The Castle of Van

The Castle of Van, as its name implies, is located in Van. Van Castle, which has a very old history, was built in the 9th century BC. The Castle, built by King 1st Sarduri of Urartu, has become the symbol of Van. The Castle is located approximately five kilometers from Van. There are Menua and 2nd Sarduri rock tombs, Sardur bastion, Open Air Temple of Analı Kız, and ramparts within Van Castle. Inside the Castle, there are cuneiform inscriptions in the Assyrian language, which are presumed to belong to the 1st Sarduri. Van Castle, built on a steep cliff, has managed to reach the present day to a large extent.

History Of Van Castle

The Castle was the capital of the state of Urartu for a long time under the name of Tuşpa. There are Madir sign, Open Air Temple of Analı Kız, 1st Argişti, founders, Menua and 2nd Sarduri rock tombs, a thousand stairs, and walls carved into the bedrock and wall beds in the Castle dating from the Urartian period.

According to the investigations and the remains obtained in the Castle, Persian inscriptions were found. The fortifications and towers on the east side, the entrance gate of the Castle facing northwest, barricades and other body walls, the upper Castle, the Suleyman Khan Mosque and minaret, and various mudbrick and stone structures made for military purposes are thought to have remained from the Ottoman period. The body walls, bastions and towers providing the fortifications were made of rubble stone, with Adobe cut stone material. These walls and fortifications form the silhouette of the Castle from the north. During the Ottoman period, the Castle was used purely for military purposes. The original city was established south of the Castle. The area is entirely surrounded by ramparts. It was destroyed in the period after 1915 and has survived to the present day.