5 places to visit in the Çatak district of Van: Çatak Valley, Sorkin Çayı Bridge and Çatak Castle. Plan your trip to Çatak with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Çatak is a district of Van province. It covers 1,952 km², stands at an altitude of 1,498 m and has a population of 16,361. The district’s original name, Şatak or Şatakh, was used until 1960; later it was given the Turkish name Çatak, which has a meaning in Turkish. As a former Armenian settlement, the area is mentioned in Armenian chronicles written as early as around 870.
History
From the mid-7th century it spent some time under Arab rule. In the 10th and 11th centuries, during the period of the Armenian Kingdom of Vaspurakan, it developed and was equipped with many churches and castles. Around 1350 the area came under the control of the Hakkâri Beylik, which had grown stronger, and after the Ottoman–Iranian war of 1548 it theoretically came under Ottoman rule. When the kaza (district) administration was established in 1865, the district centre was chosen as the seat; its former name was Tağ or Tağı Hakkari. During the events of 1915, some Çataklılar took control of the Karşıyaka and Alaçam neighbourhoods, leading the Armenians to leave the district. Among the historical monuments within the district’s borders are three arch bridges built by Armenians. One of them lies within the district, crosses the Sorkin Stream and is still in use.
Historical monuments
The other two bridges, Hurkan and Zırıl, are over the Norduz Stream, and still provide crossings over the stream. Rock carvings made on large stones are found at Tırşin.
History and Culture
Çatak was occupied by Russia between 1915 and 1918. Çatak was chosen as the seat when the kaza administration was established in 1865.
Highlights
The Taşköprü, Hurkan and Zeril bridges over the Çatak Stream are historic monuments built in the 15th century. During the events of 1915, some Çataklılar prepared the ground for the Armenians to leave the district.
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