Güzelcehisar Castle

Güzelcehisar Castle, locally known as Güzelcehisar Kalesi, lies west of the hamlet of the same name, in the province of Bartın in Turkey.

Some sources speculated that the first fortification at this site, a narrow rocky peninsula, guarding a bay south of it and watching the sea to the north, was an ancient watchtower.

The present Güzelcehisar Castle is said to date back to the time of the Genoese. So, that would place its construction between around 1261, when they were granted trading rights on the Black Sea coast by the Byzantines, and around 1460, when the Ottomans conquered the area. During Ottoman rule, it probably fell into disuse and finally fell to ruin.

Apparently the ruin was quite substantial until the early 1900s. Nowadays only its eastern bastion, which is probably where the gate was situated, and some walls on its western end remain. The interior of the castle is very much overgrown, and as I could see no structures, I didn't go inside.

Güzelcehisar Castle is freely accessible. To get to it, you will have to walk a small path through fields and bushes for about 20 minutes. Near the ruins is a vertical cliff, dropping into the sea, so watch your steps.

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