29/1/2008
KARS
Category: Belirtilmemiş
KARS
The city of Kars is located at an altitude of 1,750 meters (5,741 ft), to the northeast of Erzurum close to the borders of Georgia and Armenia. Although it is not the highest city in Turkey, Kars has the bad reputation of being the coldest city in the country with temperatures dropping to minus 30 degrees Celsius (- 22 F) during the winter season. Situated 55 km/ 34 miles southwest of Kars at an altitude of 2,634 m/ 8,641 ft is Sarıkamış, a ski center with ideal snow qualified with international standards, set in a scenic pine forest (ski season lasts from mid December till the end of April).
After different periods of occupations, at the beginning of the 10th century, Kars became the seat of the Armenian Bagratid Kingdom until it was supplanted by Ani as the capital. Later it fell into the hands of the Seljuks and the Georgians. After the Ottoman conquest in 1514, Kars became an important fortified place near the Russian border. It was besieged many times by the Russians and was conquered by them during the Crimean War (1853-56), becoming the center of the Turko-Russian war. Given back to the Turks, it was again occupied between 1878 and 1920, when it was granted to Turkey by the Treaty of Andrinople.
The town, built on a grid plan, reveals a stereotyped architecture left the Russians.
Because of its location amid green pastures, the region of Kars produces an excellent cheese. Kars is also reputed for folk dances, kilims and carpets.
Kars is linked to Ankara by daily flights.
Places of interest:
The Citadel, founded by the Armenians, has a double wall which delimits an inner citadel.
The Church of the Apostles (10th century) is now a museum.
Taşköprü, located in the lower town at the foot of the citadel, is a good example of Ottoman stone bridge. Next to it, there is an old hammam.
The Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum.
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