Fortresses, Castles

Istanbul City Walls
The first city walls of Istanbul were built during 413-477 by the Byzantine Emperor thedosius II. they extend 6-7 km. starting from the Marble Tower on the Marmara shore up to the Golden Horn. The Yedikule Walls was built by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in the years 1457-1458. These walls contain 16 gates. the walls have a three stage defence consisting of the inner walls, outer walls and a trench. The inner walls are 3-4m thick and 13m high. The outer walls 15m away, are 2m. thick and 10m. high. In front of the outer walls, there is a trench. The Istanbul city walls are being restored within the franework of the UNESCO protection program.

The Rumeli Fortress It is situated on the Tracean side of the Istanbul Bosphorous. It was built by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prevent aid from north reaching Byzantine. It took 4 months to build with 1000 masons and 2000 workers. The three towers were built by Çandarlı Halil Pasha, Saruca Pasha and Zaganos Pasha and are named after them. The fortress has 5 gates and lies over an area of 30.000 m².

Diyarbakır Castle and Fortress
The first sections of the castle is assumed to have been built by the Hurris. In 349 during the reign of Roman Emperor Constantinus II, walls were built round the city, and the Fortress was reinforced. It is made of basalte srones cut out. During the Artuklu, Akkoyunlu, Selçuk, Ottoman and Republican eras it was restored many times. It consist of two sections, the outer fortress and the inner castle. The outer fortress walls contain 82 bastions and are 5 km long and have four gates. The inner castle also has four gates and was surrounded by walls during the period of Sultan Süleyman the Great.

Van Castle
It was built within the capital of the Uratu State, Tushba during the 9th century B.C. The castle fell into the bands of the Assyrians during the early 7th century B.C. when the Urartus were defeated and fled from the region. The castle also carries imprints of the Selçuk, Karakoyunlu, Akkoyunu and the Ottoman eras. The most important sections in the castle are the rock cells and inscriptions belonging to the Urartus. The castle also contains a mosque built by Sultan Süleyman the Great.

Kızkalesi (Maiden's Castle)
Situated 60 km. to Mersin, in the Erdemli province, it is 800-1000 m. away from the remains of the Mediterranean Sea. Over the years, its tie to mainland has disappeared and it is now an Island. Corcyus, which was established during the 4th century B.C. by the Hellens, and expanded during the Roman and Byzantine Periods, was an importat barbour during the 8th century. The castle was established to prevent attacks from the Sea. It contains remains of a church.

Hoşap Castle
Situated on the Van-Başkale hihway, 60 km from Van, this castle was built during the 16th century by the Mahmudi Clan leader Süleyman Bey, It contains two mosques, three baths, fountains and prison cells.