URARTU INTERNAL CASTLE

It is not known when the castle was built. Since there is no castle belonging to Urartu Period, it is thought to be used by Urartians. The fortress was built on a rock in Harabeşehir district. This rocky throne rises like an island in the pit between Harabeşehir and Ikikubbe neighborhoods. The history of this fortress dates back to the Roman period. Then the Byzantine and Islamic periods of the castle of the Turks living in Anatolia has become an operational base. The castle, which was repaired in time of the Seljuks, was restructured and strengthened during the Ahlatshah period. However, it is not possible to determine the traces of the castle, which was largely destroyed by the Harzem, Mongol and Iran attacks. The inner fortress was united with a fortification wall, which also translated the Harabesehir, Ikikubbe and part of the Square Cemetery from its northern and southern ends. The old inner fortress was destroyed due to earthquakes and invasions and the neighborhoods were abandoned. Today there are some wall remains on the rocky fortress, and some caves and houses on the slopes. On the walls surrounding the center of the old city of Ahlat, there are no traces of some wall fragments and a cylindrical bastion base. The city walls are located within the 1st degree protected area.