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A historic cemetery in Bitlis's Ahlat district, regarded as one of the most important examples of Turkish-Islamic funerary architecture, has begun welcoming visitors in the evening hours through the "Night Museum" initiative.
Under the Culture and Tourism Ministry's "Heritage for the Future Project," the Seljuk Meydan Cemetery is open for evening visits from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. GMT) between June 1 and October 1.
At the site, which is on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List, walking paths and sections containing the graves have been adapted for evening visits without damaging the historical fabric.
Known for its centuries-old monumental gravestones and varied tomb types, the cemetery now offers visitors a new appearance in the evening hours through lighting work.
The 210-donum (about 210.000 square meters or 52 acres) site, which contains original stonework from the Seljuk era, gives visitors a different experience after dark, with many describing the atmosphere as particularly striking under the evening lighting.
Ilhan Kilic, acting director of the Ahlat Museum, stated that the ministry's General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums had introduced night museum hours for the season.
He said the cemetery, which functions as an open-air museum, draws between 450,000 and 500,000 visitors a year, with daytime visits dominated by organized tours and evening visits growing steadily since being announced on the ministry's website. Kilic added that lighting and security personnel were in place to support evening visitors.
Mehmet Kulaz, head of the Seljuk Meydan Cemetery and Old Ahlat City excavation and a faculty member in the Art History Department at Van Yuzuncu Yil University, said night visits had already begun at several archaeological sites around the country.
He noted that most visitors still tour the cemetery during the day but said experiencing its spiritual atmosphere at night offers something distinct. He added that security and lighting were sufficient for evening tours and encouraged more visitors to experience the site.
Kulaz said Ahlat's historical significance made it worth visiting at any hour, describing the district as holding a distinguished place in Turkish-Islamic history.
Visitors echoed that sentiment. Mehmet Bas, who traveled from Batman with his family, praised the lighting for adding to the cemetery's atmosphere and said he took numerous photographs during his visit.
Harun Akisik, who came from Isparta, thanked the Culture and Tourism Ministry for the opportunity and described the experience as unforgettable, saying it was his first time visiting a night museum.
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