Hamsiköy and Zigana 2026: Mountain Villages, Pastures and Heritage

عاشق الأناضول · Oct 4, 2026

Hamsiköy’s villages on the northern slopes of Zigana.

Hamsiköy and Zigana reveal the rural mountains south of Trabzon, where villages rise along the slopes and pastures open between forests. The area is associated with historic routes linking the Black Sea coast with inland Anatolia and a culture of local production shaped by land, livestock and climate, long before some villages became familiar visitor destinations.

Hamsiköy and Its Five Villages

Hamsiköy lies in Maçka district on Zigana’s northern slopes, and its name is associated with five villages. It is a rural settlement area with homes and farms spread through the valley rather than one enclosed attraction. This distribution creates varied scenery of small communities and open slopes, distinctly different from coastal Trabzon’s urban fabric.

Pastures and Local Produce

Meadows and moisture helped shape rural livelihoods around livestock and the production of milk, cheese and butter. This environment underlies the reputation of Hamsiköy sütlacı, the rice pudding carrying the area’s name.

The new Zigana Tunnel on the Trabzon–Gümüşhane road.

Zigana: Gateway Between Coast and Interior

The Zigana Mountains form a natural divide between Trabzon and Gümüşhane, showing how terrain influenced trade and communication between the sea and Anatolia. Slopes, forests and elevations differ on either side, with fog and snow contributing to their seasonal character. Zigana’s identity encompasses mountains, passes and villages as well as a modern tunnel.

The Tunnel and the Historic Landscape

The new Zigana Tunnel is an engineering landmark in this corridor and a modern chapter in the area’s history of travel. Villages, pastures and the old mountain road remain alongside it, revealing the contrast between earlier and present-day ways of crossing the terrain. Hamsiköy’s defining value continues to lie in its rural landscape, living local culture and homes scattered across the slopes.

Practical Notes

Clear days reveal the length of the valley, while fog may hide parts of it. Respect private pastures and homes and remember that these villages are inhabited communities. In winter, check minor-road conditions: the main tunnel’s condition does not establish conditions on every mountain route.

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Hamsiköy and Zigana 2026: Mountain Villages, Pastures and Heritage

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