Erzincan sits at a tectonic crossroads — the North Anatolian Fault runs directly beneath the city, which was largely destroyed by the 1939 earthquake (the deadliest in Turkish history). The rebuilt city is therefore modern, but the surrounding province is ancient: Urartian sites, Mengücek Seljuk castles, Byzantine gorge-villages and Munzur’s untouched mountain wilderness.
The region is also the gateway to the wild Munzur Valley, a national park with brown bears, lynx and the Anatolian wolf — one of the last intact Anatolian highland ecosystems.
- Region
- Eastern Anatolia / Euphrates Headwaters
- Key site
- Kemaliye — cliff-village on the Euphrates gorge
- Wildlife
- Munzur Valley — brown bear, Anatolian wolf, lynx
- Known for
- Kemaliye, Munzur NP, Divriği access, tarhana soup
Kemaliye (Eğin)
Kemaliye, the old town of Eğin, is one of Turkey’s most extraordinary surviving Ottoman villages — a dense collection of stone-and-timber houses terraced into the steep walls of the Euphrates canyon at 1,100 m altitude. The village is connected to the outside world by a single tunnel road blasted through 1,500 m of solid rock in 1988. Before that, access was by boat or a three-day mountain path. The village produced notable Ottoman poets and scholars; its Sürmeliler Konağı (a restored Ottoman konak) is a museum. The gorge views and the preserved historic fabric are remarkable.
Munzur Valley National Park
Munzur Valley National Park, 40 km north of Tunceli city (accessible from Erzincan via the Tunceli road), is one of Turkey’s most biodiverse and least-visited national parks. The Munzur River carves through a limestone gorge; the park harbours brown bears, Anatolian wolves, wild boar, golden eagles and rare Anatolian leopard sightings. The Munzur springs at the park’s head are a sacred Alevi pilgrimage site. Trekking routes follow the valley floor; the upper yayla pastures are accessible in summer.
Divriği Ulu Camii (UNESCO)
The Divriği Ulu Camii and Darüşşifa (Great Mosque and Hospital, 1228–1229) is one of the most extraordinary works of Islamic architecture in the world — a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose three stone portals are carved with an unparalleled explosion of geometric and floral decoration, unlike anything else in Anatolian Seljuk art. Located in Divriği (Sivas province, 130 km west of Erzincan), it is most easily visited as a day trip from Erzincan by train (3 hrs) or car. The interior vaulting is equally exceptional — five different vault types in a single prayer hall.
Tercan Castle & Mama Hatun Kümbeti
Tercan, 80 km east of Erzincan on the Erzurum road, has two significant Mengücek Seljuk monuments: the round Mama Hatun Mausoleum (12th century) — one of the largest and most unusual Anatolian Seljuk mausoleums, with a circular outer wall and a domed inner chamber — and the Mengücek castle above the Euphrates gorge. The castle-and-mausoleum combination on the Silk Road is a compelling stop between Erzincan and Erzurum.
Erzincan province in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Erzincan
3Fly from Istanbul to Erzincan Airport (1.5 hrs, regular Turkish Airlines/Pegasus flights). Erzincan is also served by the Ankara-Erzurum train line, which passes Divriği — the train is scenic and practical for combining both destinations. Alternatively, drive from Erzurum (2.5 hrs west) or Sivas (3 hrs northwest).
Yes — if you value remote, authentic Ottoman village architecture and dramatic gorge scenery. Kemaliye receives very few international visitors. The tunnel road into the canyon is itself remarkable. Allow a full day from Erzincan (1.5 hrs each way). Stay overnight in Kemaliye if possible — the evening light on the canyon is spectacular.
Yes. Divriği is 130 km west of Erzincan. The train (Erzincan–Sivas) stops at Divriği in about 3 hours — this is the most scenic route. By car it's 2 hours on good roads. The Ulu Camii is the sole reason to visit the town and it justifies the journey completely — it is one of the world's great medieval buildings.