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H.F.B. Lynch, "Armenia. Travels and Studies" (1901)
Van
"The rock and walled city of Van". The city of Van consisted of two parts. At the foot of the castle rock, once the residence of the kings of Urarty, was, surrounded by a wall, the centre of the city. The largest part of the inhabitants of Van lived in the so-called "Garden City" (Aikestan) outside the walls, which extended towards the slopes of Mount Varak (Erek).
For map of Van at the end of the 19 century, see the map page.
This "House of an Armenian Merchant at Van" was situated within the walls of the old city.
The two pictures of Van by Lynch are also images of a vanished world. Van was known for its wooden churches (below left), one of which, Haykavank, was pictured by Lynch. The picture at the right shows a crowded street in the walled city