The Old City of Van is Revitalizing!

Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, stated that as a result of the Heritage to the Future studies, they will have solved most of the problems that the Old Van City currently has, and said, "At the end of 4 years, excavations will be carried out in 30 percent of the Old Van City and another 30 percent area will be covered." We plan to complete restoration, repair and conservation works. “We will allocate a total of 800 million lira to achieve this goal.” said.

Ersoy met with industry representatives in Van and then attended the Legacy to the Future Old Van City Promotion Program held in front of the Hüsrev Pasha Mosque in the Old Van City behind the Van Castle.

Stating that work has started for the Legacy to the Future Old Van City Project, which is one of the projects similar to the projects in Izmir, Denizli, Antalya, Aydın and Muğla, Ersoy said that they are in a city that was inhabited continuously from 3 thousand BC to the beginning of the 20th century.

Ersoy stated that Van's history dating back to the Early Bronze Age, being the center of the Urartian civilization and hosting many other civilizations, as well as being in a location connecting Iran and the Central Asian region to Anatolia, made Van important and valuable throughout history, and continued in the early 20th century. He noted that the Old City of Van, which was destroyed in an environment of war and conflict, was completely destroyed except for a few building ruins.

The Palace Gate, Educational Shops, Red Minareli Mosque, Kaya Çelebi and Horhor Mosque, Hüsrev Pasha Inn and Bath, Mir-i Ambar, Kaya Cistern and Ulu Mosque, Kethuda Ahmet Mosque, east-south walls, Surb Stephanos and Stating that 1970 percent of the historical area where the Surb Vardan Churches are located has been excavated since the 7s, Ersoy stated that they will increase the scope of the excavations with the Heritage to the Future Project.

Stating that they have determined the road map for the Old City of Van, Ersoy emphasized that, as a result of the work to be carried out, their main goal is to make the Old City of Van, which contains important traces of the cultural memory of the region, one of the cultural attraction points of the country with all its values.

Stating that the road map they determined to achieve this goal was designed on three pillars: archaeological excavations, restoration practices and landscaping works, Ersoy said:

“The most important part of the Legacy to the Future Old Van City Project is undoubtedly archaeological excavations. It is obvious that the scientific findings and results obtained from these excavations will provide important data for the analysis of the cultural codes of the history of the city and the region. Within the scope of the project, we are quickly starting the excavations of Educational Shops and Public Areas, Hüsrev Pasha Bath, the surroundings of the Ulu Mosque and Aziziye Barracks. Project planning works on the Ulu Mosque and the Red Minaret Mosque, which are considered the most important architectural ruins of the city from the pre-Ottoman period, and the Hüsrev Pasha Inn, dating back to the Ottoman Period, were completed by our General Directorate of Foundations. We also started restoration work at the Ulu Mosque. “This work stands out because it is the oldest Turkish-Islamic structure in the city and its original structure bears the traces of pre-Anatolian Turkish art related to Iran.”

“We also aim to give the Old City of Van the status of a historical site.”

Ersoy stated that they will carry out restoration, reconstruction and functionalization works in Mir-i Ambar and Kaya Cistern, which are known to have been used as granaries in the 19th century.

Stating that after the work, they will make both works available to visitors by considering the balance of preservation and use, Ersoy said, “We will make the borders of the Old Van City visible with the project and restoration works to be carried out on the southern walls of the city. We also aim to give the Old City of Van the status of a historical site with our Heritage to the Future Project. Within the scope of the Visitor Welcoming and Landscaping Project prepared by our Ministry, we will connect the buildings that will be restored with original walking paths. "We will provide visitors with the opportunity to walk on the original streets of the Old Van City by creating walking routes, short and long tours." he said.

Stating that they aim to implement this exciting project in full detail and quickly, Ersoy said:

“As a result of the Heritage to the Future studies, we will have solved most of the problems that the Old Van City currently has. At the end of 4 years, we plan to complete excavations in 30 percent of the Old City of Van and restoration, repair and conservation works in another 30 percent area. We will allocate a total of 800 million lira to achieve this goal. Hopefully, when all these studies are completed, we will all see Van's deep-rooted history and culture rise again on these lands where it has taken root for centuries. “I would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who contributed and supported the Heritage to the Future project, from the idea stage to the field work, which made it possible for the revival of ancient cities in all corners of our country, as in Van.” he said.

Minister Ersoy then visited the Old City of Van and talked to Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Department of Art History Faculty Member Prof. about the historical buildings. Dr. He received information from Gülsen Baş.

Governor and Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality Ozan Balcı, AK Party Van deputies Burhan Kayatürk, Kayhan Türkmenoğlu, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Rector Prof. attended the program. Dr. Hamdullah Şevli, Chief Advisor to the President Gülşen Orhan, AK Party Provincial Chairman Emre Güray, AK Party Van Metropolitan Municipality Mayor candidate Abdulahat Arvas, DAKA Secretary General Halil İbrahim Güray, institution chiefs, sector representatives and Tourism Faculty students attended.