History and archaeology / Castle
Tokat Castle
Merkez, Tokat
A castle on the steep rock in the middle of the city, used from the Roman to the Ottoman period; known for its rock-cut secret passage and dungeon stories.
Safety warning
Its story
According to Ministry sources, the castle was founded in the Roman period, remained in Byzantine hands for about five hundred years, and was taken in 1074 by Melik Ahmet Gazi of the Danishmendids. Within the walls on the steep rock there is a secret passage with hundreds of steps carved into the rock and a dungeon known as 'Çardak-ı Bedevi'. According to tradition, the Byzantine Emperor Romanos Diogenes and Vlad III, Voivode of Wallachia, and his brother were held captive here. From the castle, Tokat's historic fabric and the Yeşilırmak valley can be seen from a wide angle.
Key facts
- Period
- Roman, Byzantine, Danishmendid, Seljuk, Ottoman
- Status
- Closed to visitors for restoration (Ministry announcement, 2026)
- Visit duration
- 1 hour
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Hiking
Location
40.31782, 36.54869
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tokat.ktb.gov.tr/ | https://tokat.ktb.gov.tr/TR-231605/kaleler.html | https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/231221316 | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6099157