Niksar, district in Tokat Province, Turkey
Niksar is a town in Tokat Province in central Anatolia, set on a hillside above the Yesilirmak River valley. The older part of town sits higher up and is made up of stone houses, narrow lanes, and several historic structures, while the newer streets spread out below.
The town was founded as Neokaisareia in Roman times and was an important center in the Pontic region. It later passed through Byzantine and Seljuk rule, and for a period in the Middle Ages it served as the capital of the Danishmend dynasty.
The name Niksar comes from the ancient city of Neokaisareia, slowly worn down over centuries into its current form. In the old quarter, you can still find mosques, a covered market, and stone buildings that sit side by side from different eras.
The old part of town is best explored on foot, as the historic buildings are close together and parking can be limited on the narrow streets. The lanes on the hillside can be steep, so sturdy shoes are a good idea, especially after rain.
Niksar is considered by some researchers to be one of the possible starting points of the plague outbreak that spread westward in 1346. This is linked to the town's position along old trading routes that connected central Anatolia to the Black Sea ports.
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