Anadoluhisarı Castle

Anadoluhisarı Castle, locally known just as Anadoluhisarı, lies in the Beykoz district of the city of Istanbul, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Strait in the province of Istanbul in Turkey.

Anadoluhisarı translates back to Anatolian (Anadolu-) fortress (-hisarı). The castle was built between 1393 and 1394 on the commission of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I, as part of his preparations for a siege on the then-Byzantine city of Constantinople. Bayezid's plans for a siege were interrupted as the Ottomans had to deal with other matters within their domains. It was built at the mouth of the Göksu creek, at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus.

In the mid-15th century, Sultan Mehmed II reinforced the castle with a 2-meter-thick wall and 3 additional watchtowers forming a bailey, and added further extensions, including a warehouse and living quarters. As part of his plans to launch a renewed military campaign to conquer Constantinople, Mehmed II further built a sister structure to Anadoluhisarı across the Bosphorus called Rumelihisarı Castle in 1452. The 2 castles worked in tandem in 1453 to block all maritime traffic along the Bosphorus, thus aiding the Ottomans during their siege of Constantinople. These castles served a similar purpose as the castles of Çimenlik and Kilitbahir on the Dardanelles Strait.

After Constantinople had fallen at the end of a 53-day siege in 1453, Anadoluhisarı Castle served as a customs house and military prison, and after several centuries, fell into disrepair. As time progressed the walls of the bailey were broken open and a road was laid through it. Finally, in the 1990s the castle was restored but never opened for the public.

At present Anadoluhisarı Castle can freely be visited. The road on which it is situated goes right through the bailey. Sadly enough, the inner castle is always closed, so can only be seen from outside. A very nice castle in a cozy neighborhood.

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