The Kur River divides Ardahan in the samenamed province (83 km from Kars) and separates the ancient pan on one side from the new city on the other. A 16th century castle built by Sultan Selim the Grim, one of the most stately citadels in Turkey with 14 towers and a span of 745 meters, stands in the old pan of the city. To the north of Ardahan via Posof lies the Turkgozu bordergate which is now open for travel to the republic of Georgia.