Batman

Batman is the capital of Batman Province in southeastern Turkey, built on the Batman River just before it joins the Tigris. Named for the river rather than any comic-book character, the city grew from the small settlement of Iluh into a regional oil and industrial centre after petroleum was discovered nearby in the 1940s.

The city's modern identity is closely tied to oil: Batman became a district centre in 1957, gained its current name around that time and became a provincial capital in 1990. The surrounding region has a much deeper past, visible at the ancient Tigris-side settlement of Hasankeyf with its cave dwellings, tombs, mosques and castle.

Key sights include the ruined medieval town of Hasankeyf and its museum, the 12th-century Artuqid Malabadi Bridge over the Batman River, and the Batman Museum (Mehmet Cabir Alper Archaeology Museum) in the city centre. The Mor Kiryakus Monastery near Beşiri reflects the area's Syriac Christian heritage, while the riverfront, tea gardens and the Batman road signs are familiar local landmarks.

Oil refining and the petroleum industry remain central to the local economy, alongside agriculture, livestock and Batman University. Compact and practical, the city is a useful base for business visitors and for travellers exploring the Tigris valley, Hasankeyf and nearby cities such as Diyarbakır and Mardin.