Location: 7 km (4 mi) Southeast of Anamur, Anamur District, Mersin Province Map
Tel. (0324) 814 16 77
Open: 9am- 5:30pm daily
Mamure Castle (Turkish: Mamure Kalesi), located in Bozdoğan village, Anamur district of Mersin Province, Turkey, is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Situated along the D400 highway, approximately 6 kilometers east of Anamur and 216 kilometers west of Mersin, this imposing structure sits directly on the Mediterranean shoreline, with its rear walls touching the sea and its front nearly reaching the highway. Covering an area of 23,500 square meters, the castle is a testament to centuries of architectural evolution, strategic importance, and cultural transitions across Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Karamanid, and Ottoman civilizations. Its historical significance, robust design, and scenic location make it a compelling subject for an in-depth exploration.
Mamure Castle’s origins trace back to the 3rd or 4th century AD, when
the Romans constructed a fortress on the site to protect the nearby city
of Anemurium from pirate attacks. Archaeological excavations conducted
by the Anamur Museum Directorate in 1988 uncovered mosaic floors and
pottery from the Late Roman period, suggesting the site’s use as a
modest Roman settlement, possibly linked to the ancient city of
Rigmonai. The castle’s strategic position on high cliffs and plains
overlooking the Mediterranean made it a vital defensive structure for
controlling trade routes and repelling maritime threats.
During
the Byzantine era, the castle underwent repairs to maintain its
defensive capabilities. Its prominence grew during the Crusades, with
historical records indicating that Philip II of France halted there in
1191 on his return from the Third Crusade. In 1221, Alaattin Keykubat I,
the Seljuk Sultan, captured the castle’s ruins and rebuilt it,
incorporating elements of the earlier fortifications into a larger, more
fortified structure. This marked a significant expansion, aligning with
Seljuk architectural and military ambitions.
By the early 14th
century, the castle came under the control of the Karamanid dynasty, a
Turkmen principality in Anatolia. Between 1300 and 1308, Karamanoglu
Mahmut Bey conquered the castle, which had been briefly held by the
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and later the Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus.
Mahmut Bey oversaw extensive reconstruction, including the addition of a
mosque, and renamed the castle Mamure, meaning “prosperous” in Arabic,
reflecting its restored grandeur. An inscription from 1450 by İbrahim II
of Karaman confirms the castle’s capture and repair during Mahmut’s
reign.
In 1469, the Ottoman Empire annexed the castle, and it
served various roles, including as a caravanserai (a roadside inn)
during the 15th, 16th, and 18th centuries. The Ottomans conducted
multiple restorations, notably reinforcing the castle in 1878 after the
British occupation of Cyprus heightened its strategic importance. The
castle remained garrisoned until the end of World War I. Its inclusion
on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List in 2012 underscores its global
historical and architectural significance.
Mamure Castle is a sprawling fortress surrounded by a 10-meter-wide
moat on its landward side, with 39 towers (four of which are larger) and
bastions connected by wide ramparts. The castle’s walls, constructed
using various stones, Khorasan mortar, and cut stone for arches and
doorways, are designed to withstand sieges, with lower sections wider
for stability and upper sections narrowing for defensive efficiency. The
fortress spans 580 meters in perimeter and is divided into three main
courtyards—western, eastern, and southern—each separated by high walls
and serving distinct functions.
Western Courtyard: This area
houses a small complex featuring a single-minaret mosque, originally
built by the Karamanids around 1300 and later restored in the 16th
century, reflecting Ottoman architectural influences. The mosque, still
used for worship, features a central dome with an octagonal drum, a
stalactite mihrab, and a narthex with wooden pillars (non-original).
Nearby are the ruins of a Turkish bath (hamam), with only parts of its
structure intact, and a fountain. The courtyard also contains warehouses
and cisterns, indicating its role in sustaining the castle’s inhabitants
during prolonged sieges.
Eastern Courtyard: This section includes
remnants of an aqueduct that transported water from mountains 5
kilometers away, a stable resembling a garage, and holes in the walls
that served as barracks for guards. The courtyard’s design reflects the
castle’s military focus, with surveillance windows and interconnected
galleries within the two-story walls providing access to bastions and
viewing points.
Southern Courtyard: Dominated by the remains of a
lighthouse, this courtyard offers scenic views of the Mediterranean and
highlights the castle’s maritime orientation. The main castle tower, a
thick and high watchtower on the south side, is a focal point for
visitors, offering panoramic vistas from its ramparts. The courtyard’s
proximity to the sea underscores the castle’s role in monitoring and
defending against naval threats.
The castle’s defensive features
include a main entrance gate with a rectangular plan, located between
two towers in the northern inner courtyard, though the current entrance
is not the original. A now-decimated bridge once connected the gate to
the outside over the moat. Water cisterns throughout the castle ensured
self-sufficiency during sieges, and the ramparts, accessible by steep
and narrow stairs, allowed defenders to patrol the entire perimeter. The
castle’s crenelated walls and surveillance windows were designed to
repel attacks from both land and sea.
Mamure Castle’s location beside the Mediterranean makes it a
striking landmark, with waves crashing against its seaward walls and
sea turtles, including loggerhead turtles, using the adjacent beach
as a breeding ground in summer. The moat is home to terrapins, and a
rose garden adds to the site’s aesthetic appeal. Across the D400
highway, visitors can explore the ruins of an Ottoman-era Turkish
bath, accessible for free, and the nearby ancient city of Anemurium,
a Hellenistic site 64 kilometers from Cyprus, whose artifacts are
displayed in the Anamur Museum.
The castle has also captured
modern cultural attention, serving as a filming location for Turkish
films and TV series, such as Malkoçoğlu Against the Kings (1967) and
Kuruluş (featuring Osman Gazi). Its well-preserved state, despite
periods of neglect, is attributed to repeated restorations, with
significant efforts by the Regional Directorate of Foundations in
1960 and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism between 2015 and 2018.
As of recent reports, parts of the castle have been intermittently
closed for ongoing renovations, though its exterior remains
accessible for photography and exploration.
Access and Logistics: Mamure Castle is easily reachable by car from
Alanya (126 kilometers, approximately 2 hours) or Mersin (231
kilometers). Public transport options include Mersin-Antalya buses or
dolmuşes (shared minibuses) from Anamur’s center, near the BP gas
station by the banana monument. The nearest airport is Gazipaşa-Alanya
Airport, 80 kilometers away. Parking is available across the street, and
the castle is open year-round, with spring and autumn recommended for
milder weather. A small admission fee is charged (a Museum Pass is
valid), though some visitors report free entry during restoration
periods.
Experience: Visitors can explore the castle’s ramparts,
towers, and courtyards, though some stairs are steep, narrow, and lack
handrails, requiring caution. The mosque and Turkish bath offer insights
into daily life within the fortress, while the southern courtyard’s
lighthouse ruins and sea views are ideal for photography. The castle’s
relative isolation—described as “off the beaten track”—ensures a
peaceful visit, often with few crowds. Nearby, Anamur’s banana groves,
Saturday market, and beaches add to the region’s appeal, with local
cuisine and affordable accommodations enhancing the experience.
Tips: Visitors should wear sturdy shoes for navigating uneven terrain
and steep stairs. Families with children should exercise caution, as the
castle lacks modern safety features. Combining a visit with Anemurium or
the Anamur Museum provides a fuller historical context. Checking
restoration status before planning a trip is advisable, as closures may
limit interior access.