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Ağrı is a city that should be seen with its invaluable natural and historical beauties, especially İshak Pasha Palace, which carries its visitors to the fabulous world of the East, Ağrı Mountain, the second birthplace of humanity and the source of countless legends, where the Prophet Noah set foot, and the ruins of the Urartians, one of the oldest civilizations in history.

Doğubayazıt

The district where the Gürbulak Border Gate is located is also one of the most important stopovers for those who visit Ağrı. The district, where Ağrı Mountain and the Meteor Pit are located, is home to the four important historical values of the region, İshak Paşa Palace, Doğubayazıt Castle (Urartu Castle), Old Bayazıt Mosque and Ahmed-i Hani Tomb. In order to see Ağrı Mountain among the historical heritage that are close enough to each other to fit in a single frame, it is enough to look at the Palace from Doğubayazıt direction.                  

Ağrı Mountain

Ağrı Mountain (Ağrı Dağı) is the highest point in both Türkiye and Europe with a height of 5137 meters. There are many legends about the mountain, which is also mentioned in the Old Testament. Prof. Frederik Von Parot is the first person who climbed to the summit of the mountain on 9 October 1829, for which Marco Polo said, “no one will ever climb there”. The mountain, which has permanent glaciers on its summit, is regularly climbed on every year.

Small Ağrı Mountain and Serdarbulak Highland are located on the east side of Ağrı Mountain. The closest settlement to the mountain is Doğubayazıt. 

İshak Paşa Palace

The magnificent palace, which is the most important Ottoman building in the region, is located on a hill overlooking Doğubayazıt and is one of the most visited points in the region. It is five kilometers from Doğubayazıt district center. The architecture of the palace, which spans an area of 7,600 square meters, is influenced by Seljuk, Persian, and Ottoman architecture. Attracting attention especially with its ornaments and reliefs, the palace was built by taking Topkapı Palace as an example and was used as an administrative center of the region for about 200 years. In addition to its 366 rooms, the palace consists of sections such as a harem, selamlık, courtyard, mosque, tomb, meal center, kitchen, Turkish bath, banquet hall, madrasa, administration rooms, and dungeon. 

Doğubayazıt Castle (Urartian Castle)

It is in a place called Belleburç, in the northeast of Eski Bayazıt, five kilometers east of Doğubayazıt. The castle, whose builder is unknown, was used and expanded by various civilizations. Although it needs restoration today, its location on the cliffs reflects the splendor of the castle. Inside the castle, there are Urartian Rock Tombs and architectural remains from ancient times. There are caves and the remains of a temple in the middle of the castle. The castle, which was also used during the Seljuk and Ottoman times, is also known as the Urartian Castle. 

Old Beyazid Mosque 

The mosque, which was built next to Doğubayazıt Castle after the region joined the Ottoman lands with the Çaldıran War in 1514, belongs to Selim I period. It has a central dome and a single minaret. After the slope on which the mosque is located was leveled, a flat terrace was formed by building a wall and this mosque was built on the terrace. The mosque, made of cut stone, has a simple architecture and is the oldest mosque in Doğubayazıt. It is also known as Cami-i Gevher Digar or Shafii Mosque.

Ahmed-i Hani Tomb

There is also a mosque next to the tomb built in the name of the Kurdish writer, astronomer, poet, historian and Islamic scholar Ahmed-i Hani, who lived in the 17th century, especially known for his work Zin û Mim. The tomb, which attracts many visitors, is eight kilometers from Doğubayazıt. 

Trail of Noah’s Ark 

This is the place where the ship is believed to be stranded, located 3.5 km from the Türkiye-Iran transit road, south of Ağrı Mountain, between Telçeker Village and Mesar Village.

According to the religious writings, Ağrı Mountain is the place where Noah’s Ark rested after the Great Flood. It is believed that the areas called Noah’s Lost City and the Trail of Noah’s Ark are the places where this sacred narrative took place. 

Hamur Tomb

Located in Hamur district. Built by İbrahim Pasha in 1802 during the Ottoman period, the tomb consists of two parts. The tomb in the entrance courtyard belongs to Yusuf Bey, brother of İbrahim Pasha.

Hamur Tomb (Hamur Kümbeti), which shows that the ancient Turkish and Iranian tomb tradition continues until recently, distinguishes from the Seljuk tombs in terms of architecture. The body of the tomb, whose entrance door is wooden, is rectangular. 

Meya Caves

Located in Günbuldu Village, 12 km away from Diyadin district center, Meya Cave (Meya Mağarası) is an ancient settlement and civilization center carved into rocks. In the caves bearing the traces of different beliefs and cultures, stone sculptures with horse, ram and sheep motifs were found next to water channels, tombs, church ruins. 

Toprakkale Mosque

Some wall remains and bastions of the castle, which is in Toprakkale Village near Eleşkirt district and known to have been built in the Urartian period, have survived to the present day. The mosque is located on the skirts of the tumulus, a building with 12.5 x 12.5 m square plan, pointed arch, single dome, and no minaret. 

Aznavur Tepe Ruins

It is also known as Patnos Castle. Aznavur Tepe, an ancient city from the Urartian period, is one of the most important ruins of the Urartians with its architecture. 

Girik Tepe Ruins

Girik Tepe is one of the oldest historical ruins in Ağrı and is located 1 km southeast of Patnos. Girik Tepe was established during the times of King Menua and his son 1st Argişti during the Urartian period. It is also known as Değirmen Tepe. The hill is a 15-meter-high tumulus.