Balabanbey Castle

Balabanbey Castle, locally known as Balabanbey Kalesi or Balabancık Hisarı, lies in the city of Bursa, in the province of Bursa in Turkey.

Balabanbey Castle was built around the turn of the 14th century by Osman I, the first Ottoman Sultan. It was built to facilitate the pending Ottoman siege of the fortified Byzantine city of Prusa (present-day Bursa).

At present the site of Balabanbey is part of the city of Bursa but at that time it was situated at a distance of some 1200 meters from the Prusa city walls.

After it was finished it was equipped with a large garrison and Osman appointed a close friend of his younger brother Gündüz Bey; Balabancık, as commander of the castle. Hence its alternative name. After several years the siege properly started and, after some 6 to 9 years, Bursa finally fell in 1326.

It is said that, shortly before Bursa fell, Osman stood on the walls of Balanbanbey Castle with his son Orhan Ghazi. He pointed out the dome of the Byzantine monastery inside the city walls of Bursa, which glistened under the sun, and expressed his will to Orhan; "Bury me under that silver cupola.".

The only thing that remains of Osman's castle is a corner of the castle walls that was heavily restored in 2006. The rest of the site is unrecognizable as it has been built over with typical bland apartment buildings.

At present the site of Balabanbey Castle can freely be visited. Not really worth a visit.

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