Bitlis

Ornithology Areas

Nemrut Gölü Bird Area, Sodalıgöl Bird Area and Van Gölü Bird Area are in Bitlis.

Van Closed Basin

Sports Activities

Hunting and Fishing The number of terrestrial hunting animals is abundant in the province. The most convenient hunting grounds of the province are Tatvan - Reşadiye surroundings and Bitlis - Sarıkonak surroundings. For fishing, Van Lake, Nazik Lake and Aygır Lake are the major locations.

Trekking For trekking purposes, the Nemrut Mountain and Süphan Mountain are at the first place in our country.

Ski Center There is a ski center at the Bitlis city center.

Bitlis Ski Center

The climate of the Bitlis Province displays terrestrial characteristics but is actually has a transition climate with the severe and terrestrial climate of the east and the Mediterranean climate. Winter seasons in the province are cold, summers are hot and dry.

History

Bitlis name had been derived from the name “Bedlis” which was the name of the commander who has constructed the castle in the province by the order of Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia. The history of Bitlis extends to the date of BC 2000 and the city contains the traces of Urartu, Asur, Med, Persian, Macedonian, Roman and Byzantine periods.

The most famous local meal of the Bitlis Province is Büryan kebab. This kebab is cooked with the meat of the goat and is only available in months of June, July and August. If you can spare time from sleep, you can eat the local meal “avşor” at 5.00 o’clock in the morning in these months.

The Province of Bitlis provides a rich variety of souvenir options to their visitors. The pileless carpets and carpets painted colorful with root paints, earth potteries and the walking sticks of Ahlat which are famous throughout country are only a small section of these souvenirs. Also Hizan hazelnut, Adilcevaz walnut, Mutki kara hive honey and cube cheese are the major food souvenirs.

Don’t Leave Without

- Visiting Nemrut Mountain and Nemrut Crater Lake,

- Visiting Ahlat Vaults and Seljukian Graveyard,

- Visiting Bitlis Castle, İhlasiye Theological School, Şerefiye Mosque and Vaults,

- Tasting Bitlis Büryan kebab and avşor,

- Buying woven pileless small carpets painted with root paint, Ahlat walking stick, Hizan hazelnut, Adilcevaz walnut, Mutki kara hive honey and cube cheese

Sites

Archeological Sites: 5
Urban Sites: -
Natural Sites: 1
Historical Sites: 1

Other Sites

Archeological+Historical+Urban Sites: 1 Natural+Urban+Archeological Sites: 1
Urban and Archeological Sites: 1
Total: 10
Cultural (at Single Construction Scale) and Natural
Heritages: 430

TOTAL: 440

Contact Information

Provincial Cultural Directorate

Tel: (434) 226 53 00

Fax: (434) 226 53 03

Museum

Ahlat Museum Address: Ahlat - Bitlis Tel: (434) 411 30 89

Governorship : (+90-434) 226 50 00

Municipality : (+90-434) 226 59 00

Hospital : (+90-434) 226 67 00

Police : (+90-434) 226 55 00

Gendarme : (+90-434) 226 56 08

Provincial Directorate : (+90-434) 226 53 04

Tourism Information Office : (+90-434) 827 63 01

Provincial Culture Directorate : (+90-434) 226 53 00

LINKS

OHAL Governorship