Hoşab, Gürpınar

Hoşab (also: Hoşap or Xoşabê) is the historical name of a neighbourhood of the municipality and district of Gürpınar, Van Province, Turkey.

Located on the flat ground north of the Hoşap Castle rock, Güzelsu is surrounded by a mud-brick wall, much eroded today, but still quite striking.

[4] A 32 m long, 6 m wide and 5 m high historic bridge spans the Hoşap River, providing access to the castle.

[5] Two foundation plaques, which are placed between the arches, are framed with carved muqarnas and floral motifs and protected with stone eaves.

They are from 1671 and written in a mixture of Turkish, Persian and Arabic in honour of the bridge's builder, Zeynel Bey, the head of the local Mahmudi tribe governing Hoşab under Ottoman rule at that time.

Güzelsu surrounded by a mud-brick wall with mud-brick homes
Güzelsu new town along the Van-Hakkari Highway