Kayalıdere () is a village in the

Varto District Varto District (Armenian: Վարդոյի գաւառակ) is a Districts of Turkey, district of the Muş Province, Muş Province of Turkey. Its seat is the town of Varto.Muş Province Muş Province (; ; ) is a Provinces of Turkey, province in the east Anatolia region of Turkey (Türkiye). Its area is 8,718 km2, and its population is 399,202 (2022), down from 453,654 in 2000. The provincial capital is the city of Muş. Ano ...

, in east

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

. Its population is 89 (2022).

History

The old name of the village is Aşağı Hınzor in the 1928 records, and in

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

the word "Khndzor" means "apple". Today, the village is on the borders of

Varto Varto (; or , ''Varto'') is a town in Muş Province, Turkey. It is the seat of Varto District.Muş Muş (; ; ) is a city in eastern Turkey. It is the seat of Muş Province and Muş District.İl Beled ...

and is mostly known for

Urartu Urartu was an Iron Age kingdom centered around the Armenian highlands between Lake Van, Lake Urmia, and Lake Sevan. The territory of the ancient kingdom of Urartu extended over the modern frontiers of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Armenia.Kleiss, Wo ...

Kayalıdere Castle The Kayalıdere Castle (), is a historical castle on a rocky hill in the Varto district of Muş. This castle was one of the most important checkpoints for the kingdom of Urartu. Kayalıdere Castle is located on the hill that has an island appea ...

and Urartu Rock Tomb in the west. The castle and rock tomb, which is estimated to have been built during the period of Sardria II (764-735 BC), is the most robust structure of the Urartian period in Muş.Varto Kayalıdere Ören Yeri
Ministry of culture and tourism of the Republic of Turkey. Retrieved September 20, 2023. Kayalıdere castle is one of the most important centers of the

Murat Murat may refer to: Places Australia * Murat Bay, a bay in South Australia * Murat Marine Park, a marine protected area France * Murat, Allier, a commune in the department of Allier * Murat, Cantal, a commune in the department of Cantal Elsew ...

river route, which provides the westward crossings of the

Van A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. There is some variation in the scope of the word across the different English-speaking countries. The smallest vans, microvans, are used for transporting either goods or ...

-based Urartu kingdom.

References

{{Varto District Villages in Varto District