Historical sites to visit in Van
Before embarking on our tour of Van, here are some notes on the province.
- Van is Türkiye’s nineteenth most populous province, with a population of over 1,140,000.
- Van is the largest province in the Eastern Anatolia region and is home to Lake Van, the largest lake in Türkiye.
- The city of Van has a robust public transportation system. The BELVAN card is used to enter various public transport vehicles.
- A prominent handicraft in Van is the “savat” (niello). The Ministry of Culture describes it thus: “savat, which comes from the Arabic word ‘esvad’ which means ‘black’, is a handicraft made with black nib applied on silver.” These elaborate pieces are prized as gifts, for loved ones or yourself!
- Turkish Airlines operates numerous flights every day from İstanbul and Ankara to Van. You can visit the Van flight ticket page for more information.
Three castles: Van, Hoşap, Çavuştepe
Van Castle
The history of Van Castle, five kilometers from the Van city center, dates to around 800 BC. Erected by the Urartian King Sarduri I, the castle, also known as the Fortress of Van, features walls and towers, and rock tombs and military structures built of adobe and stone. The structure was used for military purposes during the Ottoman period.
Hoşap Castle
Van is sometimes called the “city of castles” and indeed, the second stop on our tour is Hoşap Castle. Located in Hoşap on the borders of the Gürpınar district, Hoşap Castle, like Van Castle, was erected during the Urartian period. The castle today features the remains of a mosque and village houses, as well as a harem, a viewing pavilion and the selamlık (the portion of a house reserved for men). It is relatively well-preserved and is among the city’s symbolic structures.
Çavuştepe Castle
Çavuştepe Castle, the third Van castle, is also in the Gürpınar district. Like the other castles, Çavuştepe Castle was erected by the Urartians, in this case by King Sarduri II. It was unearthed during archaeological excavations carried out between 1961-86. It stands out as an extraordinary historical structure featuring stables, temple, palace buildings and cuneiform inscriptions.
Faith structures: Seven Churches (Yedi Kilise), Akdamar Church (Akdamar Kilisesi), and Hüsrev Pasha Mosque (Hüsrev Paşa Cami)
Seven Churches (Yedi Kilise)
Although this site is called “Seven Churches”, it is actually five medieval Armenian churches in two groups, along with a jamatun (church house sometimes used for burials), a library and a bell tower. The oldest was erected in the eighth century and the most recent in the eleventh century. Set within the borders of Yukarı Bakraçlı village, the Seven Churches are located on the skirts of Erek Mountain. It is also known as the Varagavank Monastery.
Akdamar Church
Akdamar Church is often depicted in various photographs and postcards from Van. The church, set on Akdamar Island in the Gevaş district, was erected as a palace church and later converted into a monastery. Akdamar Church (Akdamar Monument Museum) features reliefs on its exterior walls and frescoes in its interior, many of which display influences from Central Asian Turkish art.
Hüsrev Pasha Mosque
The Hüsrev Pasha Mosque is within a complex set in Ortakapı. In addition to the mosque, the complex includes a madrasah, a tomb, and an imaret (soup kitchen). The mosque was commissioned in 1567 by Köse Hüsrev Pasha, governor of Van, and built by the celebrated architect Mimar Sinan.
Natural beauties of Van
Two wonderful lakes: Van and Erçek lakes
Lake Van
A famous natural wonder, Lake Van is 120 kilometers long and 80 kilometers wide – the largest lake in Türkiye, as well as the world’s largest saline soda lake. Sometimes called the ‘Van Sea’ by local residents, the lake has no natural outlets or inlets but is fed via small streams from surrounding mountains. This famous lake is certainly one of the first places to see in Van. ☺
Lake Erçek
Although somewhat overshadowed by Lake Van, Lake Erçek is described by local residents as the “little sibling of the Van Sea”. Lake Erçek is a barrier lake to the east of Lake Van and is considered a paradise for birds – it offers a natural environment that serves as a habitat for dozens of bird species.
Two waterfalls: Muradiye and Kanispi
Muradiye Waterfall
Muradiye Waterfall, on the border of the Muradiye district, is 80 kilometers from the Van city center. The 50-meter-high falls are quite beautiful; in winter, they sometimes freeze. The area is popular for camping.
Kanispi Waterfall
The Kanispi Waterfall is 75 kilometers from the Van city center and 5 kilometers from the district center of Çatak. Its waters begin flowing at the end of April and start to dry up around the beginning of September. If you’re in the area during the summer, you can sample the trout from the farm next to the waterfall.
Van legacies: Van cat, Vanadokya and the Devil’s Bridge
Van Kedisi Evi
Also known as the Van Cat Home, this delightful institution is home to about 160 Van cats. The Van cat is known for its silky white fur and its odd-eyed (heterochromia) cats. While some Van cats do have eyes that are the same color, many of them have one blue eye and one amber-colored eye. Playful, curious, and social, the Van cat is a special cat breed that enchants all those who encounter these felines. To visit these cats, whose homeland is Van, you can stop by the Van Cat Home. It’s about 13 kilometers from the city center, on the grounds of the Zeve Campus of Yüzüncü Yıl University.
Vanadocia (Vanadokya – Van Fairy Chimneys)
The fairy chimneys in the Başkale district of Van are often referred to as “Vanadokya” by local residents, because they resemble the renowned fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. The many tunnels and caves in the area have undoubtedly made Vanadokya a center of attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists.
Devil’s Bridge (Şeytan Köprüsü)
Among Van’s extraordinary historical structures is the Devil’s Bridge (Şeytan Köprüsü). Erected over the Bend-i Mahi Stream in the Muradiye district in the 19th century, the bridge is about 17 meters high and three meters wide. It was built to provide access to the villages to the west of the stream but, due to its narrow width, people were known to tumble off the bridge and into the water below. According to one rumor, an entire wedding procession fell off the bridge with dire consequences and, from that time, the bridge has been known as the Devil’s Bridge.
Famous Van dishes
The city of Van was once a stop on the ancient Silk Road and it has been suggested that this status was significant in the formation of Van’s famous breakfast tradition. The Van breakfast, mainly consisting of all-natural products, is among the finest variations of the hearty and now world-renowned Turkish breakfast. Some of the special Van breakfast dishes include kidney bean salad with tzatziki, honey and cream, and bright red tea.
Other Van specialties include:
- Çiriş rice
- Van fish
- Borani
- Herbed cheese
- Spoon dessert (Kaşık Tatlısı)
Bon Appetit in advance!
