Hoşap Castle
Hoşap Kalesi
A 17th-century Kurdish castle on a rocky hill, with finely carved gates and an ancient stone arch bridge below.
Hoşap Castle was built in 1643 by the Kurdish lord Sarı Süleyman on an isolated rocky hill. Its walls rise along the ridge, and above the main gate are a lion relief and an inscription. Inside are remains of a mosque, a bathhouse and dungeons. At the foot of the hill, the Hoşap River is crossed by a 1,500-year-old stone arch bridge, the best spot for photographing the castle as a whole. Admission is free or a small fee, and the climb to the top takes about 20 minutes. It sits on the road about 55 km southeast of Van and is often combined with Çavuştepe Castle as a day trip.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Çavuştepe Castle (Sardurihinili)
- Varagavank (Yedi Kilise)
- Lake Erçek
- Van Breakfast Street
- Van Museum
- Old City of Van
- Van Fortress
- Van Cat House