Mamure Castle
Mamure Castle is located in Anamure ilce district, in Mersin, Turkey. The medieval castle was built in 1221 upon an earlier 3rd or 4th century Roman structure to protect against pirates. The castle is on the Mediterranean Sea and has been renovated and transformed throughout history. The castle is one of the biggest and most well-protected in Turkey. It was used by the Byzantine Empire and the Crusaders. The castle was captured during Mahmut’s reign in the 14thcentury, and by the 15th century, it was annexed by the Ottoman Empire. During the Ottoman reign, the castle was updated in the 15th, 16th, and 18th centuries. It remained garrisoned by the Ottomans until the end of WWI. A moat surrounds the 253,000 square foot fortified castle on the land side, and a rampart connects 39 towers and bastions. The structure has three main yards separated by high walls. The western courtyard has a single minaret mosque, a Turkish bath, a fountain, warehouses, and cisterns, while the remains of a lighthouse are in the southern courtyard. Mamure Castle in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
