Artova (District)

Imagine a place where the echoes of train whistles reverberate, and high plateaus are blanketed in pure white snow during winter. This is Artova! This charming district of Tokat awaits discovery like a hidden treasure, thanks to its ancient history and natural beauty. Let us explore this city of high plateaus together.

Artova is located approximately 38 kilometers from the city center of Tokat. It sits at an elevation of exactly 1170 meters above sea level, making it a very high-altitude location. Because of this, it enjoys long, snowy winters and abundant snowfall. Summers remain cool and refreshing.^【1】

In the oldest records, this region is referred to as "Artukova". Do you know whose name this comes from? The name originates from Artuk Bey, one of the renowned commanders of the Great Seljuk State. Artuk Bey and his soldiers lived on these lands centuries ago and named the area after themselves.

The history of Artova stretches back thousands of years. In the village of Boyunpınar lies the Horun Cave, a five-room, three-level underground city carved into the rock by people more than a thousand years ago. Throughout history, many important figures have passed through here. For instance, Ottoman Sultan Murad IV stopped here during a military campaign, and the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, visited Artova in 1930 and held conversations with the local people.

^{Visual representation of Horun Cave (Generated by artificial intelligence)}

The people of Artova are primarily engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. In the fields, wheat, potatoes, beans, and sugar beet are the most commonly grown crops. On its vast green pastures, numerous sheep and cattle graze. The railway that runs through the district, connecting Sivas and Samsun, brings significant movement and activity to the area.

^{Visual representation of animal husbandry (Generated by artificial intelligence).}

Artova is one of Tokat’s most special places, with its high mountains, thousand-year-old caves, and passing trains. Getting to know this beautiful district, which has hosted countless heroes and significant events from the past to the present, is like feeling the deep roots of Anatolia.

Exactly 96 years ago, on 21 November 1930, Atatürk arrived in Artova and shared the concerns of the local people. Can you picture that day and the excited crowd at the station?