Short History

Van Region that dates back to 5000 BC, with its history of thousands years, is an important cultural place which has housed many civilizations. It is easy to come across cultural properties which carry the traces of this long historical process, all around the region.

Van Museum which is accepted as one of the most important Urartu Museums, was opened in 1972.

The museum that is getting richer each year, has 2 sections, one is archeological and the other is ethnographic

The Section of Archeological Works

In the museum garden, a substantial collection of stone creations that consists of the stelles of victory with cuneiform, epigraphs, and embossing of The God Teisheba belonging to Urartian Period; epitaphs in ram and sheep shapes pertaining to Akkoyunlu and Karakoyunlular Period and tombstones of Seljuk Period are in exhibition.

In the salon of archeological creations, the samples from Prehistoric Age to the end of Urartu Period are chronolgically on display. In this important section which houses prehistoric foundlings consisting of tools made of obsidian and bone which were obtained at Tilkitepe and Kızdamı, tools and ceramics pertaining to 3000 BC; the ceramic samples embellished with dye form the most influential group of Creations of Urartian Period. Tomb foundlings belonging to Karagündüz Mound Nekropol excavations; dishes and crocks made of terracotta which were unearthed in the excavations of Çavustepe, Toprakkale , Van Castle, Hosap Fortress , Anzaf Citadel and Ayaniş Citadel foundlings such as bronze helmets, swords, belts, kitchen gadgets and wall mosaics of Urartu Period reflect the magnificence of that era.

In the inner court, which is also named as salon of stone works, rock drawings on the Trıshın Plateau of Neolithic Age; Urartian epigraphs in cuneiform writing and the stone sarcophagus that were brought from the Gevaş Graveyard of Seljuk Turks embody the history of Van.

The Section of Ethnographic Creations

In the section of ethnographic creations, a precious collection of works of weaving consisting of carpets that are peculiar to Van-Hakkari region, silver belts made in Van, bracelets, crests, earrings, necklaces and tobacco case, rosaries made of various materials, mouthpieces, bronze kitchen gadgets are on display.

The section ethnographic creations in which Handwritten Korans pertaining to different dates and literary works are, has another part in which Eastern Corner that signifies the authentic atmosphere of Van is also presented for its visitors.

Address: Şerefiye Mahallesi Hacıosman Sokak No:14 VAN

Phone: (0432) 216 11 39

Fax: (0432) 214 25 10

The museum is open everyday except Mondays from 08.30-12.00 am to 13.00-17.00 pm