Hasankeyf

Hasankeyf is an ancient town on the Tigris River in Batman Province, south-eastern Turkey, with a history stretching back over 10,000 years. The town was the capital of the Artuqid dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries and later an important stop on the Silk Road. Its dramatic setting on the banks of the Tigris, with a medieval bridge, a citadel atop a sheer limestone cliff, and hundreds of caves carved into the cliffs, made it one of the most spectacular historical sites in the region.

However, the completion of the Ilısu Dam in 2020 dramatically changed the town. The old settlement was largely submerged, with the historic structures relocated to a new Hasankeyf Cultural Park built on higher ground. The Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), the Artuqid bridge piers, and the Zeynel Bey Tomb were moved piece by piece to the new park. The original caves and citadel remain above the waterline. The result is a complex story of heritage preservation versus development - the new cultural park is well-presented, but the original setting with the river at the foot of the cliff is gone, replaced by a reservoir.

By Plane

The nearest airport is Batman Airport (BAL), 30 km north-west, with flights from Istanbul and Ankara. A taxi from the airport to Hasankeyf costs about 300-400 TRY.

By Car / Road

From Batman, head south on the road to Midyat for about 40 minutes. Dolmuşes run regularly from Batman bus station. From Mardin, the journey is about 1.5 hours via Midyat.

The new cultural park is compact and walkable. The citadel hill is a steep climb (30 minutes from the park) but offers panoramic views over the reservoir. A dolmuş connects the park with the town area.

• Hasankeyf Cultural Park — the relocated historic structures, including the Zeynel Bey Tomb (a magnificent 15th-century cylindrical mausoleum with glazed tiles), the Artuqid bridge piers, and the Great Mosque

• Citadel (Rızk Camii) — the medieval fortress on the cliff summit, with its partially collapsed mosque and sweeping views over the reservoir. The rock-cut stairs to the top are carved into the cliff

• Cave houses — hundreds of caves carved into the limestone cliffs, occupied continuously from Roman times until the 1970s. Some are accessible on the cliffside paths

• El-Rızk Mosque — a partially preserved Artuqid mosque on the citadel hill

• Artuqid Bridge — the remaining piers of a 12th-century bridge that once spanned the Tigris, now standing at the edge of the reservoir

• Climb to the citadel — the steep path from the cultural park to the summit takes 30 minutes; the view over the reservoir and the surrounding Mesopotamian landscape is spectacular

• Explore the caves — bring a torch and sturdy shoes, and wander the abandoned cave dwellings carved into the cliff

• Visit the relocated monuments — the Zeynel Bey Tomb is beautifully restored and houses a small museum

• Boat trip on the reservoir — in summer, small boats offer trips on the Ilısu Dam reservoir, passing the submerged old town

Fish from the Tigris - particularly the locally celebrated balık (a type of catfish) - is the specialty, grilled over charcoal near the cultural park entrance. Kebabs and lahmacun are also available at simple lokantas.

Çay and fresh ayran are available at the tea gardens in the cultural park.

Basic pansiyons in Hasankeyf and nearby Çattepe village offer simple rooms. For more comfortable accommodation, Batman (40 minutes north) or Mardin (1.5 hours south) have better options.

Hasankeyf's souvenir shops sell local silver jewellery, textiles, and copper items. The craftsmen of the region produce distinctive Mardin-style silverwork.

• Batman — 30 km north, the provincial capital
• Mardin — 80 km south, a stunning ancient city on a hillside with Syriac churches, mosques, and a legendary bazaar
• Midya — 50 km south-east, known for its stone houses, silverwork, and Assyrian heritage
• Diyarbakır — 150 km north-west, with its iconic black basalt city walls and the Hevsel Gardens