Photos of Anadoluhisari
Anatolian Fortress Anadoluhisari
Anatolian Fortress Anadoluhisari in Istanbul, Turkey
The Anatolian Fortress, or Anadoluhisari, stands on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus in Istanbul’s Beykoz district, opposite Rumelihisari on the European side. This is a compact fortification at one of the strait’s narrowest points, often called the oldest surviving Ottoman structure in Istanbul.
The fortress was erected by order of Sultan Bayezid I in 1393–1394 to control navigation and prepare for a possible siege of Constantinople. In 1452 Sultan Mehmed II strengthened the defenses and built Rumelihisari on the opposite bank, which made it possible to block passage through the strait. After the conquest of the city, the fortification was used as a prison and customs post, and over time a waterfront of wooden yali mansions grew up around it.
Architecturally, Anadoluhisari consists of a keep about 25 meters high, an inner courtyard, and an outer belt of walls with towers. In the 20th–21st centuries the monument was repeatedly restored. Today the interiors are generally closed, but the fortress is clearly visible from the promenade and from the water, which makes it convenient for a brief look during a Bosphorus cruise.
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The Anatolian Fortress, or Anadoluhisari, stands on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus in Istanbul’s Beykoz district, opposite Rumelihisari on the European side. This is a compact fortification at one of the strait’s narrowest points, often called the oldest surviving Ottoman structure in Istanbul.
The fortress was erected by order of Sultan Bayezid I in 1393–1394 to control navigation and prepare for a possible siege of Constantinople. In 1452 Sultan Mehmed II strengthened the defenses and built Rumelihisari on the opposite bank, which made it possible to block passage through the strait. After the conquest of the city, the fortification was used as a prison and customs post, and over time a waterfront of wooden yali mansions grew up around it.
Architecturally, Anadoluhisari consists of a keep about 25 meters high, an inner courtyard, and an outer belt of walls with towers. In the 20th–21st centuries the monument was repeatedly restored. Today the interiors are generally closed, but the fortress is clearly visible from the promenade and from the water, which makes it convenient for a brief look during a Bosphorus cruise.
The old keep controlled shipping at a narrow stretch of the strait.
Bayezid I’s outpost on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus
The fortification is located at the mouth of the Goksu River, just downstream from the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. From the waterfront you can see the keep, fragments of curtain walls, and round towers forming a small inner courtyard. The site is enclosed by walls, and access inside is usually restricted, so viewing is from the outside, including from piers and waterfront areas.
The best vantage points are along the waterfront walk between Anadoluhisari and the green zone of Kucuksu. From here there are clear views of Rumelihisari on the opposite bank, the narrow neck of the Bosphorus, and vessel traffic. Bosphorus cruises and regular ferries make it possible to see the fortress and the waterfront yalis from the water.
A few minutes’ walk away is the 19th-century Kucuksu Pavilion and the recreational areas along the Goksu River. Across the strait lies the Rumelihisari museum complex, with which Anadoluhisari forms a historic pair of fortifications.
It is convenient to reach from Uskudar by buses running along the Asian Bosphorus waterfront to the stops at Anadoluhisari or Goksu. Municipal ferries also run along the Bosphorus to the Anadoluhisari pier; from there it is a few minutes’ walk to the fortress.
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