A town that moved
The provincial tourism directorate describes residents moving inland in 1841 as the lake rose. The relationship between the old settlement around the castle and the present centre is a useful starting point for understanding the town.
Which Erciş Castle?
This article concerns the old Erciş Castle south of Çelebibağı. It should not be confused with the separate site recorded as Deliçay Castle. When searching maps and photographs, check the place name as well as the word castle.
The district account describes only a few surviving walls. Think of shoreline remains and the position of the former settlement rather than expecting a complete fortress with towering ramparts.
Reading the remains
The district inventory records surviving wall fragments at Erciş Castle in Çelebibağı. Historical notes about water levels should not be treated as current visitor information. An inventory listing does not necessarily mean a site has regular public access.
