Zeynel Cebeci · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source & license
Amasya · Place 2 · 447M
Rock Tombs of the Pontic Kings
Monumental tombs of the Pontic kings carved into the southern slope of Harşena.
Suggested time45 min
Elevation & effort447 m · Moderate slope
Best windowNight lighting, or morning reflections from the far bank.
Walking note10 min
PRACTICAL ACCESS & WALKING METHOD
Cross the Low Bridge into Hatuniye; signed stairs reach the façade in 5–10 minutes.
HISTORY & ARCHITECTURAL CONTEXT
The tombs were carved into the bedrock when Amasya was a capital of the Pontic Kingdom. Five large tombs in the Maiden’s Palace area are associated with the first five kings. Rock-cut galleries surround the chambers. The site is on the UNESCO Tentative List together with Mount Harşena.
Why visit
Examine the rock-cut chambers and surrounding galleries for a close look at Pontic monumental architecture.
VISITOR TIP — WHAT NOT TO MISS
Look at the surrounding galleries as well as the chambers cut into the rock.
