History and archaeology / Castle
Hoşap Castle
Gürpınar, Van
An impressive castle on the Van–Hakkari road, built on a steep rock above the Hoşap Çayı, with its gate with lion reliefs and the remains of the Mahmudi palace.
Safety warning
Its story
The history of the castle rising at Güzelsu (Hoşap), about 60 km from Van, goes back to the Urartians; it took its present appearance, according to the inscription on the inner castle gate, with the buildings commissioned in 1643 by Sarı Süleyman Bey, the Mahmudi Bey. The inner castle is entered through the portal opening onto the northern bastion; above the gate are a Persian inscription, blind windows and lion reliefs, and the original iron door leaves are still in place. Inside are the Mahmudi Palace, consisting of a viewing pavilion, harem and selamlık, as well as a masjid, dungeon, oven and cistern. The outer castle walls wind according to the shape of the terrain. Abandoned in the mid-19th century, the castle is one of the region's landmark buildings, having remained largely intact.
Key facts
- Period
- 1643 (on Urartian foundations)
- Admission
- Free
- Getting there
- Van–Başkale/Hakkari road, Güzelsu (Hoşap)
- Visit duration
- 1–1.5 hours
Trip purpose
- Free
- Photography
- Day trip
Location
38.31715, 43.80177
Where to eat nearby
No food & drink venues listed nearby.
Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors; Overture Maps
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoşap_Kalesi | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoşap_Castle | https://van.ktb.gov.tr/TR-437558/hosap-kalesi.html | https://van.ktb.gov.tr/TR-437097/muze-ve-oren-yeri-ucretleri.html | https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/1449289710