Area: 5.576 km²

Population: 133.756 (2000)

Traffic Code: 75

Ardahan is one of the border provinces at the East Anatolia Region of Türkiye, it is famous with appearance silhouette of Atatürk on Damal Dağları (mountains) in the border of the province. Each year between the dates 20 June - 20 July silhouette of Atatürk appears at 18:05 after a few minutes, it removes. At that times Damal festival assembled at Ardahan by pursuing Atatürk on the shadows of his silhouette.

Districts: Ardahan (center), Çıldır, Damal, Göle, Hanak, Posof.

Ardahan Castle It was revealed by the prehistoric researches that the first settlements to the Ardahan castle was dated to First Bronze Age (BC. 3500 - 2000). The castle built by the order of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in the middle of 16th century (1544) at the Ottoman Period.

Posof Center Mosque can be mentioned as one of the most important mosques of city.

PRESERVED AREAS

Aras basin

Ardahan province is under the effects of hard terrestrial climate, winter takes so long and cold.

History

Scientific excavation processes showed that the first human settlement in Ardahan started at Ancient Age. After the dominance of Med’s and Persians, Rome and Byzantine take control of region. Province conquered by Seljuklians in 1067.

Tasting unmatched, delicious trout’s cooked with local product butter, and serviced at the restaurants which shows regional properties. Local meals of Ardahan province are various and have enough quality for your eating pleasure.

Rugs and carpets of the Ardahan province are famous with the care of production and motifs and these beautiful hand made rugs can be find in various pattern and colors at rug stores. At the gift shops and stores, various hand made goods originated to Ardahan province can be bought

- Seeing Ardahan Castle, Posof Savaşır Village Castle, fountains of Posof,

- Visiting Çıldır Şeytan Castle, antic mosques of Çıldır,

- Seeing silhouette of Atatürk on Mount Daman,

- Watching setting Sun at Çıldır, ,

- Seeing Çıldır Aktaş Lake, eating trout of lake

Registered Immobile Cultural and Natural Heritages in Ardahan
Sites

Archaeological Sites: 8
Urban Sites: -
Natural Sites: 2
Historical Sites: 1

Other Sites

Archaeological and Natural Sites: 1
Total: 12
Cultural (at Single Construction Scale) and Natural Heritages: 71
TOTAL: 83