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Cendere Bridge
Some 10km from the Karakuş Tümülüs, the road crosses a modern bridge over the Cendere river. On the left-hand side, you'll see a magnificent humpback Roman bridge built in the 2nd century AD. The surviving Latin stellae state that the bridge was built in honour of Emperor Septimius Severus and his wife and sons (long after Commagene had become part of Roman Asia). Of the four original Corinthian columns (two at either end), three are still standing.
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Eski Kale
This is the ancient Commagene capital of Arsameia, founded by Mithridates I Callinicus in around 80 BC, and added to by his son Antiochus I. Just after the turn-off, you stop at the park entrance, where you'll be asked to pay for both the Arsameia site and access to the summit ( €3 ).
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Karadut
Along the roads to the summit lies the pretty village of Karadut, 3km up the mountain from the turn-off to Nemrut. It has a few small eateries.
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Karakuş Tümülüs
Highway D360, marked for Nemrut Dağı Milli Parkı (9km), starts in Kahta next to the Pension Kommagene. The first site you'll see is Karakuş Tümülüs, 9km from Kahta, via a road to the left, 200m off the highway. Like the Nemrut mound, the Karakuş burial mound, built in 36 BC, is artificial. A handful of columns ring the mound - there were more but the limestone blocks were used by the Romans to build the Cendere bridge.
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Kocahisar Halı Kursu
At the base of the path up to Yeni Kale is the Kocahisar Halı Kursu (Kocahisar Carpet Course), a rudimentary workshop where local women learn carpet-weaving techniques to keep the tradition alive. They don't sell the carpets here but don't usually mind if you poke your head in to have a look.
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Nemrut Dağı Park Eastern Terrace
Beyond the building, hike 600m (about 20 minutes) over the broken rock of the stone pyramid to the western terrace. Antiochus I Epiphanes ordered the construction of a combined tomb and temple here. The site was to be approached by a ceremonial road and was to incorporate what Antiochus termed 'the thrones of the gods', which would be based 'on a foundation that will never be demolished'.
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Nemrut Dağı Park Entrance
By the time you arrive at the car park and café you're well above the tree line. The Nemrut Dağı park entrance is 200m up from the Çeşme pension and 2.5km before the junction with the short cut to Arsameia.
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Yeni Kale
Eski Kahta, also known as Kocahisar, is overlooked by castle ruins. Although there was once a palace here, built at the same time as the Commagene capital of Arsameia on the other side of the ravine, what you see today is the ruins of a 13th-century Mamluk castle, Yeni Kale (New Fortress). There are some Arabic inscriptions above the main and only gateway. You can climb up to look at the castle, but make sure you're wearing appropriate shoes and watch your step.
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Showing 1-8 of 8 results
