Kaleköy Castle

Kaleköy Castle, locally known just as Kale, lies in the village of the same name on the island of Gökçeada, in the province of Çanakkale in Turkey.

Before 1970 Gökçeada was known as Imbros or Imroz and up until the 1920s the inhabitants of the island were almost entirely ethnic Greeks. They called the castle Paleópolis. The village of Kaleköy was already a settlement during Roman times. It was called 'Kastro'; meaning 'castle'. The Turkish name Kaleköy also literally translates back to Castle village.

The castle is thought to date back to the 2nd part of the 14th century and to have been built by the Byzantines. But I suspect there was a predecessor. Some sources state the present castle was built by the Genoese.

Kaleköy Castle was repaired in 1390, 1439 and 1441. In 1455 administration of the island was taken over by the Ottomans and they again restored the castle. During the 16th century however the population of the village decreased as the islanders moved to the village of Dereköy, in the mountainous area inland, probably to find safety from pirate raids. Probably during later centuries the castle was abandoned and fell to ruin.

Kaleköy Castle was built on a rocky ridge next to the sea. It protected the 2 harbors on either side of it and the village beneath it.

At present Kaleköy Castle is freely accessible. A nice castle ruin with great views northwards to the Greek island of Samothrace.

There are also castle ruins in Dereköy, so I recommend a visit to Gökçeada.

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