Mamure Castle

Mamure Castle

Located in the town of Anamur in the Mersin Province of Turkey, Mamure Castle is a historic fortification situated on the Mediterranean coast, about 6 kilometers east of Anamur and 216 kilometers west of Mersin.

Mamure Castle

Originally constructed by the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia on the site of a fourth-century Roman castle, the castle was designed to protect against pirates. It was later repaired during the Byzantine era and by the Crusaders. In 1221, Alaattin Keykubat I of Seljuk Turks captured the castle ruins and built a larger fortification, incorporating elements from earlier fortifications.

Subsequently, the castle was controlled by the Karamanid dynasty, a Turkmen principality. According to an inscription from Ibrahim II of Karaman in 1450, the exact date of the castle's capture is unknown, but it was during Mahmut's reign (1300–1311). After repairs by Mahmut, the castle was renamed Mamure. In 1469, it became part of the Ottoman Empire and underwent renovations in the 16th century with some small additions made to certain parts.

Covering an area of approximately 23,500 square meters, Mamure Castle features 39 towers and bastions connected by wide ramparts. The western section of the castle includes a courtyard with a small group of buildings, including a minaret mosque and Turkish bath. Meanwhile, the southern section of the castle contains a lighthouse that still stands to this day.