Adilcevaz Attractions

The district town of Adilcevaz with its Byzantine-Seljuk fortress close to the lake (few remains), occupies the site of an Old Armenian settlement called Ardzgui 90km/60mi northeast of Bitlis on the western shore of Lake Van. The presence of cuneiform inscriptions and the discovery of stones with Urartian carvings used in the construction of the castle (now on display in museums in Van and Ankara as well as in one of Adilcevaz's schools) strongly suggests that there was also a Urartian stronghold on this spot. The finding of a necropolis of the period only 300m/330yds from the lakeside lends additional support.