Van Castle brings together remains of Urartian fortifications, an open-air temple and rock tombs. In Eski Van, there are also mosques with different historical attributions. The Cat Research Center in the surrounding area offers a different focus.

Urartian Traces and Their Status

The Urartian remains at Van Castle include the Madır or Sardur Bastion, the Analı Kız open-air temple and the Bin Merdivenler. Also present are rock-cut supports for defensive walls, the defensive walls themselves and eight rock tombs. The supports and the walls are two separate elements: the supports carved into the rock on the one hand, and the defensive walls on the other. Alongside the fortifications, the temple and tombs also bring religious and funerary evidence into focus. The site’s description therefore goes beyond its defensive function.

Van Castle was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2016. This status is distinct from an actual World Heritage inscription. Both the specific Urartian remains and the castle’s status on the Tentative List are therefore relevant to understanding the site.

Mosques in Eski Van

Kaya Çelebi Mosque is located between the middle and new gates of Van Castle, immediately behind the fortification walls. Its location is thus described precisely in relation to the gates and walls. For the Ulu Mosque, by contrast, the focus is on its historical attribution: it is assigned to the Seljuk period. It is generally believed to have been built under the Ahlatshah rulers Sökmen I or Sökmen II. These details offer two different points of reference for understanding the mosques: a specific location and a building history attributed to the possible rule of Sökmen I or Sökmen II.

Cat Research and Getting There

In the surrounding area of Van, you can feed, brush and pet cats at the Van Cat Research Center. Visits by institutions and schools require an appointment. If you belong to one of these groups, plan your visit in advance by making arrangements. The three activities listed offer a concrete insight into how the cats are cared for.

The Van Cat House is located on the Zeve Campus of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, 13 kilometers from Van city center. You can reach it from the city center by campus minibuses and public buses. Check current public transport connections before setting out, as local services may change. This gives you both the distance and the specified means of transport to consider when planning your journey.

Van Museum: Planning Your Visit

For a future visit, possible ways of getting there include traveling by private vehicle or taking Kale minibuses, which depart from the Beşyol area. Check local minibus arrangements in advance, as they may change. The travel information does not replace checking the current visitor status.

Discover more destinations: Çatak, Değirmenköy Köyü, Emek Köyü, Erciş, Edremit

Return to the main travel overview: Van.