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ARTVIN
A
winding drive midway up a Mountainside takes you to
Artvin, the capital of the province. At the foot of
the escarpment, a ruined 16th-century castle crowns a
rocky outcrop. Artvin is a charming city with
beautiful old Turkish houses, typical of the region.
The area's mild climate makes summer visits
delightfully refreshing and every June, crowds of
tourists, as well as brightly-clad locals, throng to
the Kafkasör festival, where the spectacle of fighting
bulls highlights the celebration. The adventurous
might like to attempt white-water rafting on the wild,
romantic Coruh River. During the Middle Ages the
Artvin area came under Georgian sovereignty, which
makes it the best place for touring remains of the
Georgian past. Its wonderfully scenic roads lead to
the ruined churches and settlements that stand as a
legacy of this period. The best-preserved of these are
at Barhal and lshan, in the majestic Kackar Mountains.
Barhal also offers some of the best country horseback
riding. Several other churches in Bagbasi and
Camliyamac are just off the road to Erzurum, passing
by the Tortum Waterfalls and the pristine Tortum Lake.
Other Georgian churches and settlements near Yusufeli
are Dörtkilise, Köprügören, and Tekkale. Yusufeli
itself boasts wonderful possibilities for nature
lovers and hiking at 4000 meters. East of Artvin is
the former Georgian capital Ardanuc with its famous
castle, which overlooks the longest canyon in the
region
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