Sumala Monastery
The Sumela Monastery is 1600 year old Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, located 1200 meter height on Melá Mountain at Macka region of Trabzon in northeast Turkey. The monastery is constructed on rocks reached by a path through the forest. The Sumela Monastery is one of the oldest and most historic monasteries in the Christian world. The beautiful frescoes dating from the 18th century on the walls of the monastery are biblical scenes of Christ and Virgin Mary. This incredible feat of architecture has changed hands many times over the course of its existence, until it was finally abandoned in 1923. The site was abandoned in 1923 and became a museum and a popular tourist attraction because of its breath-taking location, structure and scenery. Upon arriving at the monastery, the structure appears almost glued to the mountainside. The entrance is reached by climbing a long and narrow stairway where there is a large aqueduct at the top with many arches, which has mostly been restored. Surrounded by the ruins of the monks’ dwellings, the monastery’s main chapel is covered with brilliant frescoes both on the inside and outside. It is an exceptional site not only for the singularity of its construction but also for its magnificence. As to the construction of the Sumela Monastery, the legend says one day the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in a vision to two Athenian monks and asked them to build a monastery in an isolated valley. It is known that l2th century Georgian art produced a number of icons of the Virgin Mary known as Black Madonnas, and these icons found their way into a number of monasteries. Black was used in order to emphasise the mysterious expression on the Virgin’s face. It is also considered that the origins of this Georgian style could be traced to ancient Indian art. If the close proximity of the Sumela Monastery to the Caucasus is considered, then it would be reasonable to assume that this icon is a Black Madonna from which the Sumela Monastery gained its name. Thus, the mountain also became known as Oros Mela (Kara Dağ) because of the Monastery.
Uzungöl
Uzungöl, which is 99 km away from Trabzon and 19 km away from Çaykara district, is at a height of 1090 meters from sea level. The 1625 hectares of the park were designated as a Nature Park in 1989 because of the rich plant life, wildlife and sightseeing potential. The settlement area formed around is called “Uzungöl”, meaning “Long Island”, which attracts the great interest of local and foreign tourists. In addition to the hiking, bird watching and botanical tours of the highest lake of Haldizen Valley and Trabzon, there are also opportunities to arrange spring tours that can be visited by the villages with wooden village villas of the traditional Black Sea architecture besides the natural beauty such as Şekersu, Demirkapı, Yaylaönü and the nearby ponds or the hills between the higher mountains. The dominant tree species is Eastern spruce, and there are also badger, bearded, alder, horn-beam, hazelnut, oak, mountain elm and silver birch trees. Species of animals include mountain goat, roe deer, bear, wolf, wild boar, marten, badger, lynx, jackal, fox, rabbit, squirrel, wild ducks, birds of prey, trout and various kinds of reptiles. The best period to visit Uzungol is between April and October.
Armenians and Georgians settled early in the Pontic Alps, now the Kaçkar, later building wonderful stone monastery churches hidden in the mountains. The area is ethnically mixed; Turkish, Hemşin and Laz languages are still used.
Rising above the Black Sea Coast, the Kaçkar Mountains are a dramatic and inspiring sight as well as one of the best destinations for some serious hiking and camping.
Hiking amid spectacular scenery is what pulls most visitors here. The best time for hiking is between June and September. Other area attractions include white-water rafting, and experiencing the life of the local people, who occupy their high-altitude villages only during the summer months. There are 11 villages and 44 yaylas in the park. (Summer pasture Turkish word is yayla. Seasonal herders living in the East Black Sea Region use the national park as a pastureland. Their housing is of a more permanent style in the yaylas.)
The Kaçkar is one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world. It has huge areas of mature evergreen forest, upland pastures once grazed by herds of bulls, three glaciers and many glacial lakes.
The areas around the River Firtina (Thunder) at the west of the mountains, and the River Hemsin on the east are covered with a rich range of flora. Rhododendrons grow at an altitude of 3000 metres, which is very unusual. There is also a wide variety of wildlife, with wolves, bears, pigs, wild goats, deer, jackals and wild hens.
Because the altitude increases over a relative short distance, there are plateaus with alpine summer villages, many of which have accommodation available for trekkers, and which offer an interesting insight into the cultural and social nature of the region. The village at Ayder Plateau has good facilities and a thermal spring, and is a popular stop on the trekking route. Nature photography, ecotourism, exploring traditional highland life and wildlife, climbing, trekking, heli-skiing are some of the highlights of this area.
It’s well worth spending a few days to explore this stunning region. It is easier to reach from the town of Camlihemsin via Rize, Trabzon and Artvin.
The area was declared a national park in 1994.
Karagol is Borcka, Artvin
A colorful feast is taking place in Karagöl Lake in the Borcka district of Artvin, where autumn begins to manifest itself.
Karagol, 27 kilometers away from the town center, as a result of landslides like some other lakes in the region formed as a result of the closure of a small stream of land mass.
Karagöl, which is one of the indispensables of the nature and nature lovers with its unique nature covered with the surrounding valleys and forests, offers a postcard display to the visitors with the reflection of the green in the summer and the trees in the autumn with dozens of yellow, orange and red tones.
The lake is rich with endemic vegetation and surrounded by massive, magnificent trees. There is a path that you can walk 2,450 meters around the lake, which is about 25 meters deep.
You can rent a boat to visit the lake. There is also a restaurant at which to relax and get a bite to ea.
Ayder Yaylasi
This is maybe the best known yayla(pastureland) in all of Turkey. It features dense forests and is surrounded by waterfalls and is at an altitude of 1,350 mt.
For centuries, the yayla has been used a spot to relax amidst the beautiful spruce, pine and beech treee forests, often from the villages below (and particularly from the village of Hala). There are thermal springs in the plateau that have been in use for millennia by locals for their restorative powers.
There are trails all around this pastureland, stretching into the beauty of the Kaçkar Mountains as you wander past countless plains full of flowers and as well as local pastures full of herbs with medicinal properties known only to locals.
For the past 30 years it’s been a center of tourism, with signs and events organized by the local municipalities to attract people from all over the country and beyond. There are hotel and spa facilities, and the water can reach a temperature of 55 degreesin the summer.
Some of the the best honey in the world also comes from Ayder as the bees feast on the rhododendrons and hives are hung from the trees.
Artvin – Macahel
Macahel or Machakheli in Eastern of Black Sea Region is a historical geographical area and long valley along the river Machakhlistskal between Turkey and Georgia. Also known as Machakheli. The Machakheli valley had been part of the Georgian kingdom until its fragmentation in the late 15th century, later passing into the hands of the Princes of Samtskhe. It was taken by Ottoman Sultan ‘Mehmed II’ in 1479. Soviet Russia signed the Kars agreement in 1921 with Turkey, thus creating the current Turkish-Soviet border. The outcome of the negotiations divided the remote Machakheli valley into two distinct areas, Upper and Lower Machakheli, with Turkey taking control of the upper part of Machakheli valley making up six villages. There are 18 villages in the valley. 6 village is belong to Turkey and 12 village belong to Georgia. The main village of the region is Camili. Camili was the first area in Turkey which was included in UNESCO’s Human and Biosphere Reserve Project.
Macahel or Machakheli is the only place in Turkey which plays host to the particular Caucasian bee species. This bee species can mine deeper into flowers than most other species and therefore can collect the sweetest nectar. They can collect more pollen and produce 1.5 times more honey than the average honeybee.
Turkey Cappadocia Tours by Anas Crecca Travel
Safranbolu
Located in Karabük in the western part of the Black Sea Region, Safranbolu is a typical Ottoman town that has survived to the present day, with the architectural forms of buildings and streets illustrative of their period. At its zenith in the 17th century, Safranbolu’s architecture influenced urban development throughout much of the Ottoman Empire. There are about 2000 homes with elaborate facades built in traditional Ottoman architecture style. Without covering the sunlight and view of the others, all the homes are alines on both hillsides of the town. The city was an important caravan station on the main east–west trade route from the 13th century to the advent of the railway in the early 20th century. Built in 1322, the Old Mosque, Old Bath and Süleyman Paşa Madrasah are the most prominent examples of Ottoman architecture in the city. Besides its historical homes, Safranbolu has a lot to offer for nature lovers. Tokatli Kanyon is a beautiful trekking route by the river from Tokatli Village to Eski Carsi. The best place to view the canyon is from the Cristal Terrace, which is built 80 meters high above the cliff over the beautiful landscape. Safranbolu consists of three distinct historic districts; the market place area of the inner city, known as Çukur, the area of Kıranköy, and Bağlar (the Vineyards). Çukur lies in the lower part of the town and has a triangular shape defined by two rivers. Its centre is the market place, surrounded by the houses and workshops of craftsmen. The segregation of the city centre is very typical for Anatolian cities. Kıranköy was formerly a non-Muslim district, with a socio-architectural pattern similar to that in contemporary European towns, with the artisans and tradesmen living above their shops. The houses in this district are built of stone, in contrast to the wooden houses in Çukur, which illustrates how the separation of Muslim and non-Muslim quarters during the Ottoman Period enabled each community to establish settlements according to their own traditions. (UNESCO)
Amasra
Formerly known as Amastris, Amasra was part of the ancient region of Paphlagonia and was seen worthy of a mention by Homer himself in the Iliad. A Greek colony called Sesamos Amastris (mentioned by Homer) was established here by the 6th century BC, and perhaps earlier. By the Byzantine era, the acropolis of Amasra was changed into a fortress while the church (which still exists today) was built. By the 9th century the town was quite prosperous due to its port, trade and farming. By the 13th century the Black Sea town was first taken over by the Empire of Trebizond and later by the Seljuk Turks. However, when Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II conquered the entirety of the Black Sea coast, Amasra became part of the Ottoman Empire. With its long history of settlement and strategic importance, Amasra is nonetheless relatively isolated from Turkey’s main tourist beats, and all the better for it. While regarded with longing affection by Turkish holidaymakers, it’s low-key in comparison with many Aegean and Mediterranean resorts. Amasra lost its commercial importance to other Black Sea ports, and today it’s a laid-back and very attractive spot to relax. When you continue eastward along the coast you arrives at Cakraz, a typical fishing village with excellent beaches, friendly accommodation and fine restaurants. The winding road between Çakraz and İnebolu has steep mountainsides and offers a spectacular panoramic view.
