WHO ARE WE ?

This book is the product of a joint effort. A considerable number of books have been written about Kars over its history, but not many in the relatively modern format of the guide book. in recent years,

Kars has become one of the main attractions of Eastern Anatolia with its history, geography, daily life, and also through new archeological discoveries and artistic and cultural projects that tie its past to its present. Kars has always been of interest to travelers but has recently become a destination visited by an increasing number of tourists every year.

This book is the result of a project undertaken by many writers and editors. The intention is to promote the city to guests and help them create daily programs. The contributors to this book are also local people who take part in the social, cultural and political life of their city. The book draws on a significant number of sources that provide access to current knowledge about the city, and on long periods of discussion and exchange of individual observations and interpretations.

The purpose was obviously not just to publish a guide book. Throughout its preparation we have benefited from the process involved in sharing our creativity and thus enhancing knowledge and mutual understanding. Many thanks go to Okay Akarca, Ayşe Alibeyoğlu, Naif Alibeyoğlu, Semiha Alibeyoğlu, Rana Zincir Celal, Dilşad Oygur, Gül Pulhan, Alper Sezer, Hülya Sezer, Cengiz Şıklı, Serap Tombul and all the members of the City Council for their valuable contributions.

We hope that this Kars guide will be a means of bringing more guests to the city, and that they will leave pleased with their experience in the Kars area.

KARS CITY GUIDE

Translated by Yeşim Erdem Holland

Editors:
Vedat Akçayöz (Routes and Culture Sections), Tazebey Çakaz (History Section), Yıldırım Öztürkkan (Historical Heritage and Sightseeing Sections), Sezai Yazıcı, Özcan Yurdalan

Publishing Coordinators:
Buluş Oygur, Burcu Yılmaz

Contributors:
Zübeyde Aktaş, Sibel Alp Argunhan, Hülya Ayaz, Ömer Bağcı, Mustafa Çınar, Sedat Doğanay, Ahmet Günay, Fatma Güneş, Erkan Karagöz, Cafer Karaman, İhsan Karayazı, Beti Minkin, Cüneyt Okyar, Arzu Orhankazi, Mecbure Oygur, Nihat Özgünlü, İsrafil Parlak, Bingür Sönmez, Salih Şahin, Nihal Şamiloğlu, Çağan Şekercioğlu, Aytaç Toptaş, Memet Uçungan

Maps and charts:
Çare Olgun Çalışkan (with the assistance of M. Hüseyin Atilla and Cihan Sarı)

Photographs:
Vedat Akçayöz, Ertuğrul Erdem, Selahattin Gültekin, Erkan Karagöz, Yıldırım Öztürkkan, Çağan Şekercioğlu, Evren Uludaş

Illustration:
Behzat Taş

Graphic Design:
Ender Ergün

Cover Design:
Kemal Gökhan Gürses