At about 25 km on the road from Van to Başkale and Hakkari, towards the Iraq border lies the ancient Urartian site of Çavuştepe. Another 33 km further on the road, the Kurdish castle of Hoşap perches on top of a hill.
Hosap Castle (Hoşap Kalesi) was built in 1643 by a Kurdish warlord San Süleyman Mahmudi in the village of Hoşap (Güzelsu in Turkish), meaning Good or Beautiful Water. The entrance of the castle is decorated with murals showing islamic and ancient oriental symbols.
Here are the photos of Hosap Castle , click on the thumbnails to see greater pictures
Hosap Castle - Hoşap Kalesi
Hosap Castle - Hoşap Kalesi
Hosap Castle
Gateway with Murals
Hosap Castle
Watchtower - Minaret
Outer defense walls of Hosap Castle made of mud encircled the village
At the archeological site of Çavuştepe, there are the remains of the Urartian royal palace of Sarduri-Hinlini, which was built between 764 and 735 BC by the Urartian King Sardur II.
Here are the photos of Cavustepe , click on the thumbnails to see greater pictures
Fertile plains at Çavuştepe
The site of the Urartian palace of Çavuştepe
Archeological site of ancient Çavuştepe
Archeological site of ancient Çavuştepe
