Province · Anatólia Oriental

Elazığ

Elazığ has the high town of Harput, with a castle, a mosque with a leaning minaret and a Syriac church, Lake Hazar between mountains, the Keban dam, and a cuisine known for its meatballs.

In the photo: Harput Castle, Elazığ

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Elazığ

Elazığ was founded in the 19th century at the foot of Harput, the old town that sits on the hill above. Harput became a neighborhood of open-air monuments: the castle, also called Süt Kalesi (Milk Castle) because of a legend about its construction, the Ulu Camii with its leaning minaret, the Syriac church of Meryem Ana, and tombs, baths and old houses scattered across the hill.

Lake Hazar, about 30 km to the south, lies between mountains and offers beaches, boat trips and waterfront restaurants near Sivrice. To the north and east of the city, the Keban dam created a large lake on the Euphrates.

Food is one of Elazığ's strengths. Harput köftesi, a meat-and-wheat meatball, appears everywhere, and the city has a street of köfte houses. Orcik, walnuts threaded on a string and coated with grape syrup, is the sweet to take home, and in Palu the roast kid with peppers (Palu tava) spends hours in the oven.

The Çayda Çıra dance, performed with lit candles in the hands, is the region's best known. Elazığ has an airport and serves as a gateway to Tunceli and the Munzur valley to the north, and to Malatya to the west.

When to go

May, June and September usually have pleasant days for Harput and Lake Hazar. July and August are hot and dry, the bathing season on the lake. Winter is cold, with snow more frequent in Harput, which is at a higher elevation than the city.

Getting there

Elazığ Airport (EZS) handles domestic flights and is close to the city. Harput is about 5 km from the centre by road, and Lake Hazar about 30 km to the south. There are buses to Malatya, Diyarbakır and Tunceli, and the city has a railway station.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Elazığ

How much time to allow for Harput?

Half a day allows you to see the castle, the Ulu Camii, the church of Meryem Ana and the viewpoints. Many visitors have lunch in the neighbourhood itself, looking over the plain.

Can you swim in Lake Hazar?

Yes, in summer, at organised beaches on the shore, especially near Sivrice. Outside July and August the water is usually cold.

What to eat in Elazığ?

Harput köftesi, içli köfte, Palu roast kid and, for dessert, orcik and dolanger. To take home, walnuts in grape syrup and the bazaar's dried sweets.

Is Elazığ a good base for Tunceli?

Yes. Elazığ Airport is the most used to reach Tunceli and the Munzur valley, and there are frequent minibuses between the two towns.