Van Castle

Van Castle is a historical structure built on a rocky massif extending in the east-west direction within the Van Plain, located five kilometers from the center of Van in Türkiye. It is situated on a natural rocky outcrop measuring 1800 meters in length, 20 to 120 meters in width, and approximately 100 meters in height. The castle exhibits a topographic profile that is steep and vertical on the south and sloping on the north. Its three-part structure draws attention, with the northern entrance path forming a gentle ramp from west to east. Located four kilometers east of Lake Van, the castle today attracts tourists with its historical integrity and the city, lake and mountain views it offers.

Van Castle (Gürpınar Subdistrict Office)

History

Van Castle was founded between 840 and 825 BC by King Sarduri I of Urartu. The fortress, known as Tušpa, served as the capital of the Urartian Kingdom for approximately 300 years and was constructed in the mid-9th century BC. Built under the orders of Sarduri I, it became one of the most significant centers of Urartian civilization and was governed by 13 rulers during this period. With a history spanning nearly 2850 years since 855 BC, building is regarded as one of the oldest structures in the world and has survived largely intact. It lost its importance as the Urartian capital when King Rusa II, facing Assyrian invasions, moved the capital to Toprakkale. In subsequent periods, the fortress was repaired by successive ruling peoples and was notably used as a military base during the Ottoman era.

Van Castle (YYÜ)

Architectural Features and Remains

The castle is surrounded by rock-cut ramparts, moats, and defensive walls. Important structures dating from the Urartian period include the Madır (Sarduri) Tower, the Analı-Kız Open-Air Temple, the rock-cut tombs of Argişti I, Menua, and Sarduri II, the Thousand Steps (Satan Steps), and inscribed stelae. The Sarduri Tower, located immediately west of the entrance, is a rectangular structure measuring 47 meters in length, 13 meters in width, and 4 meters in height. Cuneiform inscriptions in Assyrian script, commissioned by Sarduri I, are carved on its stones; these inscriptions constitute the most important evidence confirming Tušpa as the Urartian capital. Additionally, in the southern section of the castle, regularly planned chambers belonging to Urartian kings were carved directly into the main rock. The tomb monument of Argişti I and his cuneiform annals at the northwestern end are particularly notable.

After the Urartian period, the castle persisted until the Ottoman era without leaving significant remains other than a Persian inscription. During the Ottoman period, the castle was used exclusively for military purposes. Structures built during this time include the eastern ramparts and towers, the northwestern entrance gate, fortification walls, the Upper Castle, Süleyman Inn Mosque and its minaret, as well as various buildings constructed of adobe and stone. The defensive walls, towers, and bastions were built using rubble stone, adobe, and cut stone, forming the silhouette of the castle from the north. The castle is encircled by four distinct walls: two from the Urartian period and two from the Akkoyunlu and Ottoman Turkish periods. Within the castle during the Ottoman era, there were mosques, madrasa, barracks, and water cisterns. Evliya Çelebi noted that around 300 Janissaries and artillerymen lived within the inner castle, that the Süleyman Han Mosque had been converted from a church, and that scaling the castle walls with arrows was impossible.

Van Castle (Culture Portal)

The Old City of Van to the South

To the south of the castle lies the Old City of Van, which was inhabited until the Russian-Armenian occupation of 1915. This city, home to approximately 35,000 people including Muslims and minorities, was destroyed and burned in 1918 following the Russian withdrawal and now exists in a ruins state. Notable monuments from the Old City include the Seljuk-era Ulu Mosque and the Ottoman-era Kaya Çelebi and Hüsrev Pasha Mosques. The city was originally built enclosed by walls at the foot of the castle but has survived to the present day only in its ruined condition after 1915.

Van Castle (YYÜ)

UNESCO World Heritage and the Present

Van Castle was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2016. In addition to its historical fabric, it offers visitors a place of rest surrounded by lush green gardens and source waters. The castle, accessible via a gentle climb, is also notable for its panoramic views. This hill, from which the millennia-old Mount Nemrut can be seen, presents a landscape of an ancient city where the scent of history is carried by the wind. Excavations conducted by archaeologist Layard in 1889 uncovered valuable artifacts from the early and medieval periods. Today castle stands as a unique historical heritage, preserving Urartian cuneiform inscriptions, rock-cut tombs, temples, Ottoman mosques, and magnificent towers.