Underwater beauty of Rumkale to open to visitors
The Roman-era ruins on the edge of historic Rumkale, dubbed the pearl of the Euphrates River, which has housed many civilizations throughout history, will open to visitors with an underwater project.
Rumkale, home of the Urartu, Babylon, Sumerian, Seljuk, and Ottoman civilizations in the Yavuzeli district of the southeastern province of Gaziantep, is located in the region where Merzimen Stream meets the Euphrates River in a natural wonder surrounded by emerald lakes on three sides and steep, steep rocky hills surrounding it.
The castle and its surroundings are Rumkale's underwater beauty to open to visitors.
attract the attention of local and foreign tourists with its natural beauties along the Euphrates in the spring, as well as the historic buildings it has.
Rumkale, which is also considered sacred by Christians, is said to have been inhabited by one of the apostles of the prophet Jesus during the Roman period, and the Bible was copied in a carved room.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism named Rumkale as one of Turkey's 13 most spectacular castles and works and continues to add the castle to Turkish tourism.
The metropolitan municipality of Gaziantep has previously created landscaping around Rumkale and is now preparing to open the Roman-era ruins underwater at the base of the castle.
Gaziantep Metropolitan Mayor Fatma Şahin spoke to the state-owned Anadolu Agency, emphasizing the importance of Rumkale for regional tourism.
Şahin said they took every opportunity to include the castle in tourism: "There is a castle in Rumkale as old as humanity and there is a life there. The inns, baths and houses built during the republic period have been restored. Then we made a beach package there. We organized the Rumkale water sports competition to promote this place and it was very successful. ”
Şahin said they would realize all projects in the near future to reveal the beauty of Rumkale and the Euphrates.
“Our current goal is to implement two projects that allow people to view the Euphrates and Rumkale from above. One is a funicular, the other is a terrace with glass views. The viewing terrace project is about to be completed. I hope we can complete our project next year. When people arrive there, they will see the unique beauty of the Euphrates while sipping the famous Menengiç coffee. ”
Şahin said there was also a great cultural treasure under Rumkale.
“Under Rumkale there is a great history from the Roman era. Our national diver Şahika Ercümen and Derya Can dived there. They said, "There is a wonderful history and a wonderful beauty there. We need to introduce it more. We are thinking of a project called the Underwater Archeology Institute. It will take us underwater through glass. We carry out our studies with the associated units. We took photos of places there with special underwater cameras and an exhibition was organized about it. There is a lot of work to be done underwater. We will show such a hidden paradise, the great treasure for the whole world, "said Şahin.
