History and archaeology / Castle
Kemah Castle
Kemah, Erzincan
A historic castle on steep cliffs overlooking the Karasu (Euphrates) valley, whose strength Evliya Çelebi praised, and which passed to the Ottomans in 1515 after a siege by Yavuz Sultan Selim.
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Its story
The castle rises on the left bank of the Karasu, on a natural rock mass about 1,100 meters above sea level. Its construction date is not known for certain; some sources suggest the 2nd century BC, while others, based on the stepped water tunnels carved into the bedrock, propose a history going back to the Urartian period. The castle, which changed hands frequently during the Byzantine–Arab frontier wars, passed to the Anatolian Seljuks in 1228 and to the Ottomans in 1515 after a siege in which Yavuz Sultan Selim (Selim I) took part. Evliya Çelebi described the castle as a large, sturdy pentagonal structure. Excavations by Atatürk University and restoration work are ongoing at the site, which stands out with its walls and towers built of large cut stones; from the hill there are impressive views of the Karasu valley and the town of Kemah.
Key facts
- Period
- Antiquity – Ottoman
- Admission
- Open area
- Getting there
- Kemah district center, about 50 km from Erzincan
- Visit duration
- 1 hour
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Day trip
Location
39.60333, 39.03917
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemah_Kalesi | https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/kemah | https://goturkiye.com/erzincan/see | https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemah | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6098580