Visitors can now explore the historic Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery in Bitlis province, eastern Türkiye, after sunset as part of a new nighttime museum program launched under the Culture and Tourism Ministry's "Legacy for the Future Project."
The initiative allows evening access to the cemetery, located in the district of Ahlat and included on UNESCO's Tentative World Heritage List, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. from June 1 through Oct. 1.
Without disturbing the site's historic fabric, authorities have prepared illuminated walking routes and visitor areas around the centuries-old graves, offering a new perspective on one of the largest historic Turkish-Islamic cemeteries in the world.
Spanning approximately 210 decares (52 acres), the open-air cemetery is renowned for its monumental Seljuk-era tombstones and finely carved stonework, which take on a different appearance under the new lighting system. The project enables visitors to experience both the site's architectural grandeur and its spiritual atmosphere during the evening hours.
İlhan Kılıç, acting director of the Ahlat Museum, said the nighttime museum program, introduced by the Culture and Tourism Ministry's General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, has generated strong public interest.
