Hasankeyf
Hasankeyf is one of the most moving destinations in south-eastern Türkiye. Overlooking the Tigris River and dating back more than 12,000 years, this town was once an important stop along the Silk Road. In 2019–2020, the filling of the Ilısu Dam submerged almost the entire fortress and thousands of caves, while all residents were relocated to a new town built on a neighbouring hill, Yeni Hasankeyf (New Hasankeyf). Visiting Hasankeyf today means discovering a partially vanished site, where some monuments have been moved and preserved, within a landscape profoundly transformed by the waters of the Tigris.
Hasankeyf at a glance
Hasankeyf now requires visitors to adjust their expectations: the historic town as it once appeared in photographs no longer exists in its original form. Yet the place still retains a rare emotional power, shaped by memory, river landscapes and monuments rescued from the waters. It is a stop that speaks as much about history as it does about what societies choose to preserve or sacrifice. What you can still experience there:
- admire what remains of the silhouette of the medieval citadel above the Tigris River,
- visit the archaeological and cultural park near Yeni Hasankeyf,
- take a boat trip across the reservoir to grasp the scale of the transformation of the landscape.
Nicolas
Turkey Expert 🇹🇷
WHAT TO SEE IN HASANKEYF
What SEASON to go to Hasankeyf?
Hasankeyf experiences a dry continental climate, characterised by very hot, arid summers and cool, wetter winters, typical of south-eastern Anatolia. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons to explore the site and the landscapes of the Tigris River, with moderate temperatures ideal for discovering the citadel and the riverbanks. Whatever the season, the place leaves a lasting impression through its millennia-old history and the memory of a landscape transformed by the waters of the dam.
