Van

Van and its environment had been a popular center of population because of its geographical structure, and a number of civilizations had lived here. Van used to be the capital city of Urania State. It had been controlled by Hurrines, Hittites, Persians, Meds, Seljuks and Ottomans till today.

Lake Van is the most important tourism center of the Eastern Anatolia with the Akdamar Church, the castles in the region, with its cat, and with its geography that provides many tourism activities.

How to Get

Highway In Van, there exists the highway that connects Iran to Turkey.

The Inter - City Bus Station is 4 km away from the city center. It can be reached there by minibus.
Railway The Railway Station is 5 km away from the city center. It can be reached there by minibus.

Railway Station Tel : ( + 90 -432 ) 213 13 80

Airport The airport is 7 km away from the city center. It can be reached to the airport by minibus or by service busses of Turkish Airlines.

Airport Tel : ( + 90 - 432 ) 217 16 54 THY
Reservation Office : ( + 90 - 432 ) 216 10 19

Van Lake Transportation Parallel to the Railway, the railway connection between Tatvan and Van is provided by ferry boats over Van Lake. Regular ferry boat voyages are available. The voyage between Van and Tatvan takes about 4 hours. Tourist Vocations to the islands on the Van Lake are available.

Lakes

Van Lake and Akdamar Island

The city takes its name from the Van Lake. It is the biggest sodium carbonate Lake in the world. The Lake is covered with high mountains. There are four islands in the lake; named, Akdamar, Adır, Çarpanak, and Kuş Islands. It had been given many names to the Lake in the history, like Little Sea, High Sea, and Nairi sea. The water of the Van Lake is very salty and full of sodium carbonate. It foams without using any soap. One can wash his/her clothes in the Lake without using and detergents. The color of the Van Lake changes at any time of the date and at any time of the year. The unspoiled and green shores effects the visitors.

Akdamar Island is the greatest island in the lake. The church founded by King Gagic is an unique example of stone handcraft. It can be reached to island by taking the boats from Gevaş Wharf.

Castles

Van can be called as “the city of castles”. There are many castles in Van. Some of these castles had been constructed in the Middle Ages, and some had been made at the times of Uranians.

The most important castles at the region are; Down and Upper Zıvistan Castles, Beyüzümü Castle, Çatak Castle, Lamurkesen (Zernek) Castle, Hişet Castle, Pizan (Örenkale) Castle, Kalecik Castle, Zernaki Hill Castle, Muradiye Castle, Albak (Başkale) Castle, Deliçay Castle, Çelebibağ Castle, Yoncatepe Castle, Müküs Castle and Amik Castle.

Van Castle Van Castle is within the borders of Van city. It is 5 km away from the city center. It is one of the most magnificent castles of Urinian civilization. It had been founded by the son of Lutupri, Sarduri the 1st in the 9th century. On the walls of the castle, there exists the oldest Urinian hieroglyphics. The rock tombs, and the Horhor inscriptions are the other important characteristics of the castle.

The old houses, thermal baths, mosques and vaults in the old city center makes you take a trip in the history.
Hoşap Castle Hoşap Castle takes place within the borders of Hoşap District, and it is 60 km away from Van city center. The castle had been constructed on a sloppy rock. There are watch towers, towers, mosques, and many other authentic values in the castle. There also exists the oldest Ottoman Bridge of the region at the south of the castle.

Ağartı Castle The castle takes place at the east shore of Van Lake. The walls of the castle are still undamaged, and they had been constructed with andesite stones.

Kef Castle Kef Castle is one of the most important centers of the Urinian civilization. There is a palace, and animal and plant reliefs in the castle.
Çavuştepe Castle The castle is 25 km away from the city center. It takes place within the borders of Çavuştepe Village of Gürpınar District. The castle has two sections, called upper and down castles. The castle had founded by King 2nd Sarduri at BC 764 - 734. There are many temples, towers, palaces, water basins, and hieroglyphics in the castle.

Ayanıs Castle It takes place within the borders of Ayanış Village, which is 35 km away from Van city center. It had been constructed between BC 645 - 643. It enlightens the last periods of Urinian civilization. It is very close to the shore of Van Lake.

Toprakkale Castle It takes place on a rocky hill of Zimzim Mountains. It had been founded by the Urinian King Rusa the 2nd, between BC 685 - 645. There are water basins, temples, and stairs carved on the rocks, in the castle.

Aşağı-Yukarı Anzaf Castles The castles are 10 km away from Van city center. There are towers, depots, palaces, silos, and inscriptions in the castle.

Churches

Akdamar Church It is the church that gives its name to the biggest island of the Van Lake which it is on. It is at the southeast of the island and 3 m away from the shore. It can be reached to the island by boats.

It had been founded by King Gagik for the honor of sacred cross. There are a variety of figurative representations in the church, such as the banishing of Adam and Eve from the Heavben, and the birth of Jesus Christ.

Adır Church The church takes place on the Adır Island of the Van Lake. It had been made in 1305. Saint George’s Church had been added to the main complex at 1621.

Yedi Church It had been constructed to the foots of Erek Mountain in the 8th century.

Mosques, Medreses (Theological Schools) and Vaults

The most important mosques in Van are Ulu Mosque, Hüsrev Paşa Mosque, Kızıl Mosque, Gevaş İzzettin Çir Mosque, Süleyman Han Mosque, Kaya Çelebi Mosque, Horhor Mosque and Abbasağa Mosque. Hüsrev Paşa Medrese (Theological School), Hoşap Hasan Bey Medrese, Hoşap Evliya Bey Medrese, Gevaş Halime Hatun Vault, Erciş Anonim (Zortul) Vault are the places that should be visited by the visitors.

Bridges and Water Channels

The most famous bridges in Van are Bend-i Mahi Bridge, Kırmızı Bridge, Çatak Bridge, Hurkan Köprüsü, Zeril Bridge, and Şeytan Bridge
The first water channels and dams in van had been built by the Urinians between BC 9 and BC 6. The most important water channel in Van is Menua (Semiramis/Şamran) Water Channel. It had been founded by Urinian King Menua. This water channel is an unique example of engineering genius. It is still being used by the local people.

Traditional Van Houses

Van houses brings the examples of traditional Van architecture to our times. The Van Houses, Bazaars, streets, districts, thermal baths, and stone roads are all typical examples of this architecture.

Promenade

The promenade areas in Van are Edremit, Gevaş, the Çatak forest that two streams unite, and Amik which is famous for its fruit gardens.

Sports Activities

Hunting Tourism Van is very famous for its game animals. It is possible to go for hunting in all the seasons of the year. The main animals that are free to hunt are; partridge, duck, bustard bird, mountain goat, rabbit, bear, and wild boar. It is also possible to go fishing in the area.