Selim
Selim offers a thrilling traditional equestrian sports, winter horse Cirit, and pastoral Caucasian nature experience. Its crowning cultural spectacle is Winter Snow Cirit (Karda Cirit Oyunları)—where local village riders in traditional dress compete on horseback across frozen snow plains, attracting international photographers and cultural travelers. Visitors can also explore historic Baltic railw
Tourist experience
Selim offers a thrilling traditional equestrian sports, winter horse Cirit, and pastoral Caucasian nature experience. Its crowning cultural spectacle is Winter Snow Cirit (Karda Cirit Oyunları)—where local village riders in traditional dress compete on horseback across frozen snow plains, attracting international photographers and cultural travelers. Visitors can also explore historic Baltic railway station buildings and sample organic Sarıçam butter and Kars Gruyere.
Key points of interest
Investment outlook
Selim holds a Transparent Investment Score of 86.2/100, recognized as a specialized equestrian culture tourism, railway freight corridor, and high-altitude livestock market. Positioned directly on the primary transit axis connecting Kars to Erzurum and Sarıkamış, Selim attracts agricultural logistics investments. Residential buy prices average $820/m² with steady capital preservation (~43.5% YoY in USD).
Living here
Residing in Selim represents a quiet, rustic, and close-knit equestrian and pastoral mountain lifestyle. Residents enjoy strong community traditions, clean mountain air, organic dairy produce, and convenient 20-minute highway access to both Kars Central and Sarıkamış Ski Center.
History & cultural identity
Selim, strategically situated on elevated high pastures between Sarıkamış and Central Kars along the E-691 highway and Trans-Caucasian Railway spine, holds a rich Caucasian equestrian, pastoral, and railway history. Serving historically as an important railway staging post during the 19th century Baltic administration, Selim is world-famous in sports culture as Türkiye's primary capital for traditional Cirit (Ata Sporu Cirit / Equestrian Javelin)—a 1,000-year-old Turkic equestrian sport played on horseback across snow-covered fields throughout winter.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cirit in Selim and when can visitors watch it?+
Cirit is an ancient Turkic equestrian javelin sport played on horseback. In Selim, traditional Cirit matches are held every weekend on snow-covered fields throughout winter.
How far is Selim from Sarıkamış Ski Center and Kars Central?+
Selim is conveniently located midway between Central Kars (30km) and Sarıkamış Ski Center (25km) along the E-691 highway.
What is Selim famous for in agriculture?+
Selim is famous for purebred Caucasian horse breeding, high-altitude Sarıçam butter, and organic livestock.