Darıca Castle

Darıca Castle, locally known as Darıca Kalesi, lies in the town of the same name, in the province of Kocaeli in Turkey.

The town of Darıca was probably founded during the Kingdom of Bithynia, between 297 and 74 B.C. After first having been part of a Roman province, it became a Byzantine possession during the 7th century. The Byzantines built Darıca Castle as a fortress that was meant to protect the town. At that time the castle was first called 'Tararion' and later 'Toricion' and 'Kalos Agros'.

It stayed in Byzantine hands until 1329. Then the region was lost to the Ottomans after a Byzantine army, led by the emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos, lost the Battle of Pelekanon from the Ottoman Bey, Orhan I. In 1403 Darıca, together with Eskihisar and Hereke, was shortly returned to the Byzantines by Süleyman Çelebi in return for Byzantine support in interregnum following the Ottoman defeat to Tamerlane at the Battle of Ankara. Süleyman's brother Mehmet however quickly conquered Darıca.

At present the remains of the castle consist of a single round corner tower and one part of a wall. It sits on a gentle slope in the centre of the town. Considering the present street layout, it may have had a rectangular ground plan. The former castle grounds are now used as a car park, a restaurant and a small park.

Darıca Castle is just a small ruin. Not very interesting.

Gallery