Gökburç Tower

Gökburç Tower, locally just known as Gökburç, lies east of the village of Ovacık, in the province of Mersin in Turkey.

This tower was originally part of a Roman villa rustica. Fortified villas started to appear in this area since the 4th century. The tower is said to date either from the 4th or the 6th century.

The complex had a trapezoidal plan and was fortified with a perimeter wall with towers on 3 of its corners. The only one remaining is Gökburç Tower. It has a height of some 18 meters and walls between 0.54 and 0.67 meters thick, pierced by narrow slit windows. Other walls of the villa are either buried or only small parts remain.

Gökburç Tower is freely accessible, although the site is very much overgrown. A beautiful tower. Hançerkale Tower is nearby.

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