Hoşap Castle, built in 1643 by a local Kurdish chieftain, looms over the village of Güzelsu from its rocky perch. From the castle entrance you can see the mud-brick walls that once encircled the surrounding area. The castle's entrance is marked by restored lion reliefs. Unfortunately the castle doesn't have a permanent on-site guardian; you have to phone the current guardian (who changes regularly) to gain entry, which means it's best visited as part of a tour.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
28.6 MILES
About 4km west of the centre, Van Castle dominates the view of the city. Visit at sunset for great views across the lake. From the summit the foundations…
27.98 MILES
This gleaming glass structure at the foot of Van Castle, built after Van's original museum was damaged in the 2011 earthquakes, houses the world's pre…
18.57 MILES
The ruins of the Urartian fortress of Sarduri-Hinili, built by King Sardur II between 764 and 735 BC, sit scattered atop a rocky hill at Çavuştepe. The…
Nearby Van attractions
18.57 MILES
The ruins of the Urartian fortress of Sarduri-Hinili, built by King Sardur II between 764 and 735 BC, sit scattered atop a rocky hill at Çavuştepe. The…
27.98 MILES
This gleaming glass structure at the foot of Van Castle, built after Van's original museum was damaged in the 2011 earthquakes, houses the world's pre…
28.6 MILES
About 4km west of the centre, Van Castle dominates the view of the city. Visit at sunset for great views across the lake. From the summit the foundations…