Şırnak: Bridges, Kasrı and Churches

A three-arched bridge over the Güneş Deresi, a horseman carved into rock and dated inscriptions give Şırnak a distinct cultural and historical character. The sights are located in several specific places: Kasrik, Kavuncu, Kızılsu and neighbourhoods in the centre of Şırnak. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish the buildings and landscapes by their respective locations.

Kasrik: Bridge, Rock Carving and Watercourses

Kasrik is a settlement established in a gorge along the road between Cizre and Şırnak. The Kasrik Bridge spans the Güneş Deresi, also known as Akçay, within the settlement. It was built with three arches and is located beside the modern bridge on the Şırnak–Cizre road. This puts the historic bridge and the modern road bridge side by side at a single landmark.

A rock carving in Kasrik depicts a human figure on horseback in a niche in the natural rock. Kasrik’s ruins also form part of the settlement’s cultural character: they are among Şırnak’s important cultural assets. According to tradition, the ruins are said to have served as a summer retreat in the time of Noah. This attribution should be understood as a local tradition.

The watercourses also shape the description of the settlement. The Kızılsu Deresi flows through Kasrik, and the Hoşal Deresi joins it within the settlement. Koçibey Cemetery and Türbe are located in the hamlet of Durmuşlu, which belongs to Kasrik. Thus, finding your way around Kasrik means taking in the bridge and gorge as well as other named cultural sites in the associated hamlet.

Kavuncu: Church, Fountain and Han

The church in Kavuncu Köyü is 6 km from the main road between Şırnak and Cizre. Its floor plan follows a Nestorian typology. The layout is therefore a distinctive feature of the building’s architectural classification. South of the church and below the road is the fountain of Kavuncu Köyü; its water comes from a nearby spring.

The Kavuncu (Naniv) Han lies about 3 km east of the settlement of Kavuncu. In a different direction is the Yıkık Han (Hanı Grabe): it is within the boundaries of Kızılsu, on the left side of the main road from Şırnak to Cizre, and about 30 km from Şırnak. The reference points are therefore clearly distinct: the Kavuncu settlement for the Kavuncu Han, and the main road and distance from Şırnak for the Yıkık Han.

Kasrı and Historic Houses in Şırnak

The Abdurrahman-Ağa-Kasrı is in the Aydınlık Evler neighbourhood of central Şırnak, on Sönmez Sokak. According to its inscription, it was built in 1892. It is the only registered building in the centre of Şırnak. An inscription on the courtyard wall of the Süleyman-Ağa-Kasrı gives its date as 1927. The building stands on level ground in the İsmet Paşa neighbourhood.

The kasrı provide two specific historical reference points: the year 1892 is recorded in the inscription on the Abdurrahman-Ağa-Kasrı, while the dating inscription for the Süleyman-Ağa-Kasrı is on its courtyard wall. The respective neighbourhoods are also useful for finding your way around.

The House of Ali Han Ağa (Uysal) offers another glimpse of the building style. The two-storey house has two rooms on the ground floor; an internal staircase leads to the upper floor. This description of the layout and access adds a residence with specific architectural features to the account of the kasrı.

Sport Fishing on the Kızılsu Çayı

Sport fishing takes place on the Kızılsu Çayı. For travellers interested in this activity, it adds a specific riverside pursuit to Şırnak’s cultural attractions.

Discover more destinations: Silopi, Yeşilöz, Şırnak, İdil, Bağlıca Köyü, Cizre, Ankara, Erzincan.

For the broader travel overview: Anatolia.