Digor (District)

Digor is a high-altitude and historic district located in the easternmost part of Kars, Türkiye. It is a uniquely special place, awaiting discovery, with its natural landscape and ancient structures dating back thousands of years. Let us take a closer look at this border district.

Digor lies southeast of the city center of Kars and sits at an elevation of 1,640 meters above sea level. To its east, it shares a 62-kilometer border with Armenia. To the west it borders the central district of Kars, and to the south it is adjacent to the districts of Kağızman and Iğdır. The district covers an area of 1,136 square kilometers and is geographically characterized by a rugged, mountainous terrain. Due to its high elevation, winters are snowy and summers are cool.

The settlement of Digor began in 1887–1888 with the arrival of five families. During the Ottoman period, it remained a village subordinate to Arpaçay and Kağızman for some time. Along with Kars, it lived under Russian occupation for approximately 40 years. It was liberated from this occupation on 22 October 1920. With the advent of the Republic, it officially gained district status in 1953 and continues to exist today as an important part of Kars.

Around Digor, there are significant structures dating back to ancient times. One of them is the Tekor Church, constructed in the 5th century. This structure was built around 1,500 years ago by Prince Sahak Kamsarakan. It is known to house one of the oldest surviving Armenian inscriptions in the world.

^{Tekor Church (generated by artificial intelligence)}

Another significant site is the monastery known as Beş Kilise, or the Five Churches. Historically, there were five domed churches standing side by side here. Today, only the Church of Saint Sarkis remains. These structures demonstrate that the region was an important center in very ancient times.

^{Beş Kilise (generated by artificial intelligence)}

When the Tekor Church was built approximately 1,500 years ago, it was among the most magnificent buildings in the region. The inscriptions inside the church were written in an unusual downward-to-upward direction.