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what is erzurum famous for? icons, history, and legends (probably not what you’re thinking, but whatever)

@Jasper Reed2/13/2026blog
what is erzurum famous for? icons, history, and legends (probably not what you’re thinking, but whatever)

ok, so you’re here because you heard erzurum is some ancient abyss of history or whatever. maybe. i’m not sure. i’ve never been there. i just saw a reddit post that said something about a clock tower that’s older than your generation’s wifi. or maybe that’s just a meme. who knows?


here’s the map. no, really, just look at it. it’s not like we’re in some city where you can’t find your way. well, unless you’re bad at directions. which, honestly, is fair. Erzurum is like that. a city that’s supposed to make sense but never does. like a bad spreadsheet.

a building with a clock tower on top of it


see that building? the one with the clock tower? that’s probably the thing everyone thinks erzurum is famous for. but is it? i mean, sure, it’s a clock tower. that’s cool. but let me tell you something: i’ve been to places with clock towers that were more concerned about their gym than their heritage. this one? it’s just sitting there.useless. like a guy who forgot to pack his shampoo for a week-long trip.

now, let’s talk about the real stuff. Erzurum isn’t just some dusty historical site. it’s a place where people live. and live hard. rent here? super cheap. like, ‘i can afford a whole apartment for the price of a single meal in istanbul’ cheap. but don’t let that fool you. safety? it’s okay. not as safe as, say, a chinese city where everyone’s also trying to sell you fake knockoff stuff. but if you’re not an idiot, you’ll be fine. job market? it’s… eh. there’s some tech stuff going on, but it’s not like istanbul or london. you’ll probably end up teaching english or working at a gas station. which is fine. i mean, gas stations are great. they have snacks.

a very old building with a tower and a sky background


this is the old part of town. the part that’s been around longer than your ex’s latest conspiracy theory. the towers here? they’re older than your mom’s first relationship. and the sky? it’s the same sky. the one that sometimes looks like it’s trying to collapse. which is accurate. when it’s hot. which is a lot.

so, what’s erzurum actually famous for? let me tell you what i overheard at a bar last week. someone said it’s the place where they invented the thing with the bread and the cheese. i don’t know if that’s true. i asked a local, and they said, ‘nah, that’s a myth. we invented the thing where you yell at strangers in the market.’ which is also probably true. but hey, if you can’t be famous for something important, at least be famous for something loud.

now, about the weather. right now? it’s that thing where it’s either 40 degrees or -10, and you never know which. you’re like, ‘ok, i’ll wear a jumper just in case,’ and then it’s 40 and you’re sweating like a sinner in church. brat. but hey, at least the neighbors are just a short drive away. not that you’d care. they’re probably also dealing with the same weather. or worse. like, i heard someone from battalgazi said their dog died because of the heat. that’s rough. but also, you can’t really blame the dog. it’s not like it knew better.

now, let’s talk about the reviews. you know, the ones on tripadvisor. i read one that said, ‘i came here expecting a museum and got a bunch of people selling socks.’ which is… oddly accurate. another review said, ‘this place is a dump. but the dust is free.’ which is also probably true. and then there’s the one that said, ‘i got lost so many times i started selling directions for fun.’ which is a true statement. i sold a guy directions for 50 liras. he thought it was a scam. i told him, ‘no, it’s a tax.

if you’re wondering about local legends? well, erzurum has its share. there’s this story about a guy who built a tower and then everyone hated him. turns out he was just trying to put a clock in a place that didn’t have one. poetic, right? or maybe just a guy with a bad business plan. who knows?

so, should you go? honestly, it depends. if you like places that don’t try too hard but still have a vibe, then yeah. if you’re looking for a city that’s ‘vibrant’ or ‘central’ or whatever, you’re out of luck. erzurum is more like… a guy who’s okay with being quiet. but also has a secret basement full of weird stuff. which is probably something.

here are some links if you’re still obsessed: tripadvisor erzurum yelp Erzurum reddit erzurum

but really, just go. or don’t. i’m not here to judge. i’m just here to tell you it’s not what you think. and that’s fine. because no one really knows what they’re thinking anyway.

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About the author: Jasper Reed

Observer of trends, culture, and human behavior.

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