Rize Castle

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

Rize Castle, situated on a hill about 150 m above sea level, may have started out as the acropolis of a town founded by Greek settlers as Rhizaion. The town was first mentioned in the 2nd century AD.

Architectural comparisons have led to the most accepted belief that the castle was built during the rule of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, in the 6th century. It consisted of an upper citadel (which compromises the present castle) and a lower citadel. Two city walls were connected to the citadel and led down to the sea shore.

It is thought, again based on architectural comparison, that the castle and city walls were restored during the 13th or 14th century, when Rize was part of the Empire of Trebizond.

Later during the 14th century, Rize became part of the historic Georgian province of Chaneti. From 1547 the province was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. It was probably during Ottoman rule that the castle fell out of use.

Rize Castle is freely accessible during daytime. The interior of the upper citadel is now a small public park and houses a tearoom. A nice castle, but its interior lacked a historical feel to me.

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