THE EASTERN ANATOLIA - PARIS OF TURKEY: VAN (by KeNd! HaL!nDe)
Van, is a city in eastern Turkey located at an elevation of 1750 m. The city of Van lies on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The Van region features mountainous terrain with harsh winters. The Van Lake is a beautiful blue color, but unfortunately the salinity of the lake restrains agricultural development in the region. However, there is a notable production of fruit, particularly north of the city around Van. You may reach van by flight on Turkish airlines, and the airport is 7 km from the center of town. There are service buses to the center. You may also reach Van by long-distance coach. The Railway Station is 5 km away from the city center. Ferryboats provide the railway connection between Tatvan and Van over Van Lake. Regular ferryboat voyages are available. The voyage between Van and Tatvan takes about 4 hours.
Van was the ancient Urartian capital of Tuspa, the capital of the powerful Urartu kingdom between the 13th and 8th centuries BC. In succeeding years Van was under the control of the Armenians, Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Seljuks, and Ottomans. Old Van was completely destroyed by the end of World War I (1914-1918) after being occupied by Russian forces and modern Van was built to replace it after the war. Women of Van produce beautiful Kilims woven in blue, red and white patterns.
Van is also famous for its Van cat, a pure white, longhair cat, which has the strange feature of one blue eye and the other green.
Lake Van and Akdamar Island
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey (1.646 meters high and covers an area of 3.713 km2) 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 Lake is surrounded by high mountains and there are four islands in the lake: Akdamar, Adir, Carpanak, and Kus Islands. The islands on the lake are also interesting, most of them housing many monasteries and churches. The most important of these is the Akdamar Island with its 10th century church of the Holy Cross.
The church was built by King Gagic and is a unique example of stone handcraft. The richly decorated exterior walls have Old Testament reliefs, such as the banishing of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and the birth of Jesus Christ. Adir Church on the Adir Island was constructed in 1305. Saint George's Church was added to the main complex at 1621. The Islands can be reached by taking a boat from Gevas wharf.
CASTLES AROUND VAN
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 Urartians.
The most important castles at the region are; Lower and Upper Zivistan Castles, Beyuzumu Castle, Catak Castle, Lamurkesen (Zernek) Castle, Hiset Castle, Pizan (Orenkale) Castle, Kalecik Castle, Zernaki Hill Castle, Muradiye Castle, Albak (Baskale) Castle, Delicay Castle, Celebibag Castle, Yoncatepe Castle, Mukus Castle and Amik Castle.
Van Castle 5 km from the city center. It is one of the most magnificent castles of Urartian civilization. It was founded by Sarduri the 1st in the 9th century. The rock tombs, and the Horhor inscriptions are the other important characteristics of the castle.
Hosap Castle is located 60 km from Van city center. There are watchtowers, towers, mosques, and a very old Ottoman bridge south of the castle.
Agarti Castle The castle is located on the east shore of Van Lake. The walls of the castle are still undamaged, and they are constructed of andesite.
Kef Castle is one of the most important centers of the Urartian civilization. There is a palace, and animal and plant reliefs in the castle.
Cavustepe Castle is 25 km a from the city center in Cavustepe Village. The castle has two sections, called upper and lower castles. The castle was built during the time of King Sarduri between 764 - 734 B.C. There are many temples, towers, palaces, water basins, and hieroglyphics in the castle.
Ayanis Castle is in Ayanis Village, 35 km from Van city center. It was constructed between 645 - 643 BC. It characterizes the last period of Urartian civilization. It is very close to the shore of Van Lake.
Toprakkale Castle is situated on a rocky hill of the Zimzim Mountains. It was founded by the Urartian King Rusa between BC 685 - 645. There are water basins, temples, and stairs carved on the rocks, in the castle.
Asagi-Yukari Anzaf Castles The castles are 10 km away from Van city center. There are towers, depots, palaces, silos, and inscriptions in the castle.
In the old city there are many mosques and mausoleums such as the Ulu Mosque, the Husrev Pasa Mosque, the Kaya Celebi Mosque and the Ikiz Kumbet. The Archaeological Museum in the new city exhibits the Urartian finds. At Gevas, there is a Seljuk graveyard, filled with extraordinary headstones, as well as the lovely Halime Hatun Tomb.
The Muradiye Waterfalls, located about 90 km north of Van are the perfect place to rest while listening to natures harmony at one of the restaurants or tea gardens around the falls.
Very few people know Tirsin pasture in Van. The rocky area of this 2.400 m high pasture is an open-air museum. There are thousands of pictures the rocks: Schematic pictures of bulls and bison dating between Mesolithic and Bronze Ages. These pictures created by the hunters support the thesis that the area was thickly forested in prehistoric times..
Paris Of Turkey : VAN
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