At Kasrik, the gorge setting, river and bridge-building come together—a striking introduction to Şırnak’s cultural and landscape features.

Kasrik: Bridge, Gorge and Tradition

Kasrik is a settlement situated in a gorge along the road between Cizre and Şırnak. Within the settlement, the Kasrik Bridge stands over the Güneş Deresi, also called Akçay; it was built with three arches. The modern bridge on the Şırnak-Cizre road stands beside it. At this site, a historic bridge and a modern road structure stand side by side.

The Kızılsu Deresi also flows through Kasrik; within the settlement, the Hoşal Deresi joins it. The ruins of Kasrik are also part of the landscape: they are among Şırnak’s important cultural assets. According to tradition, they are said to have served as a summer retreat in the time of Noah.

Another discovery is the Kasrik rock carving. Set in a niche in the natural rock, it depicts a human figure on horseback. Unlike the bridge and the buildings, here the focus is on the motif and its setting in the rock.

Kasrı Mansions and Architectural Details

The Abdurrahman-Ağa-Kasrı is located on Sönmez Sokak in the Aydınlık Evler neighborhood. Its inscription gives 1892 as the year it was built. It is also the only registered building in the center of Şırnak. The Süleyman-Ağa-Kasrı stands on flat ground in the İsmet Paşa neighborhood; an inscription on its courtyard wall dates it to 1927. The two buildings can thus be distinguished by their different neighborhoods and inscriptions.

The Ali Han Ağa (Uysal) House adds another example of these architectural styles. It is two stories high, has two rooms on the ground floor and an interior staircase leading to the upper floor. While the inscriptions and locations stand out in the case of the two Kasrı mansions, this example describes the layout of a house.

Kavuncu: Church, Fountain and Han

The church of Kavuncu Köyü is in the village of Kavuncu, which is part of Şırnak Merkez. Its floor plan follows a Nestorian typology. The church is 6 km from the main road between Şırnak and Cizre. The fountain of Kavuncu Köyü is south of the church and below the road; its water comes from a nearby spring. The church and fountain are described in terms of both their location and a specific architectural feature.

The Kavuncu (Naniv) Han is about 3 km east of the Kavuncu settlement. It can be reached by a paved gravel road that branches off the Şırnak-Cizre road to the south, toward Kavuncu. The approximate distance and the route offer different points of reference.

More Places and Things to Do

The Yıkık Han (Hanı Grabe) is within the boundaries of Kızılsu, on the left side of the main road from Şırnak to Cizre, about 30 km from Şırnak. The cemetery and türbe of Koçibey are in the hamlet of Durmuşlu, which belongs to Kasrik. These burial sites, along with the bridge and ruins, are among the cultural places mentioned here.

Recreational fishing takes place on the Kızılsu Çayı. This adds another theme to the architectural and historical discoveries: a leisure activity on the water.

Discover more destinations: Silopi, Yeşilöz, Şırnak, İdil, Bağlıca Köyü, Cizre, Diyarbakir, Iğdır.

For the main travel overview: Anatolia.