ARTVIN
Artvin, the capital of its province. At the foot of the escarpment, a ruined 16th-century castle crowns a rocky outcrop. Artvin is a charming city with beautiful old Turkish houses, typical of the region. The area's mild climate makes summer visits delightfully refreshing and every June, crowds of tourists, as well as brightlyclad locals, throng to the Kafkasör festival, where the spectacle of bulls fighting each other highlights the celebration.
The adventurous might like to attempt white-water rafting on the wild, romantic Coruh River. In the Artvin area, the nature-reserves around the Karagöl Lakes, 27 km northeast of Borcka and 17 km north of Savsat respectively, have different kinds of pine trees, flora and fauna, including black and brown bears.
During the Middle Ages this area came under Georgian sovereignty. The Artvin area is the best place for touring remains of the Georgian past; its wonderfully scenic roads lead to the ruined churches and settlements that stand as the legacy of this period. The best-preserved of these are at Barhal and Ishan, in the awesome Kackar Mountains. Barhal offers some of the best country horseback-riding.
Several other churches, in Bagbasi and Camliyamac, are just off the road to Erzurum, which passes by the Tortum Waterfalls and the pristine Tortum Lake. Near Yusufeli are other Georgian churches and settlements: Dörtkilise, Köprügören and Tekkale. East of Artvin, Ardanuc, formerly the Georgian capital, has a famous castle, which overlooks the longest canyon in the region.
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