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Urartian traces around Van

A driving route east of Van: Toprakkale (Rusahinili), founded by Rusa, the Anzaf Fortresses from the reigns of Ishpuini and Menua, the ruins of Yedi Kilise (Varak Monastery) on the slope of Mount Erek, and Çavuştepe Fortress, founded by Sarduri II.

Estimated duration
~4 h 30 min
Straight-line distance (estimate)
~31 km
Getting around
By car
Stops
4 stops

Duration and distance are estimates. Distance is the straight-line sum between stops; the actual road is longer. Check with a maps app before you set off.

Safety and caution

Toprakkale is unmaintained and rocky; at Anzaf, some sections may be closed during the excavation season and the climb to the hilltop is steep. Yedi Kilise is in ruins; do not enter collapsed sections.

Route map

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Numbers show the order of stops; the dashed line is a straight-line link between stops, not the actual road.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Stops

  1. 1

    Start

    Castle

    Toprakkale (Rusahinili)

    İpekyolu, Van

    View place
  2. 2

    ~7.8 km from the previous stop (straight line)

    Castle

    Anzaf Castles

    İpekyolu, Van

    ~7.85 km from the previous stop as the crow flies

    View place
  3. 3

    ~12 km from the previous stop (straight line)

    Monastery

    Yedi Kilise (Varak Monastery)

    İpekyolu, Van

    ~12.2 km from the previous stop as the crow flies

    View place
  4. 4

    ~11 km from the previous stop (straight line)

    Castle

    Çavuştepe Castle (Sardurihinili)

    Gürpınar, Van

    ~10.79 km from the previous stop as the crow flies

    View place

More routes in Van

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