Kastamonu Castle

Kastamonu Castle, locally known as Kastamonu Kalesi, lies in the city of the same name, in the province of Kastamonu in Turkey.

The city of Kastamonu is said to have been founded already in the 18th century BC. During Roman times it was known as Timonion.

In the 10th century Manuel Erotikos Komnenos, a prominent Byzantine general, was given lands around the city by Emperor Basil II, after Manuel had defended the city of Nicaea against an uprising. Manuel's grandson; Emperor Alexios I Komnenos probably founded the castle, maybe on an earlier predecessor, in the 12th century. That castle and city became known as "Kastra Komnenon", which later changed into Kastamone and Kastamoni, and finally into Kastamonu.

The Byzantine Empire lost control of Kastamonu in 1227. From then it was ruled by, first, the beylik (a Turkic principality) of the Chobanids, and then the beylik of the Isfendiyarids. In 1461 it finally came into the hands of the Ottomans.

Kastamonu Castle sits on a rocky outcrop in the center of the city. What remains today is mainly of Turkic architecture. The present castle actually was the inner castle of a larger fortification which circled the entire city. Those outer walls, however, have completely disappeared.

The castle was severely damaged during the 1943 Tosya–Ladik earthquake. It was partially restored in 2005.

Kastamonu Castle is freely accessible during daytime. A beautiful castle ruin. I love the contrast of the color of the castle walls and the green surrounding it.

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