In Bingöl, early Christian cave spaces meet medieval castle ruins, a historic mosque and striking rock formations. Waterfalls, thermal springs and the Hesarek ski facilities are also among the region’s attractions. Each place and theme tells a different story: from the use of underground spaces and fortified settlements to a landscape shaped by wind and water.
Caves and Historic Traces
The Zağ Caves in Bingöl Kuşburnu date back to the beginning of the 5th century AD. Their classification as part of Late Antiquity in the early Christian period, more specifically the late Roman–early Byzantine period, provides the historical context for the cave spaces. Christian communities are thought to have used them as secret settlements, living quarters and places of worship while under pressure from the Roman Empire. This suggested use remains an interpretation; it is precisely this that makes the spaces a place where history meets questions about the everyday lives of earlier communities.
For directions, take the Bingöl–Solhan–Muş road towards the turnoff for the Gökçeli–Kuşburnu village road, which leads to the caves. In Bingöl itself, Bingöl Castle (Simani) lies about one kilometre northeast of the centre, on a hill 30 to 35 metres high. Gayt Castle, by contrast, is in the Çayboyu area north of the centre, near the Bingöl River. This medieval castle and settlement ruin can be identified by its polygonal layout and its two-metre-wide defensive walls, supported by towers. The two castle sites thus offer different points of reference: the hilltop setting at Simani and the shape of the surviving fortifications at Gayt.
The İsfahan Bey Mosque stands in Aşağı Çarşı, in central Bingöl. It is considered the only historic mosque in the city centre; its exact year of construction is unknown. Alongside the castle ruins, it adds another way to explore Bingöl’s architectural history, without assuming a specific date for the mosque’s construction.
Rock Formations and Water
The Buban Fairy Chimneys are in the village of Oğuldere, part of Sancak Belde in Bingöl. Their resemblance to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia in Nevşehir district is particularly striking. One possible explanation for their formation is that floodwater and wind eroded the tuff bedrock, shaping pointed rock formations reminiscent of fairy chimneys. This account of their formation is presented as a theory. The comparison with Cappadocia refers to the similarity of the formations, not to the same place of origin.
The Çır Waterfall reveals another dimension of the landscape. Water falls from the approximately 100-metre-high Çir Taşı rock, plunges around 50 metres and flows into Uzundere Stream, named after the village of Uzundere. The waterfall is eight kilometres from the centre of Ilıca Bucağı in Bingöl. The figures for the rock’s height and the waterfall’s drop describe two different measurements: the rock itself and the water’s subsequent fall.
Hesarek and the Kös Thermal Springs
The Hesarek ski facilities are in the village of Dikme, in the Hesarek area, 34 kilometres from the centre of Bingöl. A municipal description dated 9 September 2021 lists three slopes: a 1,200-metre telesiyej slope, a 1,000-metre teleski slope and a 200-metre baby-lift slope. The same description gives the ski season as lasting four to five months; the actual duration may depend on snow conditions, and this does not refer to a specific season in a current year.
The Kös Thermal Springs offer a different perspective on the region. A municipal description dated 9 September 2021 identifies the Bingöl–Karlıova road as the route to the springs in both summer and winter. Check road access before your trip. The description lists a motel, a hotel, a guesthouse, three swimming pools, a restaurant, a tea garden and a car park on the grounds; two of the three pools are marked as closed. As this information may change, check which facilities are currently available before visiting.
The composition of the thermal water is also described: according to analyses carried out, it belongs to the group of waters containing bicarbonate, carbon dioxide and carbonate. The anions chloride, sulfate and silicate, as well as the cations iron and aluminium, are also listed. This information adds a natural-history aspect to a visit, alongside the ski slopes, caves, buildings and distinctive rock formations that each give Bingöl its own character.
Discover more destinations: Çayağzı, Bingöl, Kalkanlı, Sancak, Topraklık Köyü, Yiğitler Köyü, Nevşehir, Batman.
See the broader travel overview: Anatolia.
