History and General Information / Local Legends and Folklore
The historical Maden district, built on the steep slopes of the Tigris River canyon, is an ancient mining center where the world's highest quality copper reserves have been extracted since ancient times. In 1895, Ottoman Sultan II. The Historical Maden Government Mansion, built during the reign of Abdulhamid Khan, and the adjacent Historical Clock Tower, built in 1899, are among the most elegant administrative and industrial architectural monuments of the Ottoman Empire in Eastern Anatolia. The clock tower, built of cut stone, echoes the time in the valley with its dials facing all directions. The district, which also served as a mint during the Ottoman period, fed the cannon foundries and palace kitchens of the empire with the copper ore it produced. With its centuries-old stone houses arranged in terraces on steep slopes, historical mosques and copper mines, Maden has the silhouette of a hidden historical mining town of the East. Geographical Structure, Altitude and Natural Features
It is located at an altitude of 1,050 meters along the canyon cleft of the Tigris River. The urban protected area texture, which sits step by step on very steep and steep canyon slopes, offers visitors an impressive topography. Visiting Hours, Days and Entrance Fees
•Entrance Fee:The historical clock tower, the surroundings of the government office and the streets of the urban protected area can be visited completely free of charge.•Visiting Hours and Days (Mandatory): Open to the public and travelers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; Historical stone details are clearly visible in daylight.•Rules, Safety and Stroller/Disabled Access: Comfortable walking shoes are recommended as the historical neighborhood streets have steep stone stairs and slopes; Steep slopes can be somewhat difficult for a stroller.•Facilities and Facilities:There are local coffee houses, restaurants, pharmacies, historical Cami-i Kebir mosque and public facilities in the district center. Transportation, Public Transit Routes and Exact Location•Address / Open Location:Camiikebir District, Government Street & Clock Tower Square, Maden / Elazığ.•Road Condition and Vehicle Availability: It is on the Elazığ-Diyarbakır D-885 state highway, 78 km from the center of Elazığ and 75 km from Diyarbakır; It is a completely double asphalt road and can be reached by all vehicles.•Actual Public Transportation Information (Mandatory): Maden and Ergani district minibuses, which depart from Elazığ Eastern Bus Terminal and Diyarbakır Bus Terminal every 30 minutes, and the Fırat Express train provide direct transportation to Maden Train Station.•Parking Availability:There is free street parking for 60 vehicles in the town square and on the lower street of the government building. Contextual Experience Tips, Photography and Local Gastronomy•Best Photo Spots and Frames:II, overlooking the Tigris Valley. The silhouette of Abdulhamid Clock Tower, the stone arched entrance gate of the historical Government House and the historical Maden houses hanging on the canyon slope.•Light and Shooting Times:The view of fog rising from the valley in the early morning hours and the moments when the canyon walls are painted red in the afternoon.•Local Gastronomy Recommendations:During your visit to the mine, you should taste the registered Maden lahmacun cooked in bazaar ovens, hair pan and Gezin strawberries on the shores of Lake Hazar.