Gümüşhane-Bayburt and Dede Korkut. Gümüşhane, which is located in the inland part of the Eastern Black Sea region, is named after the silver deposits in its environs (In Turkish “gümüş” means silver). Süleyman the Magnificent had a mosque and 50 houses built here and named the area. It is stated in Ottoman history that Kastamonu is a “proud and determined” small town. The Hutura Hagios Georgios Monastery Church commissioned by Alexius Comnenus in the 14th century and the famous Kelkit Plain, through which the Kelkit Spring flows are among the most beautiful places in the city.
Bayburt, located on the bank of the Çoruh River, has a rich historical background and cultural heritage due to the fact that it is an old settlement. The history of the province, which is famous not only for its scenic wonders but also for its citadel, mosques, Turkish baths (hamams), and inscribed gravestones, dates back to 2000 B.C. Due to its location on the historical Silk Road, it was mentioned in the works of Marco Polo and Evliya Çelebi and many western and eastern travelers. The tomb of Dede Korkut, one of the sages who migrated from Central Asia to Anatolia, is also located here. The year 1999 which marked the 1300th anniversary of his tales was declared the “Year of Dede Korkut” by UNESCO.
