Van - Tushpa

The Urartian citadel in Van only occupied the western part of the hill. Broad, sometimes unfinished trenches in the rock were cut by the Urartians to the east and west of the fortress to secure the flanks. The step-like recesses with their supporting wall ("bin merdivenler", thousand steps or "seytan medivenleri", devil's steps) which are still visible help to give some idea of the rock's huge proportions. The castle was extended by the Seljuks and Ottomans to its current dimensions. The less secure, but not so steep north side was strengthened at the same time by several enormous limestone walls built on stone foundations and with round towers which can still be recognized. In 1387 the Mongol Timur-Leng badly damaged the citadel after a 20-day siege. Both Akkoyun rulers and the Ottomans made significant attempts to restore it and also added at the same time, close to the hill, a water tower, various store-rooms, a barracks, a mosque with a minaret still in situ and a medrese.