Van Kalesi

Perched atop a rocky promontory in the modern-day city of Van, this fortress seems to arise as a natural extension of the hilltop on which it rests. It presides over another historical ruin that unfolds below, namely the former Urartu capital Tushpa. Believed to be a regional stronghold built by the Urartu kingdom, this ancient fortress dates back to circa 7th Century BCE. It is one of the many fortresses built by the kingdom, and was consecutively controlled by an arsenal of rulers that governed the region during its long history - from Achaemenids and Romans, to Seljuks and Ottomans. Of special significance are the cuneiform inscriptions etched upon a flat surface near the fortress, a detailed 5th-century engraving in honor of Persian King Xerxes I.