In Altınkum, registered vineyards and life on the Batman Reservoir come together. In Silvan District, cave, museum and architectural history add to the picture. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between the area’s rural waterside and agricultural landscape and the district’s cultural attractions.

Vineyards, River and Reservoir

Agricultural records from 2014 list 127.08 decares of registered vineyard area in Altınkum. This figure is a historical reference point for the area’s agricultural character, not a current production total. A field study from the same year recorded 14 local grape varieties in Silvan District, including Şire, Şekrok, Talik and Perşok. Viticulture is thus evident at two levels: as registered vineyard area in Altınkum and as varietal diversity across the district. Silkworm farming is also practiced in Silvan District, adding another source of livelihood to the agricultural background.

At the Batman Reservoir, some families earn their living by fishing from boats. The Kulp Çayı, also called Başka Çayı in the area around Altınkum, passes beneath a bridge built in Altınkum (Başke) at the end of the reservoir. Vineyards, fishing and the river crossing show different aspects of the local landscape: agriculture, livelihoods on the water and a specific built connection across the river.

Başka Kalesi Castle near Altınkum

Başka Kalesi Castle is located near the village of Altınkum in Silvan District. It is said to have been built by the Mervanid ruler Nasrüddevle; this attribution is uncertain. Gold seekers damaged the castle. Its eastern side faces an abyss, while a high wall remains on the western side. Those interested in castles and their history will find both an uncertain historical attribution and concrete features of the surviving ruins here.

Cave and Architectural History in Silvan District

Hasuni Cave in Silvan District is one of the notable cave sites in Diyarbakır Province and one of Anatolia’s oldest cave settlement centers. Hasuni is suitable for nature walks and, thanks to its bowl-shaped form, for paragliding. The district thus brings together a cave area of historical and cultural importance and different ways to experience the landscape.

The Atatürk House in Silvan was built in 1902–1903 and restored in 1992. In 2024, it was newly furnished and opened to visitors as a museum. Malabadi Bridge adds to the district’s architectural history: it is considered the stone bridge with the widest arch in Turkey and the Middle East. The two examples offer contrasting features—a historic residence turned into a museum and a bridge distinguished by the span of its arch.

Choose the Focus of Your Stay

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip. Would you like to center your stay on Altınkum’s rural waterside and agricultural landscape, or are you especially interested in Hasuni, the museum in Silvan and historic buildings in the district? These themes point to different locations.

Discover more destinations: Fabrika Mh., Gözegöl

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