Destination
Ayanis Kalesi
Excavations have been carried out at the castle since 1989. Thanks to the architectural and other small finds obtained as a result of the excavations, it has been possible to identify the castle. According to the cuneiform inscription found, the castle was built by Rusa, the son of Argişti, between 645-643 B.C. The entrance gate is located on the south side of the castle, which is surrounded by two fortification walls. Here, the fortification walls were built with andesite stone, while the other parts were built with limestone.
Ayanis Kalesi and 6 places around it
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Highlights
- History
Good for
- Cultural routes
Suggested visit:45 minutes
Excavations have been carried out at the castle since 1989. Thanks to the architectural and other small finds obtained as a result of the excavations, it has been possible to identify the castle. According to the cuneiform inscription found, the castle was built by Rusa, the son of Argishti, between 645-643 B.C.
The entrance gate is located to the south of the castle, which is surrounded by two fortification walls. Here, the fortification walls were built with andesite stone, and in the other parts with limestone.
In the upper section, the pillared hall and the temple occupy an important place. The temple with a west-facing door and a risalit bears similar characteristics to the others. In the southwestern section, many storage buildings were found, containing jars connected with one another.
In addition to its architecture and small finds, the castle is important in terms of shedding light on the final phases of Urartian history.
Places to Visit in Van Address: Van
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Location and surroundings
Ayanis Kalesi sits within İpekyolu, Van. The toroti catalogue holds 56 described stops across Van, 16 of them in İpekyolu.
The nearest stop is Abbas Ağa Camii, 380 m to the southeast. Another 6 catalogued points lie within a 30 km radius.
The Van – Erzurum route passes 2 km away, so this works as a stop along the drive.
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Frequently asked
- What is Ayanis Kalesi?
- Excavations have been carried out at the castle since 1989. Thanks to the architectural and other small finds obtained as a result of the excavations, it has been possible to identify the castle. According to the cuneiform inscription found, the castle was built by Rusa, the son of Argişti, between 645-643 B.C. The entrance gate is located on the south side of the castle, which is surrounded by two fortification walls. Here, the fortification walls were built with andesite stone, while the other parts were built with limestone.
- Where is Ayanis Kalesi?
- Ayanis Kalesi is in İpekyolu, Van.
- How long does it take to visit Ayanis Kalesi?
- The suggested visit time for Ayanis Kalesi is about 45 minutes.
- What else is there to see near Ayanis Kalesi?
- toroti’s catalogue holds other destinations within 30 km of Ayanis Kalesi; the closest are Abbas Ağa Camii, Hüsrev Paşa Medresesi, Toprakkale.
- Is Ayanis Kalesi on the way anywhere, and which route?
- Ayanis Kalesi lies 2 km from the Van – Erzurum route, close enough to add to that drive with a short detour.