Just outside Dogubayazit, stands one of Turkey’s greatest treasures:
the Palace of Izhaak Pasha.
The palace stands on a rocky promontory over the plain below, surrounded by
cliffs and crags and in full sight of the majesty of Mount Ararat. It would have had
a perfect view of the mountain pass on the Silk Road to Persia and beyond.
The palace complex was started in 1685 by a
Turkish chieftain, Colak Abdi Pasha, and
completed after 99 years by his son Izhaak. The
architectural styles reflect all the local influences:
Seljuk, Georgian and Persian.
The structure is very complex and includes two courtyards,
reception rooms, a harem, a hamam and a mosque.

It was very technically advanced for its age since there are the
remains of a central heating system, toilets and running water.