Mamure Castle – Anamur, Mersin
Mamure Castle is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Turkey, located on the Mediterranean coast east of Anamur. While its foundations date back to the Roman period (3rd or 4th century AD), its current majestic form was largely shaped during the Karamanid Principality era (14th century). It was later repaired and used by the Ottomans.
Spanning an area of approximately 23,500 m², the castle is fortified with 39 towers and bastions and surrounded by a wide moat. It consists of three main sections: the Inner Courtyard (Citadel), the Outer Courtyard, and the Western Courtyard.
Highlights:
- Architecture: Exhibits characteristics of Seljuk and Ottoman military architecture.
- Mosque: Inside the courtyard stands a historic single-minaret mosque built (or repaired) by Karamanid Mahmut Bey, which is still open for worship.
- Location: Its seafront location served as a strategic point for both defense and surveillance.
Sources
- Wikipedia – Mamure Castle
- Vikipedi – Mamure Kalesi
- Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism