieval Bagratid Armenia, located in present-day eastern Turkey, on the border with modern Armenia. Its construction was completed in the early 11th century by the architect Trdat and it was the seat of the Catholicos, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, for nearly half a century. In 1064, following the Seljuk conquest of Ani, the cathedral was converted into a mosque.

The Citadel in Kars, also known as Kars Castle, is a historic fortification situated on a rocky hill overlooking the city. It was first built in 1153 and later rebuilt in 1579 under the orders of Ottoman Sultan Murad III. The castle has been destroyed and reconstructed multiple times throughout its history, with the current structure dating back to 1855. Kars Castle is located on a hill north of the Kars River and is a prominent feature of the city's skyline. Inside the castle, there are remnants of military structures, an armory, and a mosque. Within walking distance are the Cathedral of Ani (739 m) and the Church of St Gregory of Abughamrens (680 m).

Historic & Cultural

Historic & Cultural

Historic & Cultural

Horomos, also known as Horomosivank, Ghoshavank, Hochavank or Khosha Vank, is a medieval Armenian monastic complex about 15 kilometers northeast of the ruins of Ani—the capital of Bagratid Armenia—) in present-day eastern Turkey which got abandoned and ruined due to the Armenian Genocide in 1915. With its collection of churches, chapels and tombs, Horomos has been described as one of the most significant spiritual and cultural religious centers in medieval Armenia and one of the largest in all the Christian East.

Historic & Cultural

The Castle of Kars is a former fortification located in Kars, Turkey. It is also known under the name İç Kale.

Historic & Cultural

Bardız Castle or Bardisi Castle is a castle from the Middle Ages, inherited from Georgians in the historical Tao region. Today it is in Gaziler village of Şenkaya district. It is also known as Bardusi Castle and Gaziler Castle.

Historic & Cultural

The Bagnayr Monastery is a monastery in Kozluca, Kars, 7 kilometers northwest of Ani, built in the 11th century CE. It was "one of the most renowned monastic complexes in medieval Armenia". The monastery was standing at the end of the 19th century, but is now almost completely in ruins.

Historic & Cultural

Historic & Cultural

Historic & Cultural

Alperenler Tomb, located in Kars Merkez, is a historical site situated on the slope of Kars Castle. This tomb houses the graves of two soldiers, Halil and Teyfik, who were among the first Alperens to be martyred while fighting in Khorasan to facilitate the Seljuks' entry into Anatolia. The tomb is within walking distance of Kars Castle (82 m), İlbeyoğlu Muradiye Bath (64 m), and Mazlum Ağa Bath (215 m).