Pınarhisar Castle

Pınarhisar Castle, locally known as Pınarhisar Kalesi, lies on a hill in the town of the same name, in the province of Kırklareli in Turkey.

Pınarhisar Castle consisted of a lower castle which was situated beneath the hill upon which the upper castle was built. The site of the lower castle is now occupied by the present town. It was probably first built sometime during the 4th-6th century. So, during the early-Byzantine period, when the town was called Brysis.

The present remains of the upper castle, consisting of a large round corner tower, a round wall tower and a rectangular tower, however are from a later date. The 2 remaining round towers were probably built sometime during the 10th and 12th century, also by the Byzantines. The remaining stump of the round wall tower was later converted into a cistern. The rectangular tower is dated to the 14th century as an Ottoman construction. They renamed the town to Bunarhisar. This became Pınarhisar after 1922 when Turkey became a republic.

In the 1980s the town council designated the hill with the upper castle to become a picnic place. They then restored the 3 remaining towers to their present appearance but bulldozed everything else. They even removed part of the southern top of the hill before the work was stopped, which is why there is now a height difference halfway the castle terrain.

At present Pınarhisar Castle is freely accessible. The site of the castle is now used as a town park. A nice castle ruin. Be careful though to not step on the wild turtles that are walking around in the park.

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