Hoşap Castle, Medieval fortress in Güzelsu village, Van Province, Turkey.
Hoşap Castle is a fortress built on a hilltop with an upper citadel and a lower fortified village section below. Multiple stone towers and defensive walls connect these two areas and create a single defensive system.
The fortress was founded in 1649 by Kurdish chief Sarı Süleyman Bey, though the hill had been fortified long before. Earlier Armenian and Urartian military works lay beneath later construction, influencing where builders chose to place their structures.
The fortress blends military and living spaces, with a mosque, residential quarters, and reception halls showing how Ottoman rulers organized daily life within its walls. These rooms tell stories of power and domestic routine in the 1600s.
From Van city, reach the fortress by taking the D975 highway toward the site. Arrange entry through local authorities or the police station, as access may need coordination depending on current conditions.
Many visitors miss the ornate wrought iron door set into one of the round entry towers. The hand-forged door displays intricate patterns and still bears marks from past conflicts on its surfaces.
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