The sacred places, tombs, and the motifs found in legends related to them in Gümüşhane

Many historical and cultural heritages stand out in Gümüşhane, which has hosted many civilizations. The tombs and entombed saints in Gümüşhane are among these cultural heritages. In this study, the tombs and entombed saints in Gümüşhane and the legends told about them were investigated. It has been observed that the interest in such places has decreased as a result of social and community norms changing with technology. In order to protect this cultural heritage, which is on the brink of being lost, the visit sites in Gümüşhane have been researched and information has been gathered about them. While researching tombs and entombed saints in Gümüşhane, field research and compilation methods were used. Pictures of the places visited were taken and archived. The stories of some of the people from whom we collected information about these places were audio recorded and archived. The legends told about holy places and entombed saints listened to and recorded. Our research consists of an introduction, three main sections, a conclusion, references, and appendices. The introduction section explains the purpose, scope, and methodology of the research. Subsequently, the historical development of Gümüşhane was mentioned. In the first chapter, basic concepts about holy places, tombs and legends are explained. In the second chapter, the visit and tomb sites in Gümüşhane and its districts, along with the legends told about them, are presented. In the third chapter, the motifs in the legends are identified and explained. Keywords: Legend, Gümüşhane, Tomb, Sacred places.