Eastern Black Sea Region has always been a geography that we have dreamed of going to for many years, but postponed because of the many places to visit, saying ‘three days is not enough, the Black Sea cannot be visited in four days’.. After a while, our curiosity to explore overcame time-oriented reservations.. This time, we left the prejudices behind, we set out by saying where do we not visit in three days?. In particular, we learned in the best way, in a reality that feels like a dream, in dozens of shades of green, that thanks to very affordable plane tickets, except for the highland season, it is possible to tour the Eastern Black Sea Region in three days.
Eastern Black Sea was very good for us; we are free from stress and chaos, we are renewed. The nature of this place is different, for the first time, green tones accompany people, not buildings.. So generous is the Black Sea; Your travels are a bit incomplete without drinking the blood red tea, hugging the trees, swinging in the highlands, healing with its custard, beans and pita, resting in the voice of Storm, cheering up with its melodies.. So believe us and don’t delay. If you want to see it, buy your plane ticket to Trabzon and set off.. Rent your car from the airport; If you are going to travel to the plateau, remember that you can manage with a standard vehicle if you are going to visit the city and village.. In this article, I am sharing my list of places to be seen and visited in the Eastern Black Sea Region that will help you while creating your route.. There is no place on the list that we haven’t seen; Whatever is in our minds and hearts, let’s take a look together!
#1 Trabzon Museum:
We start with that magnificent mansion in the city where you will feel like you are in Italy, standing out from the crowd of Trabzon’s bazaars.. This magnificent house, also known as Kostaki Mansion, was built at the request of Kostaki Teophylaktos, the famous banker of a period.. It is said that there is a love story behind its making; When Theophylaktos couldn’t marry the girl he fell in love with, he invested all his wealth in this house to spite him.. The house is completely decorated with Italian craftsmanship, and every corner is decorated according to the trends of the period.. So much so that the garden of Kostaki Mansion and the rooms are separate with this magnificent architecture that comes before you the moment you enter it.. However, when Theophylaktos went bankrupt shortly after the house was completed, all his assets were confiscated.. And then this house is bought by the Nemlioğlu family.. The mansion, which was used as the headquarters during the National Struggle Period, stands out as the place where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who came to the city for the first time in 1924, also stayed.. In the mansion, which serves as the Trabzon Museum today; In addition to the archaeological and ethnographic works, you can see the details of Italian architecture and Atatürk’s room.. Entrance to Trabzon Museum is 5 TL.
Trabzon Museum
#2 Historical Kalkanoğlu Rice:
The Eastern Black Sea Region is famous for its flavors as well as its nature. During your Trabzon tour, it is a must to include the Historical Kalkanoğlu Pilavcılar with its history of more than 150 years.. The story of the place dates back to 1856.. Süleyman Ağa, nicknamed Kalkanoğlu, who was the chief rice cook of the sultan at that time, is invited to the city by the Governor of Trabzon in order to eliminate the lack of food in the city.. Süleyman Ağa did not refuse the invitation of the governor and came to Trabzon, and then settled here.. The tradition of Süleyman Ağa, who has been weighing and distributing rice by grams since the first years in his shop so that everyone can get equal food, still continues today.. Every historical place has a method; In Kalkanoğlu, you need to eat fried rice with compote. You pay approximately 50 TL for two people; The rice cooked in bone broth has no words for its taste.
Historical Kalkanoğlu Rice
#3 Sumela Monastery:
While starting the Eastern Black Sea route, it is impossible not to see the Sumela Monastery. It is thought that the historical monastery on the borders of Maçka province of Trabzon was founded by two monks, Barnabas and Sophronios, who came from Athens during the Byzantine Empire’s time between 375-395.. While people wonder how this monastery was built with human power thousands of years ago, its magnificence also affects the visitors in a way that leaves their mouths open.. Sumela Monastery, which stands out as one of the miraculous beauties of our country, with its location 1,150 meters above sea level and its structure built on the rocks in Maçka’s Montenegro; It consists of sections such as a church, chapel, kitchen, rooms prepared for students, guesthouse, kitchen and library.
The monastery, which was closed to visitors until 2018, is still in the process of restoration. You can go around and see Sümela even from afar.. May you be lucky to photograph the monastery, which is foggy most days of the year depending on the season, and it is possible to see it comfortably as of June.
Sumela Monastery
#4 Hamsiköy:
As you complete your Trabzon tour with Sumela Monastery , It is necessary to add Hamsiköy to the Rize road. Just like the monastery, Hamsiköy, which is a part of Maçka district, is famous for its fragrant rice pudding.. Again in the middle of a green frenzy, Hamsiköy was formed by the combination of 5 small villages around it and the ‘hamsi’ in its name comes from ‘hamse’, which means five in Arabic.. So, don’t look for ‘anchovy’ here.
There are many places to eat these famous rice pudding in Hamsiköy; Of course, eating at Yayla Restaurant, which is the first of the village, in other words Osman Usta’nın Yeri, has a different meaning.. You’ll find him on Google, even on Trip Advisor he’s named after him.. Osman Usta’s rice pudding is as natural as if it was made by the mother’s hand and of course, it smells like milk as you wouldn’t be surprised.. I am sure that you will love the natural rice pudding, which we do not find very often.. The price of a bowl of rice pudding at Osman Usta’nın Yeri is 6 TL; it doesn’t add hazelnuts for better taste.
Hamsiköy rice pudding
#5 Çinçiva Village:
Çamlıhemşin, which is one of the places to visit in Rize, is literally right next to the Fırtına Stream. oxygen center. The first place you should see in Çamlıhemşin with its magnificent mountains and nature that offers a thousand and one shades of green, formerly Çinçiva, now Şenyuva Village. You may know Çinçiva from the TV series Sevdaluk, where it was filmed for a period, and it is still possible to find traces of it in the village.. If you plan your arrival in Çinçiva early in the morning, you can enjoy a traditional breakfast at Çinçiva Coffeehouse against the Fırtına Stream.. After the breakfast of the coffee, which is famous for its mihlama (kuymak in Trabzon) made from butter, cheese and corn flour, you can take your coffee from Zua Coffee, right across from it, and continue your tour with the 157-year-old Stone Bridge a little further away.. Chinchiva Coffee is open every day, Zua Coffee is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Çamlıhemşin, where the most unique people I have ever seen, live, will color your Eastern Black Sea trip; its lush nature. I’m sure it won’t be easy to leave here.
#6 Zilkale:
Zilkale is one of the must-see places in the Eastern Black Sea Region.. Located on a high hill in the Fırtına Valley, on the western slopes, the history of Zilkale is thought to date back to the Middle Ages.. Zilkale within the natural protected area; With its secret passages, walls and inner castle, it provided the safety of the caravan route like other castles in Rize at the time.. The entrance to the castle, which is half an hour from the center of Çamlıhemşin and ten minutes from the village of Çinçiva, is 3 TL.. While you’re at it, you can take a break at the Kaledibi Cafe right next to it, or you can set up the first route of the day for a village breakfast here.
Zilkale, Rize
#7 Palovit Waterfall:
Rize’s highest Say hello to debili waterfall! Palovit, which you will reach 10 minutes after Zilkale, spills from a height of 15 meters.. Located in the Kaçkar Mountains National Park, this unique waterfall takes its name from the Palovit Valley, where it is located, and is one of the trekking stops of Çamlıhemşin.. You can go to Palovit Waterfall with any vehicle you want, the road is also very suitable for standard vehicles.
Palovit Waterfall
#8 Eastern Black Sea Highlands:
The Black Sea immediately brings to mind its unique highlands.. It is necessary to give credit to the Eastern Black Sea Region on the Black Sea plateaus, which attract the attention of the local people and tourists with all kinds of festivals held especially in the summer months.. In addition to the popular plateaus such as Ayder, Pokut and Gito in Rize in recent years, Elevit, Trovit, Palovit, Samistal, Sal, Çat, Avusor and Hazindak are also worth seeing.. While Sis Mountain and Haldizen are leading in Trabzon, you can add the surroundings of Sera Lake, which was formed as a result of landslides, to the list.. Those who have a long time in Artvin can choose Maçahel on the border as an alternative.. Those who want to prepare this route entirely on the plateaus should travel by the end of May.. Before this date, roads and hostels in this vicinity are closed due to seasonal conditions.. Don’t forget to rent an all-terrain vehicle, as the roads are winding and challenging, except for Ayder, which is open all seasons and the road is extremely comfortable.
#9 Çayeli Lale Lokantası:
Lale Restaurant was one of the most common answers I saw while searching for a place to eat and drink in Rize.. Afterwards, I asked my Black Sea friends, they said don’t come without eating dry beans in Lale.. So we left work on the way back, we went to Lale’s way.. Without depending on any comments, I can say that the best beans I have ever eaten in my life are at Lale Lokantası.. Of course, we were not deprived of their companions; By the way, we also told you about the fried rice and the rice.. While taking the photos, a rice pudding came to the table.. We didn’t send it back either.. We were going to pay for a portion of beans, a little rice, a portion of roasted meat, 2 ayran and 1 rice pudding, so we had 2 of that wonderful rice pudding packed for the road, which we do not know when we will eat it again.. We paid a total of 83 TL to Lale Restaurant. If you want, you can get it from butter or beans.. We did not buy it, we do not carry such things to the house ‘to have an excuse to come again’; because we know we will come here again one day.
Çayeli Tulip Restaurant, Rize
#10 Borçka Karagöl:
One of the heavenly corners of the Eastern Black Sea Region is Karagöl in Borcka. Karagöl, which is approximately 60 km from the center of Artvin and 27 km from Borcka, was formed as a result of a landslide that took place on a hill close to the Klaskur Plateau.. Karagöl, which is a landslide lake with this feature, should be included in the plans with its peaceful nature and abundant greenery.. The shores of Borcka Karagol, which was declared a Nature Park in 2002, are also very popular for camping and caravan tourism; You can also obtain the necessary equipment for the camp from their relatives.. I am sure that those who plan to come daily will have a very enjoyable day; Although the roads after Borçka are quite tiring due to their bends, there is no trace of it when you come to the lake.. The Karçal Mountains, which decorate the lake like a painting, embrace you in such a way that you only have to spend time in Karagöl as you please.
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Borcka Karagol after winter, Artvin