Kadırga Plateau

Kadırga Plateau is a high summer highland at roughly 2,000 metres of altitude in the interior ranges of the Eastern Black Sea, on the eastern flank of the Zigana Pass where the Tonya district of Trabzon meets the Kürtün district of Gümüşhane. Set above the tree line on broad alpine meadows, it is not an ordinary single-village pasture but a shared upper plateau used for centuries by the villages of Tonya, Maçka, Of, Düzköy and Kürtün. That shared ownership turned it into an exceptional cultural stage, home to one of Anatolia's oldest traditional highland festivals.

History & Significance

Historically, at the heart of the plateau stands the celebrated open-air mosque linked to the era of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, who annexed Trabzon in 1461; enclosed by stones and marked by two minarets yet lacking roof, dome or walls, this worship ground has hosted Friday prayers on the open grass for more than five centuries and, now past 560 years old, ranks among the region's most singular monuments.

Nature & Culture

Its natural character is as striking as its heritage: treeless alpine meadows, a sea of clouds filling the valleys at dawn, and the surrounding Kesikbaş, Taşoluk and Çevirme Boğazı ridges offer photographers rare compositions. The plateau's cultural significance peaks at the Kadırga Otçu Festival held on the third Friday of July; rooted in the Çepni tradition, it fills the meadow with horon dances to the sound of the kemençe fiddle as tens of thousands arrive from Trabzon, Gümüşhane, Giresun and Torul. Its tourism value flows from the authenticity of this living tradition, which is exactly why agencies favour it in summer itineraries: it delivers not a mere scenic stop but a living cultural experience.

Visiting, Access & Tips

On guided tours the plateau usually sits on the nature-and-highland arm of the Zigana-Hamsiköy corridor, with an average visit of one and a half to two hours for the views, the mosque and a short walk; on festival day a full day is set aside. Nearby complementary stops include the Zigana Pass, the Çal Cave of Düzköy, Lake Sera, and the Hıdırnebi and Sultanmurat highlands. Access is about 38 km from Trabzon via Tonya, 14 km from Zigana, 30 km from Düzköy and 34 km from the Gümüşhane-Kürtün side; thanks to the new Zigana Tunnel the main connecting road stays open year-round. In summer the broad meadow flat provides ample festival-ground parking suitable for tour coaches, though the final stretch is narrow and rough, so early hours are advised for large vehicles. Accessibility for visitors with reduced mobility is partly possible on the level grass around the mosque, but the ground is natural and uneven.

Route & Best Time

The best time to visit is the highland season from late June to early September; the peak is unquestionably festival week, when accommodation must be booked well in advance. The recommended route plans it as a distinct highland-nature leg on the Zigana-Kadırga-Hamsiköy axis, separate from the central Trabzon-Sümela day trip.