Özet:

Bayburt has a long history of settlement. Bayburt Castle and Çoruh River are prominent places of the city. Its location on the Trabzon-Tabriz route, which used to be very busy, increased the strategic importance of the city. Therefore, many travelers have visited Bayburt since the 13th century. In the 19th century, the number of European travelers who visited the city has increased significantly. Most travelers arrived in the city via the Trabzon-Gümüşhane route. The oldest foreign traveler to the city was Marco Polo of Venice, who visited at the end of the 13th century. Western travelers’ visits to the city increased in the 19th century. John Macdonald, who arrived in Bayburt in 1813, is one of the most prominent of these visitors. In addition to Western travelers, native travelers such as Aşık Mehmed of Trabzon and Evliya Çelebi also visited Bayburt. This study examines these native and foreign visitors’ observations on Bayburt. The travelers commented on the physical condition of the Bayburt Castle and the contribution of Çoruh River to the city’s economy. They have also made observations about the social life and demographic structure of the city

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