Adilcevaz


Adilcevaz, is a town and district capital of the same-named district within Bitlis Province of Turkey. The city is on the shore of Lake Van. The ancient name of the city is "Artske" or "Artsike," which is in the Armenian language. Its mayor is Necati Gürsoy from the Justice and Development Party.
Because of numerous civilizations which have had settlements in Adilcevaz, the city has many ruins and historical artifacts from different eras. Urartians, Armenians, Persians, Assyrians, Macedonians, Arabs, Byzantines have ruled by Adilcevaz in different periods. According to today's statistics related to Adilcevaz's population, people living here are mostly Turkmen.
The famous Kef castle built by the Urarteans lies near Adilcevaz. Monastery of the Miracles, also known as Monastery of Ardzgue, is 2.18 miles northwest of Adilcevaz in the hills to the north of Lake Van.
Adilcevaz is famous for its special kind of walnuts. There are many types of regional foods, fruits and herbs. Adilcevaz has developed into an enhanced city that attracts tourists due to its peaceful environment and newly constructed sports complexes. A water sports complex includes water skiing and wide swimming areas.