Muş

It is located in a plain with a tourism potential for its natural, historical and cultural values. With its history starting with Urartians is its main reason for tourism. Even though Muş has the potential for winter sports and natural sports activities, there not any investment in this area as yet. Its provinces are; Bulanık, Hasköy, Korkut, Malazgirt and Varto.

The history of Muş before the Urartians is not known to us. After the end of the Urartian Kingdom the Persian culture reigned here. By the spread of Christianity the are enjoyed some radical changes. By the dominance of Turks, the Turkish-lslam culture started to spread. The Malazgirt Battle, which is accepted to be the beginning event for the Turks establishing dominance in Anatolia took scene on the Malazgirt plains in 1071. The traces of the Turkish clans who ruled here are still around.

Traditional Muş Houses

Muş reflects the atmosphere of a typical Turkish town with its settlement pattern and street texture. It is the style of living and the necessities that impose the housing architecture. The pushing conditions of the climate and the geography are also effective. The houses are generally two storey buildings that rise behind an outer courtyard. Some of these houses, reinforced with the modern developed techniques, can still be seen in the centre of the town.

Historical Sites

The Kayalidere Antik Kent (Kale City) is in Kayalikaya Village 40 km to the city centre and 20 km to Varto province. In this town, which used to be a military settlement place for the Urartians, some relics of a temple, earthenware vine jars were found out at an excavation work carried out in 1965. The castle is dated as to be from the time of King Sarduri II (764-735 BC) and is in rather a good condition. The graves consist of a corridor and six adjacent rooms carved in the rock. They are and the bronze lion statue and several other tools are dated for VII century BC: The objects found out of these rooms are now on the display at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. The Mercimekkale Tumulus is on the Mus- Varto highway. This tumulus was used for telecommunication purposes at the Byzantines times and it is estimated to be coming from the Urartians. The tumulus in the Bostankaya Village of Malazgirt is also an Urartian settlement. After some surface surveillance it is now taken under government protection as a 1st class historical site.

 

The Castle of Muş is one of the oldest settlement sites but we do not know its construction date. The castle was taken over by the Moslems at the time of Caliph Ömer. The feudal lords were appointed to take care of the castle and its surroundings by the order of the Abbasi caliphs. A large part of the castle is in ruins now and some Arab, Seljuk and Ottoman graveyards are on the west side of the castle. The Muşet Castle on the Kızıl Ziyaret Tepe is made by the Urartians, but as a result of several repair works it has undergone in the following years it has lost its originality in a large scale. It is understood that it was used for military purposes in the medieval ages.

Religious Buildings: Mosques, Monasteries and Turbehs

Ulu Cami is placed in the second half of the XIV century because of its architectural properties. Its minaret could not escape an earthquake and was repaired back to its original form in 1968 and in 1972. Hacı Şerif Mosque is in the Arslanli Han. It is from XVII century. One minaret was added later in 1902 and the outer yard was built in 1997 for those believers who are late to come for prayer. The Alaaddin Bey (Pasha) Mosque was built in early XVIII century. Canlı Kilise (Surp Garabet Church) is in Yukarı Yongali Village of Yaygın.

It was being used as Fire Temple (Ateş Tapınağı) when it was first built, but the Sasanis converted it into a church in 399. today we have some relics only.

The Arak Monastery is in the Kepenek Village, it is estimated to have been built by the Sasanis in 499. during the course of time it has been used as a church, a monastery and shopping mall. The large monastery has 360 rooms. The rooms represent the days of a year. Especially its relief are remarkable. The Sironk Church is in the Kırköy town, built in 651. In spite of the fact that it is in ruins today, it still is a place of interest. The Meryem Ana (Virgin Mary) Church, date unknown, is in the city of Muş. It is in a rather good shape compared to the others in the city; only the upper ceiling is ruined but the main section is in a suitable shape so that can be visited. The Ibrahim Samidi (Zerzemi) Tomb before the Alaaddin Bey Bath; the people from near vicinity come here to visit and to pray for healing against their spiritual disorders, various problems and malaria diseases. From the Kesik Baş (Chopped-off Head) Tomb we have only two graves only adjacent to the mosque walls. According to many widely told a round hearsays this person put his head, which was chopped off at a war, under his arm and kept on fighting and at the end he came over here I and has fallen.

Baths, Caravanserais

The Alaaddin Bey Bath was built at the same time as the Alaaddin Bey Mosque. It is still used today and it dates back to late Ottoman times. The architectural material and properties are similar to those of the Alaaddin Bey Mosque and plant motives are used for interior decoration. Güllü Hamam (Rosy Hamam) is another bath of Muş which could not stand the natural disasters. Its sun-dried- brick construction is reinforced with horasan mortar and debris stones. The Yıldızlı Han (Caravanserai) in the centre of the town with its two storeys was built in 1307. It consisted of 52 shops. Some part of it was run down and now the front is repaired. The stone carved motives on the entrance gate are not damaged.

Natural Beauties

The Haçlı (Kazan) Lake in the south-east of Bulanık (turbid) town and the its water is generally turbid too anyway. Carp and various kinds of fish grow here. It is a natural birds paradise around the lake. The Akdoğan Lakes (Grand and Little Hamurpet). The Grand lake in the east of Varto is about 1 1 sq. km in area. Carp and trout are the main local fish. And around the lake area some wild animals like beavers, ducks and cranes live. The Kaz (Gaz) Lake is in the north-east of Aktuzla town of Malazgirt. It is a natural birds paradise especially with its spoon ducks and grey ducks.

Handicrafts

Carpet weaving and tapestry, woollen felt making, straw braiding, beads and laces, embroidery and sock knitting are the still living handicrafts of today. Besides these they also make sacks and tents of goats’ hair to be used in the high plateaus on the mountains.