Palu (Palû): A Citadel on the Euphrates
- Sherko Sabir
- Jun 6
- 4 min read
Introduction
Palu (Kurdish: Palû) is an ancient Kurdish town in Elazığ Province in eastern Turkey, set dramatically on the Murat river — the great eastern branch of the Euphrates — beneath a towering citadel rock. With a history reaching back thousands of years, Palu is best known today as a heartland of the Sheikh Said movement, the famous Kurdish uprising of 1925, and as one of the most striking old towns of the region.
Its ruined citadel, its old town by the river, and its place in Kurdish history make Palu a town of real weight. This profile looks at its setting, its past, and its memory.
Key Takeaways
• Palu (Kurdish: Palû) is a historic Kurdish town in Elazığ Province in eastern Turkey.
• It stands on the Murat river beneath an ancient citadel rock.
• The site has been inhabited since antiquity, with very old inscriptions.
• Palu is closely associated with the Sheikh Said uprising of 1925.
• The old town and citadel make it one of the region’s most striking sites.
Quick Facts
Name (Kurdish): Palû
Country / Region: Turkey (Bakur)
Province: Elazığ
River: The Murat (eastern Euphrates)
Landmark: The citadel of Palu
Antiquity: Inhabited since ancient times
Famous For: The Sheikh Said uprising of 1925
Character: A historic riverside town
Contents
Where Is Palu?
Palu lies in the east of Elazığ Province, on the Murat river in the rugged country between the city of Elazığ and the Kurdish heartlands around Diyarbakır. The old town sits where the river runs below a steep rocky height crowned by its ancient citadel, a setting that made Palu both defensible and important on the routes through the eastern mountains.
The Citadel and the River
The heart of old Palu is its citadel, perched on a sheer rock above the Murat. From this commanding height generations of rulers watched over the river crossing and the town below, and the ruins of walls, a mosque, and old houses still cling to the slopes. The setting — grey rock, green river, and the ruins of the old town — is one of the most beautiful and evocative in the region, a place where the long history of Palu is written into the landscape itself.
An Ancient Town
Palu is very old. The rock above the town bears an inscription left by the kings of Urartu nearly three thousand years ago, and the site passed through the hands of many powers across the centuries — ancient kingdoms, Romans and Persians, and the Islamic and Ottoman states. For much of its later history Palu was a seat of local Kurdish lords and a centre of religious learning, and the old town accumulated the mosques, tombs, and shrines of that long past before the modern town grew up nearby.
Palu and Sheikh Said
Palu holds a special place in modern Kurdish history as a heartland of Sheikh Said, the religious leader who led the great Kurdish uprising of 1925 against the new Turkish Republic. The region around Palu was central to the movement, and the rebellion — the first major Kurdish revolt of the republican era — began in these districts before spreading across the southeast. Its defeat was followed by harsh reprisals, and the events left a deep mark on the town and on Kurdish memory. To this day Palu is remembered as one of the cradles of that historic uprising.
Palu Today
Today the old town of Palu stands largely as a historic site, its citadel and ruins drawing visitors, while a newer town carries on modern life nearby. Set on its river beneath the ancient rock, Palu remains a place of great beauty and deep history — a Kurdish town that has watched empires pass and that still carries the memory of one of the defining moments in the Kurdish struggle.
Timeline
ancient times — Palu is inhabited and inscribed by the kings of Urartu.
through history — The citadel town passes through many empires on the Murat river.
Ottoman era — Palu is a seat of local Kurdish lords and religious learning.
1925 — The region is a heartland of the Sheikh Said uprising.
today — Old Palu stands as a historic site beside the modern town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Palu?
Palu is a historic town in Elazığ Province in eastern Turkey, on the Murat river beneath an ancient citadel rock.
Why is Palu historically important?
Palu has ancient roots, including an Urartian inscription, and is famous as a heartland of the Sheikh Said uprising of 1925, the first major Kurdish revolt against the Turkish Republic.
What is the Palu citadel?
The citadel is the ancient fortress on the rocky height above the old town and the Murat river, around which old Palu, with its mosques and tombs, was built.
Who was Sheikh Said?
Sheikh Said was a Kurdish religious leader who led the 1925 uprising against the Turkish Republic; the region around Palu was central to his movement.
Related People, Places, and Topics
Sheikh Said · the 1925 uprising · the citadel of Palu · Elazığ · Diyarbakır · Bingöl.
References and Further Reading
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