Bingöl is a small provincial city in eastern Turkey, nestled among the rugged Taurus mountains at approximately 1,100 metres elevation. Known for its pristine river valleys, ancient fortress ruins, world-renowned mountain honey, and the dramatic Göynük Canyon, Bingöl offers authentic eastern Anatolian culture well off the standard tourist trail.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Bingöl.
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1
Urartian Kingdom influence; traces found in nearby highland settlements
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2
Roman and then Byzantine control over trade routes through the upper Euphrates
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3
Arab-Byzantine frontier zone; region changes hands multiple times
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4
Battle of Manzikert; Seljuk Turks defeat Byzantines, opening Anatolia to Turkish settlement
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5
Region under various Turkmen principalities; Mongol invasions briefly disrupted the area
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6
Çapakçur (Bingöl) incorporated into the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Selim I
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7
Turkish War of Independence; region integrated into the Turkish Republic in 1923
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8
Province renamed 'Bingöl' by official decree; capital established at Çapakçur
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9
Bingöl earthquake (Mw 6.4) kills 177 people, destroys hundreds of buildings; city largely rebuilt
Historical sites
Places where Bingöl's past comes alive.
Historic
Bingöl Castle Ruins
Where: East of city centre
Admission: Free
Historic
Adakale Ruins
Where: South Bingöl Province
Admission: Free
Historic
Bingöl Museum
Where: City centre
Admission: TRY 30 (~$0.90 USD)