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Kırmızı Madrasa

The Kırmızı Madrasa (Kırmızı Medrese) was built atop the city’s western walls. The madrasa includes the family cemetery of the Cizre emirs and the tomb of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jazeri, the scientist, poet, and literary scholar. The exact date of construction is unknown, as the building lacks a cornerstone inscription and an endowment; but experts believe the building dates from the first quarter of the 14th century.

The madrasa features an inner courtyard, with classrooms, a dining hall and teacher accommodations in the east, west and north. In the southwest quadrant is a square-plan room decorated with beautiful motifs. This room was used by the poet and writer Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jazeri, as well as by Sheikh Ibrahim Sori, a grandfather of Mufti Mullah Zade.

The madrasa is called the Red Madrasa because it was built with the red bricks unique to Cizre.

The Tomb of the Prophet Noah

It is believed that the Prophet Noah, considered since the flood to be the second father of humanity, was buried in the shrine inside the mosque named after him. The tomb is below the ground; the upper levels of the mosque had deteriorated over time but when repairs were made, the tomb and mosque were both restored.

The Tomb of the Prophet Noah (Hz. Nuh Türbesi) was first used as a synagogue, then a church. In CE 639, it became a mosque. It is one of the oldest tombs in the world!

The renowned historians İbnülesin Firuzabadi, from Cizre, Evliya Çelebi, Katip Çelebi, Ebubekir Helevi and Babilli Berassus (Bersis) have written that this tomb belongs to Prophet Noah.

Abdaliye Madrasa and the Tomb of Mem U Zin

Abdaliye Madrasa (Abdaliye Medresesi) is on the rampants of Cizre. The Mem-u Zin Tomb (Mem U Zin Türbesi) is underground, in the basement under the administration rooms of the madrasa. There are three graves, which belong to Zin, Bekir and Mem. Mem-u Zin is a story about divine love, and the existence of the tomb keeps this legend alive.

Grand Mosque

Set in the Cizre city centre, the mosque has survived to the present, with additions and repairs performed at different times. There are eight inscriptions on the structure. These inscriptions indicate that the mosque was erected during the Mosul Atabeks Era, between 1155 and 1160, and was repaired in 1203 and in 1284. The most recent repair took place in 2007. The mosque’s metal door and its dragon-shaped door knockers on it are displayed in the İstanbul Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum.

Hamidiye Military Barracks

The Hamidiye Military Barracks (Hamidiye Kışlası) is in the centre of Cizre district, on the south side of the inner castle. The barracks were built in the last period of the Ottoman Empire by stone masters from Cizre and Midyat. The building was commissioned by the chief of the Cizre Miran Tribes, Mustafa Pasha (Mısto-i Miri), who was appointed as a pasha by Sultan Abdülhamid II.

Cizre Castle

Cizre Castle (Cizre Kalesi), erected in the Cizre district centre, on the banks of the Tigris River (Dicle Nehri), consists of outer and inner castles. The castle’s construction process can be determined from its ruins, dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods to the reigns of Mosul Atabeks and Cizre Beys – from the 7th to the 16th century.

Virgin Mary Church

The Virgin Mary Church (Meryem Ana Kilisesi) is in the İdil district centre, in the old residential area. The church belongs to the Syriac Orthodox Community and is currently active and open for worship. A bell tower was a later addition to the church.

Öğündük Monastery

The Öğündük Monastery (Öğündük Manastırı) is in Öğündük Village, an Assyrian village. Built as a monastery complex, the church is on the north end of the inner courtyard, with a two-storey classroom on the west side and a catacomb on the east. The courtyard is entered from the south through a monumental door. The church is currently active and open for worship.

Mor Yakup Church

Located in the village of Öğündük (formerly Midin), which can be reached via a one-kilometer paved road branching off from the İdil–Midyat highway, this settlement is one of the villages still inhabited by the Syriac community today. Mor Yakup Church, situated in the center of the village, was originally built as a monastery complex. Fully functional, well-maintained, and registered as a cultural asset, the structure remains open for worship and visitation. The complex consists of the church to the north, a two-story school building to the west, and a catacomb on the eastern side. Access to the courtyard is provided through the monumental southern gate. Mor Yakup Church is one of the key symbols of the long-standing cultural and historical heritage of the Tur Abdin region.

Kasrik Gorge

Kasrik Gorge, located along the Cizre–Şırnak highway, is one of the region’s significant passes. It serves as a natural boundary separating Southeastern Anatolia from Eastern Anatolia. With a history spanning approximately 6,000 years, the gorge is known as the “Passage of Kings.” It served as a strategic valley during the Assyrian, Persian, and Roman periods, and it is believed that Alexander the Great passed through this route during his campaigns. The deep valley carved by the Botan River, along with ancient rock carvings and reliefs, continues to reflect the historical importance of the area.

Cehennem Deresi Canyon

Cehennem Deresi Canyon, located between the İdil and Güçlükonak districts of Şırnak near the village of Sulak, is a natural valley known for its clear waters that meet the Tigris River and its dramatic rock walls. Once restricted due to security concerns, the area has now become a new destination for nature enthusiasts, thanks to its pristine environment, fish-rich streams, and approximately 20 kilometers of hiking trails. With the addition of a glass observation terrace built by the Şırnak Governorship, Cehennem Deresi Canyon has emerged as one of the region’s rising nature tourism sites.

Kato Mountain

Located in Şırnak’s Beytüşşebap district, Kato Mountain rises to an elevation of approximately 2,900 meters. Its rugged cliffs, steep slopes, and year-round snow cover allow the formation of glacial lakes in the area. Considered one of Southeastern Anatolia’s strategic mountains, Kato has long been known for its difficult passes. Today, it is increasingly explored by mountaineers, photographers, and hikers.

Mağara Village

Mağara Village, located in the İdil district, is one of Mesopotamia’s oldest Yazidi settlements. With its rock-carved houses, stone architecture, sun-oriented cemeteries, and ancient temples, the village offers visitors an impressive journey through history. With ongoing restoration and landscaping efforts, temples, cemeteries, and monuments belonging to the Yazidi faith are being preserved. These initiatives help strengthen the historical fabric of the area, transforming it into a new cultural tourism destination.