23 · City guide
Elazığ
City of Harput, Lake Hazar and Keban
Elazığ is a province in the Upper Euphrates basin, bordered by the Keban Dam reservoir to the north and the Karakaya Dam reservoir to the west. The historic core of the city is Harput, on the hill overlooking the plain: with its castle in use since the Urartian period, the Artuqid-era Ulu Mosque with its leaning minaret, the Arap Baba Tomb and its Ottoman mosques, Harput was the center of the region before present-day Elazığ was founded on the plain in the 19th century. To the southeast, Hazar Lake in Sivrice is a tectonic lake in the source area of the Tigris; its shores welcome those seeking coolness in summer, while Mount Hazarbaba opposite hosts skiers in winter. The districts on the shores of the Keban Dam reservoir, Palu's castle and Ağın's leblebi (roasted chickpeas) show the province's different faces. In the Kapalı Çarşı (Covered Bazaar) you will find orcik, roasted almonds and dried fruit; Harput köftesi (meatballs) and Palu tava are well-known dishes of the cuisine.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.20
Places
0
Routes
0
Badges
Where shall we explore?
- Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.
Bridge
Ağın (Karamağara) Bridge
Ağın, Elazığ
A 520-meter cable-stayed bridge over the Keban Dam Lake, opened in 2015, named after the submerged Roman-period Karamağara Bridge.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Mosque
Alacalı Mosque (Harput)
Merkez, Elazığ
A small mosque in Harput built in the Artuqid period in 1203–1204, named after its two-colored cut-stone decoration.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Tomb (türbe)
Arap Baba Masjid and Tomb
Merkez, Elazığ
A place of pilgrimage in Harput built in the last quarter of the 13th century, known for its tomb, popularly believed to belong to Arap Baba, and its masjid.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Monument and statue
Balak Gazi Monument and Viewing Terrace
Merkez, Elazığ
A monument in the park dedicated to the Artuqid Bey Belek (Balak) Gazi in Harput, and a viewing terrace overlooking Harput.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Cave
Buzluk Cave (Ice Cave)
Merkez, Elazığ
A cave on the Harput plateau that freezes in summer but has no ice in winter, referred to as the only example of its kind in Türkiye.
- Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.
Museum
Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum
Merkez, Elazığ
An archaeology, ethnography and carpet-kilim museum on the Fırat University campus, opened in 1982 with finds from the Keban and Karakaya dam rescue excavations.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Castle
Harput Castle (Süt Kalesi)
Merkez, Elazığ
A historic castle on the steep cliffs of the Harput plateau, dominating the Elazığ plain, with origins going back to the Urartians; also known as the 'Süt Kalesi' (Milk Castle).
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Historic street and neighborhood
Historic Town of Harput
Merkez, Elazığ
An old town built on a plateau 8 km north of Elazığ, explored like an open-air museum with its mosques, tombs, church and baths; added to the UNESCO Tentative List in 2018.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Mosque
Harput Ulu Mosque (Grand Mosque)
Merkez, Elazığ
One of the oldest mosques in Anatolia, built in the mid-12th century in the reign of the Artuqid ruler Fahreddin Karaarslan, known for its leaning brick minaret.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Lake
Lake Hazar
Sivrice, Elazığ
A tectonic lake formed on the East Anatolian Fault Line, considered one of the sources of the Tigris, known for its beaches, boat tours and the submerged 'Sunken City'.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Ski resort
Hazarbaba Ski Center
Sivrice, Elazığ
A winter sports center on the slope of Mount Hazarbaba at about 1,850 meters, with runs overlooking Lake Hazar.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Mosque
İzzet Paşa Mosque
Merkez, Elazığ
The city's large mosque on Gazi Caddesi in central Elazığ, first built in 1866 by Governor Ahmet İzzet Paşa and rebuilt in 1967–1972.
- Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.
Picnic area
Kalecik Dam Lake and Recreation Area
Karakoçan, Elazığ
A dam lake built over the old village of Kalecik, 3 km from Karakoçan, with a recreation area laid out around it.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Reservoir and pond
Keban Dam and Dam Lake
Keban, Elazığ
The Keban Dam on the Euphrates, built between 1966 and 1974 as one of Türkiye's first giant dams, and its dam lake of about 675 km².
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Mosque
Kurşunlu Mosque (Harput)
Merkez, Elazığ
An Ottoman-period mosque built in Harput in 1739, known for its old minbar and the monumental plane trees in its courtyard.
- Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.
Architecture
Maden Historic Government House and Clock Tower
Maden, Elazığ
A government house built in 1762 in the reign of Mustafa III and referred to as Türkiye's oldest civil administration building, with the 1898 clock tower beside it.
- Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.
Church
Church of the Virgin Mary (Harput)
Merkez, Elazığ
A Syriac church built beneath the castle rock east of Harput Castle, whose inscription mentions the date AD 179.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Castle
Palu Castle
Palu, Elazığ
A castle on a steep rock on the banks of the Murat River, known for its cuneiform inscription from the reign of the Urartian king Menua, rock tunnels and stairs.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Mosque
Sarahatun Mosque
Merkez, Elazığ
A Harput mosque built in the 15th century in the name of Sâre Hatun, mother of the Akkoyunlu ruler Uzun Hasan, repaired in 1585.
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.Museum
Şefik Gül Culture House
Merkez, Elazığ
A culture house next to the Harput Ulu Mosque, created by restoring a late-18th-century mansion, presenting Harput life and music.
Practical information
Machine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.- Note
- Restoration may be ongoing at some historic buildings affected by the 2020 Sivrice and 2023 earthquakes; check the current status before your visit
- Climate
- Continental climate; thanks to the dam reservoirs, winters are milder than in neighboring provinces
- Best time
- May–October; December–March for skiing at Hazarbaba
- Getting there
- Elazığ Airport is close to the city; there are road connections from Malatya, Bingöl, Diyarbakır and Tunceli, as well as a railway connection
- Getting around
- Buses in the city; Harput is on the hill just northeast of the city. Private car or district minibuses for Hazar Lake and Keban