Konaklı Village: Formerly Known as Hertüs

The Village Story: From Hertüs to Konaklı

Konaklı Village, in Artvin's Ardanuç district, is also known locally by its former name, Hertüs. Although its official name is now Konaklı, the name Hertüs remains alive for many people connected with the village, especially families who left years ago and heard the region described by that name from their elders. Konaklı is therefore more meaningful when its history, former name, natural surroundings and surviving historical traces are considered together.

Where Is Konaklı Village?

Konaklı Village belongs to Artvin's Ardanuç district. It is about 10 kilometres from the district centre of Ardanuç and about 52 kilometres from Artvin city centre. Its elevation of more than 1,600 metres shapes both its climate and natural appearance; mountainous terrain, higher ground and the surrounding highlands make Konaklı a characteristic Artvin village.

One of the first things visitors notice is the quiet of the surroundings. Especially in summer, the varied shades of green, mountain air and traditional village landscape give the area a distinctive character.

Hertüs, Konaklı Village's Former Name

Konaklı's former name appears in sources as Hertvisi. Over time, the forms Hertvis, Hertus and, in local usage, Hertüs have also been used. People searching online for “Hertüs Village”, “Where is Hertüs?” or “Ardanuç Hertüs” are largely looking for today's Konaklı Village.

The village was renamed Konaklı in 1925. As is often the case with old place names, the official name changed but Hertüs continued to live on in public memory. People with ties to the village still saying “Hertüs” is its most natural expression.

What Does the Name Hertüs Mean?

The name Hertvisi is said to be of Georgian origin and to mean “the place where two streams meet.” This explanation is associated with the village's historical geography; in Anatolia and the Caucasus, old place names often relate to landforms, water sources or other natural features.

One point deserves care: different, unsourced meanings for Hertüs sometimes appear online. It is more accurate to rely on explanations that have a counterpart in historical sources than to present such claims as established fact.

A History From Hertüs to Konaklı

Konaklı's past reaches much further back than the present village settlement. Under its former name, Hertvisi, it is known as one of the settlements in the historical Klarceti region. The village entered Ottoman administration in the mid-sixteenth century and was part of the Ardanuç administrative structure of the period; records from 1574 state that Hertvisi had 36 households, while records from 1595 state that this number had fallen to 25.

A significant turning point in the region's history was the Ottoman-Russian War of 1877–1878. After the war, Ardanuç and its surroundings were under Russian administration for a time; a population survey in 1886 records 116 people in the village under the name Hertvis. Following later political developments, the region remained within Turkey's borders and the village was renamed Konaklı in 1925. For people who live in the village or whose families come from it, Hertüs and Konaklı tell two periods of the same story.

Hertüs Castle and Historical Traces in the Village

Not only Konaklı's former name but also the historical remains around it point to the village's long past. One of the most notable is Hertvisi Castle, also called Hertüs Castle. Sources state that the castle is about 120 metres long and 25 metres wide. Underground structures thought to be from earlier periods and ruins of old churches are also mentioned around the village.

Although these structures are not wholly standing today, they matter because they show that the village was once part of a wider settlement and living area. The remains seen around Konaklı should be regarded not simply as old stone structures, but as traces left by people who lived in the area for centuries.

Hertüs Is Not a Highland: It Is the Village's Former Name

One of the most common misconceptions about Konaklı online is the belief that Hertüs is the name of a highland. In fact, Hertüs is Konaklı Village's former name; the highland associated with Konaklı Village is Çuruspil Plateau.

In short: Konaklı is the village's current official name, Hertüs / Hertvisi is its former name, and Çuruspil is its highland. The distinction is important for telling the village's history accurately and helping people researching the area avoid incorrect information.

Çuruspil Plateau

Çuruspil Plateau should be considered separately when speaking of Konaklı's natural environment. In Artvin's high-altitude villages, highlands are not only natural areas visited in summer; historically, they have been an important part of livestock raising, production and daily life.

Çuruspil represents this traditional highland culture of Konaklı. In summer, the greening landscape, cool mountain air and views created by the altitude give the area a distinctive character.

Village Life in Konaklı

It would be incomplete to describe Konaklı only through historical facts and old documents; the village's real story is held in the daily lives of its people. In the past, agriculture and livestock raising were at the centre of village life. Seasonal work, journeys to the highlands, winter preparations and neighbourly relations were natural parts of everyday life.

Although the population is now smaller than in the past, families who remain connected to the village return especially during the summer. These visits pass old houses, family stories and village memories to new generations. For many people, the name Hertüs is not merely an old place name, but part of childhood memories, stories told by elders and a sense of home.

Why Is Konaklı Village Still Known as Hertüs?

In many parts of Turkey, village names have changed over time without old names disappearing from everyday language; Konaklı is no different. Hertüs is still used especially among former residents and families who moved away. When an elder says, “We are from Hertüs,” it means the same as saying, “We are from Konaklı Village,” today.

For this reason, old names matter not only to historical researchers but also to people exploring their family history. A place name encountered in an old census record, land deed, family document or gravestone can lead someone back to their village's past years later. Hertüs is one such name.

Frequently Asked Questions About Konaklı Village

Hertüs Then, Konaklı Now

Some old place names are forgotten with time. Others survive in people's language even after leaving official records; Hertüs is one of them. The place you see on the map today as Konaklı Village was formerly known as Hertvisi. The name changed, the population changed and people moved from the village to other cities, but the name Hertüs did not disappear completely.

For people connected to the village, the name still means more than a location. Konaklı is its name today; Hertüs is the old name held in the village's memory.