Location: Bodrum Harbor Map
Constructed: 1402- 37
Tel. (0252) 316 25 16
Open: 9am- noon & 2pm- 7pm
Bodrum Castle is located in Turkey's port city of Bodrum and was built in 1402 by St. The castle was built by the Knights of St. John under the name of St. Peter's Castle. The castle, which has become the symbol of Bodrum, has been used as the "Underwater Archeology Museum" since 1960.
The reason for the construction of the castle was that the Knights
needed a safe zone on the mainland against the threat of the growing
Ottoman Empire. Bodrum, close to Kos, where a castle had already been
built, was chosen as the place to build the castle. In the area where
the castle was built, there were defensive foundations from the Dorians
period and a small Seljuk castle from the 11th century. Between 1402 and
1522, St. The castle, controlled by the Knights of St. Jean, is the
joint work of Italian, French, German and British, rather than a single
nation. Different parts of the castle were built at different times. The
chapel was completed in 1406, the English Tower in 1413, and the first
walls in 1437.
Although the Ottoman Empire attacked the castle
from time to time throughout the 15th century, the castle resisted these
attacks. Cem Sultan is his brother II. He took refuge in the castle
after his unsuccessful coup attempt against Bayezid.
The castle,
along with Kos and Rhodes, came under Ottoman rule as a result of the
Siege of Rhodes in 1523. As a result, a minaret was added to the castle
and the chapel inside the castle was converted into a mosque under the
name "Süleymaniye Mosque". The castle, which was under Ottoman control
for 400 years, lost its former importance during this time and was used
as a military base and prison from time to time. Various artifacts and
reliefs found in the castle were taken to the British Museum in England
with Ottoman permission in the 19th century.
As a result of the
fire opened by a French warship in the First World War, the minaret of
the castle was destroyed and some of its towers were damaged. Although
it came under Italian rule for a short time, Italian forces withdrew
from the castle in 1921. The castle, which remained empty for about 40
years after the war, was later converted into the Underwater Archeology
Museum.
Bodrum Castle was built on a rocky area between two harbours. This
area, which was first an island in ancient times, later became a
peninsula by being connected to the city. The castle has a square plan
and measures 180 x 185 m. There are different names given country within
the inner castle towers. The highest tower is the French Tower, which is
47.50 m above sea level. Other towers are the Italian Tower, the German
Tower, the Serpent Tower and the English Tower.
The parts of the
castle other than the eastern wall were reinforced as double body walls.
The citadel is reached getting through 7 gates. There are coats of arms
on the doors. There are crosses, plain or horizontal bands, dragon and
lion figures on the coats of arms. There are 14 cisterns in the inner
castle, including the one under the Chapel. Castle blockhouse, water
moat between double walls, suspension bridge, control tower, II.
Mahmuttuğra the one conspicuous place in the castle.
Bodrum
Castle gained an Ottoman character with a bath structure at the end of
the 19th century, when the castle was used as a prison.
The castle is used today as the Underwater Archeology Museum. The
works in the museum collections are exhibited in the Turkish Bath,
Amphora Exhibition, Eastern Roman Ship, Glass Hall, Glass Shipwreck,
Uluburun Shipwreck, Coin and Jewelery Hall, Carian Princess Hall,
English Tower, Torture and Massacre Rooms and German Tower. In addition,
works are exhibited in open spaces in the castle, which is built on a
land of 33.5 decares.
The museum received the "Special Praise"
award in the European Museum of the Year Competition in 1995.