Here on a high rock fortress is Topro-Calais. It is located four kilometers to the West from the road that crosses the city of van. Under this rock is a wasteland with remnants of minarets and walls.

On the hill, on the northeastern edge of the city of van in 8-6 centuries BC, the fortress was located Rushenyi, which was the residence of the Urartian kings. Here since 1879 archaeological excavations are carried out with different breaks all sorts of expeditions (German, English, Russian). Already the remains of the temples and the Palace, and found numerous items that characterize the culture of Urartu. This is mainly figures of griffins and deities, made of ivory and bronze. Finds from the excavations of the group under the leadership of N. J. Marra and J. A. Orbeli 1916 are kept in the Hermitage (Leningrad).