VAN TURKEY

Van

Asa mysterious city of the East, Van is a destination where history, nature, and culture intersect, like all other cities in the Eastern Anatolian Region.In addition, Van offers a diverse rangeof winter and water sports.

Lake Van – with its azure blue waters, its history andculture, churches, mosques and castles, its nature, and wetlands, wherehundreds of bird species are seen – is the most important natural asset and acultural treasure of the region with its natural beauty.

Van Castle

Van Castle (Van Kalesi) is five km from thecity centre. This castle was erected by the King of Urartu, Sarduri I, betweenBCE 840 and 825. The city, known as Tushpa, served as the capitalof the Kingdom of Urartu for at least a century.  Aroundthe castle is the Analı-Kız Open-Air Temple (Analı Kızlı Açık HavaTapınağı), the rock tombs of Argishti 1, Menua and Sarduri II,the thousand stairs, the fortress walls and the wall boxes.

TheCastle was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List in2016.

Minua (Shamram) Water Canal

The Minua (Shamram)Canal was built by KingMinua of Urartu to bring water to the vineyards and gardens along thecanal and to the capital Tushpa. About five thousand hectares ofland along the canal are irrigated. The canal, partly dug into the ground andpartly carved into the rock, is 50 km long and has an average width of 2.5meters. The Minua (Shamram) Canal, which is still in use, is aunique example of water engineering that has been actively utilized for 2800years.

Akdamar Island and Akdamar Memorial Museum

Akdamar Island (Akdamar Adası) is the largest islandon Lake Van. From the Gevaş Pier, it takes about20 minutes by boat to reach the island. The history of the church establishedin the southeast area of Akdamar Island dates from the 10th century. GagikI Artsruni, ruler of Kingdom of Vaspurakan commissioned theconstruction of the castle by architect/priest Manuel. The reliefson church’s walls feature numerous scenes from the Bible andthe Torah. The Church, which became the Memorial Museum afterits 2007 restoration, is one of the most important faith centres in Türkiye.Akdamar Island and its Memorial Museum (Anıt Müzesi) were included in the UNESCOWorld Heritage Temporary List in 2015.

There isa long-running story about the name of Akdamar Island. According to thishistory, the name of the island was originally Ah Tamar, whichbecame Ahtamara, and then, finally, Akdamar, and thusto the present day.

Süleyman Han Mosque

Süleyman Han Mosque (Cami) is an important ruinprominent in the skyline of Van Castle. According to the records of EvliyaÇelebi, the mosque was renovated by order of Süleyman, theMagnificent in 1534. The minaret is a symbol of the OttomanEmpire´s domination of the region.

Hoşap Castle

Thiscastle is in Hoşap (Güzelsu) on the Van-Hakkari highway inthe Gürpınar district of Van. The medieval castle, built on asteep rock mass northwest of the Hoşap River (Hoşap Nehri),consists of the inner castle, and the outer castle to the north. While thecastle’s history dates from the kingdom of Urartu, most of itssurviving structure was built by the Mahmudi, a tribe subject tothe Ottoman Empire. Abandoned in the middle of the 19th century,the castle’s inner structures have remained largely intact to this day. Forthis reason, it is a notable symbolic structure of the region.

Çavuştepe Castle

Thiscastle is in Çavuştepe Village (Çavuştepe Köyü) in the Gürpınar district.Itconsists of upper and lower castles built by King Sarduri II of Urartu between BCE764-734. It contains temples, cisterns, palaces, and warehouse buildings.

Ayanis Castle

AyanisCastle (Ayanis Kalesi) is the last magnificent fortress of the Kingdomof Urartu. The castle is built atop a hill northwest of AyanisVillage (Ayanis Köyü), 35 km from Van. According to the cuneiforminscription, the castle was built between BCE 645-643 by Rusa, sonof Argishti, King of Urartu. The castle and the city carry theglory and sophistication of the Kingdom of Urartu without anymissing pieces to the present day. It is the most well-preserved Urartusettlement with its magnificent walls and huge warehouses, as well as itsdomestic spaces, palaces, and temples. In addition, the castle´s locationoffers vistas of the beautiful shores of Lake Van (Van Gölü), amagnificent view integrated with Mount Suphan (Süphan Dağı), and extraordinarysunsets.

Seven Churches

The Seven Churches (Yedi Kilise) are in the village ofUpper Bakraçlı, in the centre of Van, at the foot of Mount Erek (ErekDağı). Called Varagavank Monastery (Varagavank Manastırı), thecompound does not actually include the seven churches of its name: there arefive churches in two groups, a jamatun added to the church, and a library and abell tower. The oldest of the churches that constitute the Monastery is theChurch of St. Sophia, built in the 8th century and of which only the abscissasurvives. The second is the Church of St. John, built adjacent to the northwall of the Church of St. Sophia and now in ruins. These two structuresconstitute the first group. The core of the second group of structures – all ofwhich have survived – is the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, builtbetween 1003-1021. A rectangular structure in the east-west direction from theoutside was built, with a four-leaf-clover interior plan; the interior isformed by rooms located in the corners, opened in four directions, withsemi-circular niches. The dome of the church is collapsed.

St. Bartholomeus Church

Thechurch is in Albayrak village (Albayrak Köyü) of the Başkale district.Built on a hill overlooking the great Zap Valley (Zap Vadisi), the churchand jamatun were built on the same date. According to the most common belief,the church was built in the 4th century on the Tomb of SaintBartholomeus. Based on information referencing the monastery, it isbelieved that the church and jamatun were built at the end of the 13th centuryand the beginning of the 14th century.

Accordingto some sources, during the Diocese of Vardapet Kirakos, the churchand jamatun underwent repairs in 1651 during the rule of Husrev Sharif,the governor of Hakkari, which was part of the Ottoman Empire. Thechurch and the jamatun, dated from the 17th and 18th centuries, are stillstanding.

The Red Minaret Mosque

Themosque, in the Tebrizkapı neighbourhood (Tebrizkapı mahallesi),east of old Van city, is also known as Sinaniye Mosque (SinaniyeCamisi) or Tebriz Gate Mosque (Tebrizkapı Cami).

Theminaret of the present mosque dates from the Seljuk period andthe mosque from the Ottoman period. It is not clear whenexactly it was constructed, as there is no inscription on it. The Seljuk-eraminaret rises on a square pedestal with a cylindrical tower. The pedestal ispartly composed of cut-stone, part of the tower is made of brick. A geometrical insert strip runs through the tower;the lower and upper sections of this strip have tile plates called ‘baçini’.The upper part of the minaret was also destroyed. The mosque, built later, hasa transverse rectangular plan; the middle part is covered with a dome, and thesides with cradle vaults. While some of the mosque walls are still standing,the upper cover was completely destroyed. The mosque is entered through a doorthat opens to the north facade.

Meherkapı Inscription

The Meherkapı Inscription (Meherkapı Yazıtı) is a Urartiancuneiform inscription found 600 meters west of Toprakkale, in aniche created by carving into the bedrock on the southern front of themountain. This inscription, four meters high and 2.70 meters wide, is from thereign of the Urartian King Ishpuini. The inscription containsinformation about the religion of the Urartian state, as well as the gods andgoddesses and lists of daily sacrifices submitted to them.

Abdurrahman Gazi Mosque and Kümbet

Themosque and kümbet are located northeast of Van Castle (Van Kalesi),under the Analı Kız Open-Air Temple (Analı Kızlı Açık Hava Tapınağı).It is estimated that the kümbet in the northwest corner of the mosque was builtin the first half of the 19th century.

Selçuklu Cemetery and the Kümbet of Halime Hatun

Thecemetery and kümbet are in the Karşıyaka District in Gevaştown. The cemetery is a first-degree archaeological site. On the east sideof the cemetery is the Kümbet of Halime Hatun. According to theinscription on the entrance gate, this structure was built in 1335 by GovernorIzzeddin for his daughter Halime Hatun.

The Kümbet of Kadem Paşa Hatun

Thekümbet is located at the exit of Erciş district, on the sideof the road. According to the inscription, it was built in 1458. The kümbet isa two-story building with a dodecagon body and pyramidal cones, built ofsmooth-cut stone material.

Izzeddin Shir Mosque

Themosque is in the Hişet District in Gevaş town.Although there is no inscription on it related to its construction, it isbelieved to have been built by the Judge of Van and Hakkari, IzzettinShir. It is generally dated to the 14th-15th centuries. On the north sideof the mosque is the madrasa.  

Old Van City

Old Van City (Eski Van Şehri) is filled with ruinsthat bear traces of the Turkish dominions that dominated the region from the2nd century. The fortifications surrounding the city of Tushpa inthree directions were reinforced with bastions. On the walls, there isthe Tebriz Gate (Tebrizkapı) to the East, the MiddleGate (Ortakapı) to the south and the Pier Gate to theWest. The city, inhabited until the Russian occupation in 1915, featuredneighbourhoods with mosques, churches and other structures consisting of singleor two-storey houses. Among the monuments of Old Van are the GrandMosque (Ulu Cami), the Red Minaret Mosque (Kızıl Minareli Cami), the HüsrevPasha social complex (külliye) and the Kaya Çelebi Mosque (Kaya Çelebi Cami). HorhorMosque (Horhor Cami), Beylerbeyi Haci Mustafa Pasha Mosque (Beylerbeyi HacıMustafa Paşa Cami), Kethüda Ahmet Mosque (Kethüda Ahmet Cami), Miri Ambari,Cistern, Double (twin) Kümbet, Saint Paul and Peter Church (double Church), St.Vardan Church, St. Stepanos Church, and St. Dsirvanarov Chapel areother important structures.

Hüsrev Pasha Mosque and Social Complex

Locatedin old Van, the complex includes a madrasa, a tomb, and animaret. The mosque was built by Köse Hüsrev Pasha, governor of Van in1567, according to its inscription on the entrance gate. It is considered amongthe works of Mimar Sinan.

Kaya Çelebi Mosque

Accordingto the foundation, the mosque was started by Kaya Çelebi Zade Koçi Bey in1660 but, following the execution of Koçi Bey in 1663, construction wascompleted by Cem Dedemoğlu Mehmet Bey. Built with two-coloured cutstones, the mosque is an important Ottoman-era structure.

Horhor Mosque

Sincethere is no inscription on the foundation of the Horhor Mosque (HorhorCami), its date and builder are unknown. Its architectural features suggestthat it dates from the 18th century.

Double (Twin) Kümbet

The twokümbet, built in the 18th century, are octagonal in plan. Built with cut stone,each kümbet has facades that sit on corner columns, and a dome-like interiorcovered with a pyramidal cone. The kümbet on the south belongs to TeymurPasha, governor of Van; the north kümbet to either his brother, AhmedPasha, or to the governor, Mehmet Emin Pasha. The area wherethe kümbet are found became a cemetery in time. The kümbet in the north wasdestroyed in an earthquake in 2011.

Devil´s Bridge

The bridge (Şeytan Köprüsü) is over the BendiMahi Brook near the town of Muradiye. Running in aneast-west direction, the single-lane bridge sits on the cliffs. It is believedthat this impressive bridge was built at the end of the 19th century and thebeginning of the 20th century. 

Hurkan Bridge

The Hurkan Bridge (Hurkan Köprüsü) is located onthe Çatak River (Çatak Nehri), at the Çatak - Narlı Roadintersection. It is one of the historic buildings over which the oldVan-Mosul caravans passed. The bridge is believed to have been builtduring the Ottoman period, after the 16th century.

Red Bridge

The Red Bridge (Kırmızı Köprü) on the Bahçesaray-Hizan roadwas built on the Müküs stream. The bridge, which is still inuse, has a single-lane and a pointed arch. 

Örnek Van Houses

The Örnek Van Houses (Evleri) are in the Kalecikdistrict, about 5 km from the city center, in the figure of the Eagle´sNest, at an altitude of 1,830 meters; there is also a viewing terrace thatoverlooks the entire city. The viewing terrace, which is about 250 metershigher than the city of Van, is one of the best places to watch the sunseton Lake Van (Van Gölü). The houses here were mostly built after1915.

Edremit Maiden´s Castle Viewing Terrace

Edremit Maiden´s Castle (Kız Kalesi), which has a historyof about 3000 years, was used as a votive and altar place by the Urartu civilizationdue to its hilltop position dominating the region. It was considered a sacredplace where various ceremonies were held and where the Urartu Kings werecrowned. Edremit Maiden´s Castle is also a panoramic viewing terrace with a stunningview of Lake Van (Van Gölü).

Van Museum

The mainreason for Van´s cultural wealth, which can be described as the intersectionpoint of civilizations, is the heritage left by the many civilizations it hassheltered. The Urartians, who emerged in this region in BCE 900 andchose fertile and beautiful Van as their capital, were a civilization far aheadof their era in architecture, technology, art and mining. The VanMuseum (Van Müzesi), which offers a comprehensiveperspective on the Urartians, awaits visitors who desire to see the heritage ofall the civilizations that have left their mark over thousands of years ofhistory in the ancient city of Van, especially this resplendent civilization.

Vanodoccian Fairy Chimneys

In YavuzlarVillage (Yavuzlar Köyü), 33 km from the town center, the fairy chimneys arecalled Vanadoccia by local people. Formed over thousands ofyears, these fairy chimneys are the ultimate result of the lava-turned-rockspewed by the volcanic Yiğit Mountain (Yiğit Dağı) and thesubsequent the erosion of those rocks by rainwater and wind. The fairy chimneysattract many visitors each year, especially in summer. They also draw attentionfor their numerous tunnels and caves measuring meters long – geographicalfeatures which have emerged due to rainfall in recent years.

Akçalı Travertines

Thetravertines are 45 km from the town center of Başkale, near thevillage of Dereiçi. Even now continuing to form, the travertineshave an important place in the miraculous natural legacies of Van.

Lake Van Microbialites

Microbialites are rock-like structures formed by thephotosynthesis of cyanobacteria and the microalgae and calcium carbonatedeposits from the water around them. Microbialites were abundant on earthmillions of years ago, but exist today in very few places and in limitednumbers. The microbialites in Lake Van (Van Gölü) are thelargest in the world. With sizes varying from 30 centimetres to 18 meters, theyare found at depths between 1.5 meters and 23 meters. Like the coral reefs theyresemble, each microbialite cluster is unique.

Thepresence of microbiolites has laid the groundwork for the development of divingin Lake Van. The presence of a Russian sunken ship also makes Lake Van anattractive spot for diving. World-renowned athlete Şahika Ercümen set a recordwith a 61-meter free dive in Lake Van.