with its cat, and with its geography that provides many tourism activities.
SITES OF INTEREST: Shores of Van Lake, Akdamar Island, Bendimahi water fall, Horhor Spring, Toprakkale (Earth Castle), Van, Norgüh (Norkuh), Hoşap and Körzüt castles, Akdamar Church, Grand Mosque of Van, Hüsrev Pasha and İzdişar Mosques, Halime Hatun vault tomb, Hoşap Bridge, Van Museum.
MUSEUM: Van Museum Address: Şerefiye Mah. Hacı Osman Sok. No: 9 - Van
Tel: (432) 216 11 39 Fax: (432) 214 25 10
HISTORICAL SITES AND RUINS: Van Museum
Van Castle - Center / Hoşap Castle - Gürpınar
Akdamar - Gevaş / Hoşap Bridge - Gürpınar
Abdurrahman Gazi Mausoleum Center / Kaya Çelebi Mosque- Center
HüsrevPasha Mosque- Center / Grand Mosque- Center
Kızıl Mosque- Center / Beyazözümü Village - Center
Zernaki Hill - Erciş / Zeland War Graves - Center
Çarpanak Church - Center / Çitiören Village / Topkale Castle- Center
Adir Church - Center / Halkalı / Hoşap Graveyard - Gürpınar
Gevaş Seljuk Graveyard - Gevaş / Historical Stone Bridge -Hakkari - Şemdinli - Bağlar
Kelat Palace-Hakkari - Şemdinli - Bağlar / Kayme Palace-Hakkari - Şemdinli - Bağlar
Yeşil Monumental Rock Grave -Özalp -Yeşilalıç / Idol Cave - Gürpınar - Yeşilsalkım
Ziand Inn - Çatak / Van House - Center
House (in ruins) - Center / Mosque- Center
Mosque- Center / Biçermah Historical Graveyard - Hakkari - Center
Çukurca Ward. - Hakkari - Çukurca / Nehri Graveyard - Hakkari - Şemdinli - Bağlar
Lower Anzaf Castle - Center - Lower Anzaf / Mausoleum - Center
House - Center / Church - Center
Mausoleum - Center / Dilkaya Village - Edremit
Yavuzlar Natural Formation - Başkale - Yavuzlar / Zeril Bridge - Çatak
Hurkan Bridge - Çatak / Yanal Church - Başkale - Yanal
Çavuştepe Castle - Gürpınar - Çavuştepe / Ayanıs Castle - Center - Agartı
HüsrevPasha Mausoleum - Center / Cemetery of the old Van city- Center
Molla Kasım Mausoleum and Graveyard - Center - Molla Kasım
Otluca Village Cemetery - Center - Otluca / Molla Hıdırı Fır. M. - Başkale - Yavuzlar
Kaleören Village Cemetery - Başkale - Kaleören
Barış Village Cemetery - Başkale - Barış / Tepebeşı district Cemetery - Başkale
Germen Village Cemetery - Başkale - Germen / Çatak historical grave - Çatak
Aliyar vault tomb - Erçiş / Nişancı - Erçiş
Tekler Village Cemetery. - Erçiş / Ziyaret Village Cemetery. - Erçiş
Haydar Bey Village Cemetry. - Erçiş / Çelebi Bağı Cemetery. - Erçiş
Hamur Kesen Village Cemetry. - Gürpınar / Ganisipi water fall - Çatak
Bend-i Mahi water fall - Muradiye / Hamurkesen Mosque- Gürpınar/Hamurkesen
Yukarı Anzaf Castle - Center/Dereüstü / Muradiye Church - Muradiye
Bend-i Mahi Bridge - Muradiye/Karahan / İzzettin Şir Mosque- Gevaş
Iron Melting Center - Gevaş / Vocational School - Center
Közüt Castle - Muradiye / Muradiye Castle - Muradiye
Hasan Bey school, mausoleum. - Gürpınar / Hoşap Inn - Gürpınar
Tuşpa Necropol - Center / Evliya Bey School - Center
Amik Castle - Center / Alaköy Urartu Castle - Center
Ermişler Urartu - Center / Karagündüz Tumulus - Center
Lakes : Van Lake and Akdamar Island
The city takes its name from the Van Lake. It is the biggest sodium carbonate Lake in the world. The Lake is covered with high mountains. There four islands in the lake; named, Akdamar, Adır, Çarpanak, and Kuş Islands. It had been given many names to the Lake in the history, like Little Sea, High Sea, and Nairi sea. 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 unspoiled and green shores effects the visitors.
Akdamar Island is the greatest island in the lake. The church founded by King Gagic is an unique example of stone handcraft. It can be reached to island by taking the boats from Gevaş Wharf.
Castles : Van Castle, Hoşap Castle, Ağartı Castle, Kef Castle, Çavuştepe Castle,
Ayanıs Castle, Toprakkale Castle, Aşağı-Yukarı Anzaf Castles, Down and Upper Zıvistan Castles, Beyüzümü Castle, Çatak Castle, Lamurkesen (Zernek) Castle, Hişet Castle, Pizan (Örenkale) Castle, Kalecik Castle, Zernaki Hill Castle, Muradiye Castle, Albak (Başkale) Castle, Deliçay Castle, Çelebibağ Castle, Yoncatepe Castle, Müküs Castle and Amik Castle.
Churches : Akdamar Church, Adır Church, Yedi Church
Mosques, Medreses (Theological Schools) and Vaults : The most important mosques in Van are Ulu Mosque, Hüsrev Paşa Mosque, Kızıl Mosque, Gevaş İzzettin Çir Mosque, Süleyman Han Mosque, Kaya Çelebi Mosque, Horhor Mosque and Abbasağa Mosque. Hüsrev Paşa Medrese (Theological School), Hoşap Hasan Bey Medrese, Hoşap Evliya Bey Medrese, Gevaş Halime Hatun Vault, Erciş Anonim (Zortul) Vault are the places that should be visited by the visitors.
Bridges and Water Channels : The most famous bridges in Van are Bend-i Mahi Bridge, Kırmızı Bridge, Çatak Bridge, Hurkan Köprüsü, Zeril Bridge, and Şeytan Bridge
The first water channels and dams in van had been built by the Urinians between BC 9 and BC 6. The most important water channel in Van is Menua (Semiramis/Şamran) Water Channel. It had been founded by Urinian King Menua. This water channel is an unique example of engineering genius. It is still being used by the local people.
Traditional Van Houses : Van houses brings the examples of traditional Van architecture to our times. The Van Houses, Bazaars, streets, districts, thermal baths, and stone roads are all typical examples of this architecture.
Promenade : The promenade areas in Van are Edremit, Gevaş, the Çatak forest that two streams unite, and Amik which is famous for its fruit gardens.
Ornithology Areas : Erçek Lake, Van Lake
SIGNIFICANT DAYS:
Freedom from Occupation Days: Freedom Day - Erciş Erciş District 1 April
Freedom Day - Van Van 2 April
Freedom Day - Muradiye Muradiye District 2 April
Freedom Day - Başkale Başkale District 22 April
Freedom Day - Özalp Özalp District 3 April
Freedom Day - Gürpınar Gürpınar District 1 April