ARDAHAN

'Ardahan' (, ''Ardagan''; , ''artaani''; ) is a city in north-eastern Turkey on the Georgian border.
(See 'Ardahan Province' for more information about the surrounding district and the history of the area).

Contents

Life in Ardahan

Places of interest

Well-known residents

External links

Significant Days

Life in Ardahan

Ardahan is really a small town high in the mountains, the smallest provincial capital in Turkey and indeed until 1993 it was a small town in the province of Kars. Since the district was made a province there was been new investment in government buildings and services but life in the cold, cold hills of Ardahan, which spends half the year under snow, is still a struggle. There are hotels mainly used by truck drivers and other travellers crossing into Georgia.
Kars Kafkas University has an institute in Ardahan and there is a sizeable military presence. The civil servants, academics and military officers stationed here all help to support the local economy. These people have their own clubs and guest houses, while in the town itself there are few social and cultural amenities apart from two or three cake shops and a kebab restaurant. Shopping is also limited.
This area is renowned for its hard yellow cheese kaşar and its geese.

Places of interest

The city is renowned for its castle. The surrounding region has ski resorts and other medieval castles.

Well-known residents

★ Hülya Avşar - actress, singer and TV presenter

★ Nuray Hafiftaş

External links

★ Ardahan Picture Gallery

★ Governor's Office

★ International web portal of Turks from Ardahan

★ local information

★ Armenian History and Presence in Ardahan

Significant Days

'Local Days of Celebration'

★ Freedom Day - 23 February

★ Commemoration day for Çanakkale Victory - 18 March

★ Commemoration day for Air Force Martyrs - 21 March

★ Seljuq Conquest of Ardahan - 24 June

★ Ram Introduction - 10 October
'Festivals'

★ Festival of Animals and Animal Products - 20 August

★ Goose Festival - 18 November