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Adilcevaz is a town on the north shore of Lake Van in Turkey. There’s not a whole lot to see but it makes for a nice stop if you’re passing through the area.
Introduction to Adilcevaz
The area around Adilcevaz has been settled since the Assyrian and Urartian periods. The Urartians built the Kef Castle on a hill northwest of town. A medieval town sprung up during Abbasid rule, and it was later controlled by the Seljuks and other civilizations, including the Ilkhanids, Kara Koyunlu, and Safavids. The Ottomans took the town in 1514. The town is populated mostly by Turkmen and Kurds, but historically there was a significant Armenian minority.
Today, Adilcevaz is known for its excellent walnuts. There are roughly 50,000 walnut trees in the area, and the annual Walnut Festival (Ceviz Festivali) is traditionally held the first week of October.
Our stop in Adilcevaz was limited to a couple historic mosques in the former medieval town center. The modern town, which we drove through to take a look, is one kilometer to the east. There’s nothing interesting there.
Tuğrul Bey Mosque
First, right along the highway through town is the Tuğrul Bey Mosque (Tuğrul Bey Camii), also known as the Zal Pasha Mosque (Zal Paşa Camii).
The construction date isn’t exactly known, but it’s believed to have been built between 1572 and 1580 by Zal Pasha. The architect was Mimar Sinan (c. 1490-1588). The mosque was restored and reopened in to worship in 1965.
The mosque is topped by 12 domes and is entrance is under a portico with 3 arches. The prayer hall is divided into nine sections and features a stone mihrab.
Grand Mosque
Perched on the hill above the Tuğrul Bey Mosque is the Grand Mosque of Adilcevaz (Adilcevaz Ulu Camii). It was likely built in the 14th or 15th century during the Seljuk period.
The entrance to the mosque is through a portal on the east end. A minaret is attached to the northeast corner of the building but the top part has collapsed.
The long prayer hall is divided into three parts and is topped by a flat roof. The mihrab sits in a niche in the middle section. The wooden minbar is a recent addition.
Adilcevaz Castle
Towering above the mosque is Adilcevaz Castle (Adilcevaz Kalesi). It was first settled in the Urartian period and was used by every civilization after until the modern period.
Sections of the walls and towers of the castle seen today date to the Middle Ages. According to Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi (1611-1682), who visited in 1655, wrote that the castle had 3 gates and 38 towers. There was a walled settlement on the lake side. It included the two mosques mentioned above, but none of the other structures have survived.
