Turkey Facts

Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot near Ankara. The double knotting technique used in Turkish rugs is still called the "Gordion Knot."

Turkey Articles

Turkish villagers loading cotton into a trailer.

Life in a Turkish Village

Van

Area: 19.069 km²

Population: 637.433 (1990)

Traffic Code: 65

Districts: Van (center), Bahcesaray, Baskale, Caldiran, Catak, Edremit, Ercis, Gevas.

Sites of Interest

  • Shores of Van Lake
  • Akdamar Island
  • Bendimahi waterfall
  • Horhor Spring
  • Toprakkale (Earth Castle)
  • Van, Norguh (Norkuh), Hosap and Korzut castles
  • Akdamar Church
  • Grand Mosque of Van, Husrev Pasha and Izdisar Mosques
  • Halime Hatun vault tomb
  • Hosap Bridge, Van Museum

Cultural Resources and Organizations

  • Provincial Cultural Directorate, Telephone: (432) 216 25 30, Fax: (432) 212 17 74
  • Van Cultural Center, Kultur Merkezi Mudurlugu, Van; Telephone: (432) 216 96 92, Fax: (432) 212 12 51
  • State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate, SSK Binasi K. Karabekir Caddesi No: 51/C, Van; Telephone: (0 432) 216 25 30, Fax: 212 17 34
  • Van Museum, Serefiye Mahalle Haci Osman Sokak No: 9, Van; Telephone: (432) 216 11 39, Fax: (432) 214 25 10

Historical Sites and Ruins

  • Van Museum
  • Van Castle - Center
  • Hosap Castle - Gurpinar
  • Akdamar - Gevas
  • Hosap Bridge - Gurpinar
  • Abdurrahman Gazi Mausoleum
  • Kaya Celebi Mosque - Center
  • HusrevPasha Mosque
  • Grand Mosque
  • Kizil Mosque
  • Beyazozumu Village
  • Zernaki Hill - Ercis
  • Zeland War Graves
  • Carpanak Church / Citioren Village
  • Topkale Castle- Center
  • Adir Church - Center / Halkali
  • Hosap Graveyard - Gurpinar
  • Gevas Seljuk Graveyard - Gevas
  • Historical Stone Bridge - Hakkari - Semdinli - Baglar
  • Kelat Palace - Hakkari - Semdinli - Baglar
  • Kayme Palace - Hakkari - Semdinli - Baglar
  • Yesil Monumental Rock Grave - Ozalp -Yesilalic
  • Idol Cave - Gurpinar - Yesilsalkim
  • Ziand Inn - Catak
  • Van House - Center
  • Bicermah Historical Graveyard - Hakkari
  • Nehri Graveyard - Hakkari - Semdinli - Baglar
  • Lower Anzaf Castle - Center - Lower Anzaf
  • Dilkaya Village - Edremit
  • Yavuzlar Natural Formation - Baskale - Yavuzlar
  • Zeril Bridge - Catak
  • Hurkan Bridge - Catak
  • Yanal Church - Baskale - Yanal
  • Cavustepe Castle - Gurpinar - Cavustepe
  • Ayanis Castle - Center - Agarti
  • HusrevPasha Mausoleum - Center
  • Cemetery of the old Van city - Center
  • Molla Kasim Mausoleum and Graveyard - Center - Molla Kasim
  • Otluca Village Cemetery - Center - Otluca
  • Molla Hidiri Fir. M. - Baskale - Yavuzlar
  • Ganisipi Waterfall - Catak
  • Bend-i Mahi Waterfall - Muradiye
  • Hamurkesen Mosque- Gurpinar / Hamurkesen
  • Yukari Anzaf Castle - Center / Dereustu
  • Muradiye Church - Muradiye
  • Bend-i Mahi Bridge - Muradiye / Karahan
  • Izzettin Sir Mosque - Gevas
  • Iron Melting Center - Gevas / Balan
  • Kozut Castle - Muradiye
  • Muradiye Castle - Muradiye
  • Hasan Bey School and Mausoleum - Gurpinar
  • Hosap Inn - Gurpinar
  • Tuspa Necropol - Center
  • Evliya Bey School - Center
  • Amik Castle - Center / Amik
  • Alakoy Urartu Castle - Center / Alakoy
  • Ermisler Urartu - Center / Ermisler
  • Karagunduz Tumulus - Center / Karagunduz

Freedom from Occupation Days

  • 1 April: Freedom Day for Ercis
  • 1 April: Freedom Day for Gurpinar
  • 2 April: Freedom Day for Van
  • 2 April: Freedom Day for Muradiye
  • 3 April: Freedom Day for Ozalp
  • 22 April: Freedom Day for Baskale