72 · City guide
Batman
Province of Hasankeyf, Raman oil and the Tigris
Batman is a young city that became a province in 1990; its growth accelerated in the mid-20th century with the oil found on Mount Raman and the refinery built there. The province's best-known stop is Hasankeyf on the banks of the Tigris: old Hasankeyf, an important city in the Artuqid and Ayyubid periods, was largely submerged when the Ilısu Dam began impounding water in 2020. Structures such as the Zeynel Bey Tomb, the minaret of the Er-Rızk Mosque and the Artuqid Hammam were moved to the cultural park in new Hasankeyf, while the upper part of the castle rock still rises above the lake. The Batman Museum in the city center displays finds from excavations in and around Hasankeyf. To the north, the mountainous areas of Sason and Kozluk are known for their honey and strawberries, and Gercüş for its vineyards.
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Practical information
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.- Note
- The current status of the structures and boat tours in Hasankeyf may change; check with local sources before your visit. Ask about road and security conditions before heading to rural and mountainous areas
- Climate
- Continental climate; summers are hot and dry, winters cold and wet
- Best time
- April–May and September–October; midsummer is very hot
- Getting there
- Batman Airport is about 7 km from the city center; there are road connections toward Diyarbakır, Siirt and Mardin–Midyat
- Getting around
- The museum and parks are in the city center; Hasankeyf is about 40 km to the southeast, reached by dolmuş (shared minibus) or private car