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All 9 Van Attractions »

Church of the Holy Cross (Akdamar Kilisesi)

Akdamar Island, Van, Turkey
AKDAMAR church
Close up of the engravings
Akdamar Island from the boat
St George
9 visitor photos
Ranked #1 of 9 attractions in Van
5.0 of 5 stars 6 Reviews
Type: Religious Sites
Owner description: Located on the Akdamar Island in Lake Van, this Cathedral is significant because it is the only surviving medieval Armenian church in which most of...... more » Owner description: Located on the Akdamar Island in Lake Van, this Cathedral is significant because it is the only surviving medieval Armenian church in which most of the wall paintings are still intact. « less
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6 reviews from our community

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Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Top Contributor
62 reviews 62 reviews
Reviews in 32 cities Reviews in 32 cities
60 helpful votes 60 helpful votes
“Well Worth a Visit”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 November 2011

The island is a short boat ride from a small dock perhaps 15 miles south of the city of Van. The views of cerulean Lake Van are wonderful. The church itself is in excellent and condition and is still used on occasion. It is a very special place to Armenians. The bas relief carvings on the exterior are noteworthy. If... More

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Portland Oregon, USA
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“Church of the Holy Cross”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 November 2011
1
person found this review helpful

For travellers in the Van area of eastern Turkey, a visit to the CHC on Akdamar Island in Lake Van is a must. Getting there requires both a car/bus plus a boat ride (see the other reviews at this site for details). If at all possible try to go on a sunny day which enhances the relief of the outstanding... More

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Andorra
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
“Armenian Church”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 November 2011
1
person found this review helpful

Find out about Armenian culture previously and you'll enjoy much more this lovely place More

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See 3 more reviews by amcsaenz for Van
Zurich, Switzerland
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
“a must see - the Church of the Holy Cross”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 November 2011

a must see - part of the VAN cultural heritage and Christian/ Armenian past More

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Sydney, Australia
Senior Contributor
39 reviews 39 reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
“Well worth the effort with stunning views and historic artwork.”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 October 2009
5
people found this review helpful

Okay it might not be the easiest place to reach but it is well worth the effort. This is my experience to Akdamar Island from Van. The first thing I did was to go to the Tourist Office and obtained a brochure for the Akdamar Kilisesi. They don't have anything in (or speak) English, but a brochure might help your... More

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See 2 more reviews by ipggi for Van
Swindon
Senior Contributor
41 reviews 41 reviews
Reviews in 24 cities Reviews in 24 cities
52 helpful votes 52 helpful votes
“The spirit of the lake”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 June 2008
3
people found this review helpful

This church (built when the area was part of mediaeval Armenia) is on an island in the middle of Lake Van. You can get there by getting a mini bus from Van to Givas. The bus stop is in a back street and VERY HARD TO FIND. Keep asking. From Givas a second bus takes you to AKDAMAR iskele (or... More

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