Van Fortress

Van Fortress, or Van Kalesi, is a massive citadel on a long limestone ridge on the eastern shore of Lake Van in eastern Turkey. It was the site of Tushpa, the capital of Urartu from the ninth century BCE, and preserves rock-cut tombs and inscriptions, including the annals of Argishti I. It was later held by Achaemenids, Armenians, Ottomans and others, and the old city of Van lay at its foot until its destruction in 1915.