Van is a city in Eastern Turkey that lies on the banks of Lake Van. This lake is the largest body of water in Turkey. During the 7th and 8th Centuries BC, Van was the capital of the Urartu Kingdom. Van's museum houses many pieces of pottery and other artifacts found in the area from the Urartu Kingdom. The city was ruled by various kingdoms throughout antiquity before becoming a part of Byzantium and then the Ottoman Empire. Van also has famous local cats that are all white with one blue and one brown eye! They even have a museum dedicated to these one-of-a-kind furry friends.

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Famous local sites: Lake Van, Akdamar Island, Holy Cross Church, Van Castle, Muradiye Waterfall

Must Try Local Eats: Otlu Cheese