Van

Van, famous for its cats with one green and one blue eye, is situated 5,500 feet above sea level next to the biggest lake in Turkey, Lake Van. It is one of the primary cities in Eastern Turkey.

Van was the capital of the Urartu Empire, called Tuspa in the 8th century B.C. Urartians were skilled in metal work. Their culture shows similarities with the neighboring Assyrians. During the centuries followed, Van continued to be one of the principal cities of Eastern Anatolia.

A must see is the 10th century Armenian Church on Akdamar Island on beautiful Lake Van. A short distance from the city is the Urartian center Cavustepe. Built in the 8th century B.C., Cavustepe was once home of the kings of Urartu. Another nearby center is Hosap Castle, a 17th century castle built by a local Kurdish strongman atop a rocky outcrop.

On the north side of the Lake Van is Ahlat, where a Selcuk and Ottoman Era graveyard can be seen. Stele-like headstones are particularly interesting. About 40 miles north of Ahlat is Malazgirt, an important place in Turkish history. This is where the Battle of Malazgirt (Manzikert) was fought in 1071 between Selcuk Turks under the command of Alp Arslan and the Byzantine commander Diogen. The resulting Selcuk victory opened Anatolia to the western moving Turkish tribes.

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