The harvest of rosehip, one of the leading agricultural products grown in Gümüşhane, is completed in September. Rosehip is an important source of employment and additional income in the city. Every year, a multi-day event called the International Rosehip, Pestil, Culture and Tourism Festival is organized to highlight its various benefits and increase public awareness of the fruit.

Traditional Games…

Throughout the International Rosehip, Pestil, Culture and Tourism Festival, guests from Türkiye and abroad are treated to a variety of activities, including food, pestil, and soup competitions, folk dances, musical performances, parade marches, theater performances, and traditional folk games.

A Festival Continuing for 25 Years

The International Rosehip, Pestil, Culture and Tourism Festival has been held for a quarter of a century. Supported by Gümüşhane Municipality and the Gümüşhane Governorship, the event introduces local and international visitors to the benefits and history of rosehip and its contribution to the region. It also promotes the region’s cultural architecture, while the historical heritage shaped over centuries is presented in meticulous detail by academics and individuals selected by the organizing committee.

Award-Winning Competitions

Having hosted numerous civilizations throughout history, Gümüşhane is a city renowned for its cuisine, from sweet dishes to savory specialties. As part of the festival, local chefs prepare desserts made with rosehip as well as some of the city’s most distinctive dishes to showcase its culinary heritage. Award-winning cooking competitions are also organized. These competitions are among the most exciting moments of the International Rosehip, Pestil, Culture and Tourism Festival, attracting numerous participants who compete enthusiastically for the top prize.

Rosehip: Tea or Marmalade

Rosehip is commonly enjoyed at breakfast as marmalade or jam. Rich in vitamin C, it is also widely consumed as juice or tea. Gümüşhane is Türkiye’s leading rosehip-producing city, with an annual production of approximately 1,500 tons. Of the 27 rosehip species found in Türkiye, 17 are also found in Gümüşhane.

Grown in the Mountains

Rosehip is primarily grown around the city center and in the districts of Köse, Şiran, and Kelkit. Rosehips growing in the mountains are harvested, their seeds are removed, and the fruit is crushed. Once dried, it is prepared as tea, while boiling it produces marmalade. The International Rosehip, Pestil, Culture and Tourism Festival is a unique event that brings all these local flavors and traditions together for the public to discover.