Archaeology in a Museum and at a Site

The Kilis Museum displays numerous finds recovered during excavations at Oylum Höyük. After restoration, the museum opened to visitors on October 1, 2021. At Oylum Höyük itself, a visitor reception area, footpaths and rest areas have been set up. This means two different ways of experiencing archaeology are available side by side: in the museum, you encounter the recovered objects as a collection; at Oylum Höyük, you can explore the areas of the site set up for visitors. This distinction helps you choose the focus of your visit without treating the museum and the excavation site as the same thing.

A Museum with a Biographical Perspective

The Prof. Dr. Alaeddin Yavaşca Museum offers a different perspective. It preserves 143 personal items from Yavaşca's life and professional career. Unlike archaeological finds, the focus here is on one person's life and career; the collection gives the museum a biographical emphasis. The building also has its own distinctive character: it reflects Kilis's traditional architecture. In this way, the story of a person and an architectural expression of the city come together, while the Kilis Museum displays numerous finds from excavations.

Mosques and Preserved Buildings

Religious buildings offer another perspective on Kilis. Ulu Cami is the city's oldest and largest mosque and is located in the Hacı Gümüş quarter. Canbolat Paşa Tekke Camii stands in Cumhuriyet Square and is the central building of the Canbolat Paşa complex. Ulu Cami can be understood in terms of its age, size and location, while Tekke Camii is distinguished by its central position within the complex. At the Kilis Mevlevihane in Tekke Mahallesi, Cumhuriyet Alanı, only the mescit and semahane remain today. The three buildings thus offer different points of reference: a mosque's standing, a building's place within a complex, and the surviving structures of a mevlevihane.

Aidesim: Basilica and Mosaic Floor

Another archaeological highlight is the Aidesim Basilica in Oylum Mahallesi, in central Kilis. It is an early Christian basilica dating from the 6th century and has a mosaic floor. This dated building, with its specific architectural feature, complements the finds displayed at the Kilis Museum. The archaeological site can be visited Tuesday through Sunday, from 08:00 to 17:00, after contacting the Kilis Museum Directorate; it is closed on Mondays. Confirm your visit and the opening hours with the Museum Directorate before setting out.

An Annual Event in April

Lebeniye Day takes place every year on the last Friday in April at the foot of Oylum Höyük. If you are travelling in spring, you can take this date into account when planning your trip. For specific travel plans, it is advisable to check the event details in advance.

Getting to Kilis

Kilis is readily accessible by both road and air, and has road connections from the surrounding provinces. Gaziantep Airport is the nearest airport to Kilis, 46 kilometres away. This gives you two different reference points for planning your journey: road connections from the surrounding provinces or the location of the nearest airport.

Discover more destinations: Kilis, Batman, Aksaray, Niğde, Ankara, Malatya, Tunceli, Van.

For the wider travel overview: Anatolia.