TUNCELİ ( 136 km from Elazığ)
The city of Tunceli lies on the Elazığ Erzurum road surrounded by mountains. The fortress of Pertek, which was constructed in the Middle Ages and is in a well preserved condition, stands 31 km along the road from Elazığ. Nearby is the Munzur Valley National Park.
BİNGÖL ( 145 km from Elazığ )
The name of the city menas " a thousand lakes" and there are, in fact many glacier lakes in the surrounding mountains. In the city itself are the remains of a mediaeval fortress.
MUŞ ( 117 km east of Bingöl )
The city was founded in the 16 th century and the remains of a citadel the Aslanhane Caravanserai can be seen. There are also several mosques such as the Ulu Mosqueand the Seljuk mosque of Alaeddin Paşa and Hacı şeref.
BİTLİS ( 85 km east of Muş )
This lively little city stands in the middle of a green oasis. There is a Byzantine citadel with polygonal towers owerlooking the city the şerefhane Medresse and several interesting mosque; the 12 th century Şerefiye Mosque. From nearbyTatvan there are boat and car ferry connections across the lake to Van.
AHLAT ( 68 km north of Bitlis )
To the north of lake van the largest lake in Turkey are the ruins of the ghost-town of Ahlat. In the 12th century this city was the capital of the Moslem State that ruled the Van basin. Of interest are several mausoleums of the Seljuk period notably, Ulu Kümbet the Bayındır Türbesi the Hasan Paşa Kümbet and the Çifte Kümbet. There are also beautit,fully inscribed monumental tombstones from the 12th century. At adilcevaz to the north of Ahlat there is an Ulu Mosqueon the lake shore and the Urartian Temple of Haldi, some of whose objects are now in the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations in Ankara.
AKDAMAR ( 124 km from Bitlis 41 km from Van)
On a small island in Lake Van 4 km from Gevaş Quay, stands the 10th century Church of the holy Cross with its outer walls richly decorated with Old Testament reliefs.
VAN ( 168 km from Bitlis )
Van the ancient Urartian capital of Tuşpa, is situated by the lake of the same name in a verdant oasis at the foot of a rocky peak crowned by an imposing citadel. Steps carved in the rock lead to the Urartian fortress and half way up there are cuneiform inscriptions paying homage to Xerxes. In the old city are numerous mosques and mausoleums of the Seljuk Paşa Mosque. In the new city is an interesting archaeological museum. At çavuştepe 35 km from Van is a 17th century castle.
HAKKARİ ( 203 km from Van )
The small city of Hakkari is situated at an altitude of 1700m and is dominated by a mediaeval fortress near to which stands a fine medresse. The road to Hakkari passes thorough the beautiful Zap Valley and mountains which contain some of the loveliest scenery in Turkey.
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