Van Museum

The Van Museum is a regional archaeological and ethnographic museum in the city of Van in eastern Turkey. It houses collections that reflect the long human history of the Lake Van region, including artifacts from ancient Urartian sites.

Exhibition rooms present archaeological finds such as carved stone, inscriptions and pottery alongside displays of local traditional costumes, domestic objects and photographic material. The museum places an emphasis on material from nearby excavations and the broader cultural history of eastern Anatolia.

Collections were assembled from regional excavations and local collections to create a public museum that presents the prehistory, ancient kingdoms and later cultural life of the Van area. The museum acts as a repository for finds from nearby archaeological sites.

Located in the provincial capital of Van, the museum sits within the urban fabric near other civic institutions and is within visible reach of the medieval Van Fortress and the shores of Lake Van.

• Urartian collection: The museum's collections are especially strong for artifacts from the ancient kingdom of Urartu, including inscriptions and carved stone reliefs recovered in the Lake Van region.

What to See #

• Archaeology gallery: An archaeology gallery focused on the ancient Urartian civilization and regional excavation finds from the Lake Van area and eastern Anatolia.
• Ethnography displays: An ethnography section presenting local cultural objects, traditional costumes and material culture from the Van region across recent centuries.