Ceneviz Castle

Ceneviz Castle, locally mostly known as Ceneviz Kalesi but also as Osmançe Kale, lies on a hill in the forest east of the village of Kömürköy, in the province of Kırklareli in Turkey. Sometimes it is also called Kömürköy Kale.

I have not been able to find any historical information about this castle. Some sources state that it was built by the Genoese (Ceneviz=Genoese in Turkish). If that were true, then that would make it a late-medieval structure. Other sources state that it was built after 1830 by the Ottomans (Osmançe=Ottoman in Turkish).

I suspect that the sources crediting it to the Ottomans are right. Because it has rather thin walls with openings that look to be used by firearms. Also it is a considerable distance from the coast, while the seafaring Genoese mainly built fortifications near coasts. But if anybody has definitive information, please let me know.

Ceneviz Castle has a square ground plan with 2 hexagonal towers at opposite corners. In the same area there is also Yoztarla Castle. It has exactly the same layout, only on a slightly smaller scale. Yoztarla is definitely contemporary and built by the same builders.

At present Ceneviz Castle is freely accessible. It will take a hike of some 45 minutes over forest roads to reach it. A very nice castle.

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