Photos of Gaziantep Castle
Gaziantep Castle
Gaziantep Castle in the Şahinbey district, Gaziantep
Gaziantep Castle stands atop a hill in the historic part of the Şahinbey district, in the centre of Gaziantep. It is one of the city's most prominent landmarks and a convenient starting point for exploring its past.
The site was used as an observation post as far back as the Hittite Empire. The main defensive walls were built by the Romans in the 2nd–3rd centuries AD, and under Emperor Justinian I in 527–565 the fortress was substantially expanded and reinforced. The structure is stone-built, with an approximately circular plan, a perimeter of about 1,200 metres, and 12 surviving towers.
In the following centuries the fortress was repeatedly rebuilt and repaired. Major restoration works were completed by 2000, after which it housed the Gaziantep Defense and Heroism Museum with a panoramic exhibition about the events of 1920–1921.
On 6 February 2023 the fortress suffered serious damage from the earthquake in southeastern Turkey: parts of the bastions and sections of the walls collapsed. Strengthening and restoration work is underway. At the time of this update the fortress is closed to visitors and access to the site is restricted. Check official sources for the latest conditions before visiting.
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Gaziantep Castle stands atop a hill in the historic part of the Şahinbey district, in the centre of Gaziantep. It is one of the city's most prominent landmarks and a convenient starting point for exploring its past.
The site was used as an observation post as far back as the Hittite Empire. The main defensive walls were built by the Romans in the 2nd–3rd centuries AD, and under Emperor Justinian I in 527–565 the fortress was substantially expanded and reinforced. The structure is stone-built, with an approximately circular plan, a perimeter of about 1,200 metres, and 12 surviving towers.
In the following centuries the fortress was repeatedly rebuilt and repaired. Major restoration works were completed by 2000, after which it housed the Gaziantep Defense and Heroism Museum with a panoramic exhibition about the events of 1920–1921.
On 6 February 2023 the fortress suffered serious damage from the earthquake in southeastern Turkey: parts of the bastions and sections of the walls collapsed. Strengthening and restoration work is underway. At the time of this update the fortress is closed to visitors and access to the site is restricted. Check official sources for the latest conditions before visiting.
Archaeological layers and restoration work reflect the history of the fortifications.
Stone walls atop a hill in the heart of the old town
The fortress is a compact complex on a hill with an oval plan. From the outside you can clearly see stretches of curtain walls and towers, which help imagine the former defensive system. The terrain emphasizes the site's strategic position and explains why an observation post and later fortifications were established here.
The entrance for vehicles and access inside are currently closed, but the fortress can be viewed from the foot of the hill and the surrounding streets. A walk around the perimeter allows you to examine the masonry, the towers and areas where restoration work is taking place. Photos are best taken from the southern and eastern sides, where the longest stretches of wall are visible.
Nearby are historic trading quarters: Bakircilar Çarşısı (coppersmiths' market) and the covered bazaar Zincirli Bedesten. A few minutes' walk away is the Emine Göğüş Museum of Cuisine, and a little further, still within the city, the well-known Zeugma Mosaic Museum.
It's convenient to reach the site on foot via the streets of the old centre. From other districts it's easiest to take a taxi or a city bus to stops in the historic centre, then walk through the pedestrian quarters around the hill.
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