The city tour will depart from the conference venue at 09:30 on October 5th.

Van Lake

Lake Van, one of the most striking points of the city of Van, is among the places to visit, which, like many other points of the city, offers both historical and nature excursions. Apart from these two regions, the city offers quite different excursion options to its visitors with its fairy chimneys, cats, castles, waterfalls and bridges.

Van Castle

Van Castle, which has an important place among the places to visit in the city of Van, was built by the Urartian King 1.Sarduri in the 9th century BC. It was built in the middle of the century and is among the symbol structures of the city. The castle, which is 5 kilometers away from the city center, was called Tusba locality at the time it was built and served as the capital of the Urartu State.

Inside the castle, there are the rock tombs of Sarduri II and Menua, as well as the Analı Kızlı Open Air Temple, the Sardur Bastion and the walls. Another remarkable value of the castle is the cuneiform inscriptions in Assyrian language, which are thought to belong to Sarduri I.

Most of the Van Castle, which was built on a steep rock, has survived to the present day. There is the Van House right next to the castle and these two structures are usually visited together.

Akdamar Island and Church

Located within the borders of Van, Akdamar Island is among the regions that offer both historical and nature tours. Akdamar Island, the second largest island of Lake Van, covers a large area with an area of ​​70000 square meters.

Akdamar Island has an important place among the places to visit and offers its visitors more than a nature trip with its unique landscape and natural beauties. On the other hand, it contains one of the most important historical buildings of the city of Van.

Akdamar Church, which bears the same name as the island, has the characteristics of medieval Armenian architecture. The architect of the church, which was built by King Gagik I between 915 and 921, is Manuel.

Akdamar Church draws attention with its animal and plant figures on its exterior. These figures are one of the most important features of medieval Armenian art. The church is not used for worship today and serves as a museum for those visiting the city of Van.

Hosap Castle

The city of Van is very rich in historical castles and therefore it is called the city of castles. One of the castles of great historical importance within the city limits is Hoşap Castle. Hoşap Castle is an important place waiting for its visitors in Gürpınar district, 60 kilometers from the center.

This castle, which is one of the historical structures that has survived to the present day, was built by Mahmudi Süleyman in 1643. There are village houses, a cistern, a small mosque and a dungeon inside the castle. The iron door wings of Hoşap Castle, which can be seen today, are original.

At the time it was built, it is among the structures of strategic importance because it is located on the Turkey-Iran road. The castle was actively used until the 19th century, after which it was abandoned. There is a small village under the castle, which is located on a steep cliff on the Hakkari – Van highway.

Van Museum

Van Museum, which exhibits the cultural values ​​of Van and the historical values ​​transferred from previous civilizations to new generations, is located on Hacıosman Street in Şerefiye Mahallesi. It has an important place among the places to visit with its extensive historical monuments.

All the artifacts in this museum, which was brought to Van in 1972, are listed chronologically, making it easier for the visitors and helping them understand the historical process. It is possible to find traces of states such as Urartu, who lived in today’s Van lands.

The artifacts exhibited in the Van museum were generally obtained as a result of excavations in areas such as Çavuştepe, Anzaf Castle Toprakkale, Van Castle, Kızdamı and Tilkitepe. The open-air garden located outside of the museum also prepares the ground for the visitors to take a breather among the historical artifacts.

In addition to its importance among places to visit, it also allows the cultural elements of Van to be revealed. The historical artifacts museum is an opportunity to learn about the tradition and culture of the city of Van.

Van Cat House

The Van cat has become one of the symbols of the city. The famous cats of the city must be seen during a visit to Van. The Van cat with one green eye and one blue eye can be seen at Yüzüncü Yıl University Van Cats Research Center.