Ortahisar Castle

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

The town of Ortahisar is situated in the Göreme Historical National Park in the Cappadocia region. This area is known for its many rock-cut structures; churches, dwellings, castles, and even entire towns.

The castle of Ortahisar is such a rock-cut structure. It was entirely carved out of a peak composed out of volcanic tuff, some 86 meters high. The inside of the rock is riddled with rooms and tunnels. Although it doesn't resemble a 'normal' castle with towers, walls and machicolations, it did perform the functions of a castle as it was a fortified place of residence and refuge.

When it was first constructed is unknown, but archaeological research showed traces of Byzantine and Ottoman occupation. According to legend the castle was inhabited by Hibe Dede, a Muslim saint, who had come here with his 8 siblings from Uzbekistan, in the 12th century.

Ortahisar Castle can be visited for a small fee. A curious 'castle'. Other similar castles nearby are Ishak Castle, just outside Ortahisar, and Uçhisar Castle.

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