Kastamonu Castle Kastamonu Castle is a historic fortress situated in the center of Kastamonu, Turkey, built on a natural rocky elevation with an altitude of 860 meters (2,820 ft). The castle was originally constructed during the 10th century by Byzantine commander Manuel Komnenos, who built a fortress and living quarters named Castrum Komnenon. However, over time, the name was corrupted to "Kastra" or "Castle," and the city eventually became known as Kastamonu. In the 11th century, the castle was captured by the Seljuks of Rum, under the leadership of Çobanoğlu, after a prolonged siege against the Byzantines. The castle has since changed hands several times, from the Candarid beylik to the Ottoman Empire, and eventually to the Turkish Republic. Unfortunately, in 1943, an earthquake destroyed a portion of the castle. However, restoration efforts have been ongoing since 2005. Initially, the castle was fortified with walls surrounding the entire city. However, today only a portion of the inner castle with fortifications remains. The dimensions of the castle run north to south for 155 meters (509 feet), while the width ranges between 30 meters (98 feet) and 50 meters (160 feet). There are 15 bastions and a secret passage leading to the outer fort.