Sinap Castle
the public
Sinap Castle is a medieval Armenian fortification in Çamlıyayla ilçe (district) of Mersin Province in southern Turkey.
Geography
The castle is in the Toros Mountains at 37°11′21″N 34°36′42″E / 37.18917°N 34.61167°E / 37.18917; 34.61167. It is situated to the northeast of Çamlıyayla and to the north of Mersin. The distance to Çamlıyayla is 5 km (3.1 mi) and to Mersin is 93 km (58 mi). The 2 km (1.2 mi) stabilized road to the castle diverges from the Mersin-Çamlıyayla highway.[1] Its altitude is 1,240 m (4,070 ft). But it is not particularly high with respect to immediate surroundings.
History
The castle functioned as both a fortified estate house and a guardian along the strategic route between the Het‛umid castle at Lampron (Namrun Kalesi) and the Cilician Gates.[2] It was one of the many dozens of fortifications within the medieval Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. The fort of Sinap is located approximately six kilometers northeast of Lampron on the gentle slope of a partially forested agricultural valley. The name Sinap means "corner" in old Turkish.
Building
This three-story high structure has a simple rectangular plan with solid cylindrical towers at each corner. It was built between the 12th and 14th centuries with the typical rusticated ashlar masonry of the Armenians.[2] The lower floor, which is covered by a partially collapsed pointed vault, has no openings except for one door in the west wall. A now missing staircase once led to the second level which also has a partially preserved vault. Its walls are opened by nine beautifully designed casemates with embrasured loopholes, two windows, and an apse (?) in the east wall. The third level, which undoubtedly had fighting platforms (perhaps with merlons), is destroyed. The fortification was surveyed in 1979.[3]
Gallery
- Sinap Castle, southwest facade and entrance
- Sinap Castle, detail of the entrance gate in the southwest direction
- Sinap Castle, Northeast facade
- Sinap Castle, Northeast facade
- Sinap Castle, window detail in the northeast direction
- Sinap Castle interior
- Sinap Castle, Northeast facade
- Sinap Castle, cylindrical bastion towards the east
References
- v
- t
- e
- Afyonkarahisar Castle
- Akçakoca Castle
- Alanya Castle
- Alara Castle
- Amasra Fortress
- Amasya Castle
- Anadoluhisarı
- Anavarza Castle
- Ankara Castle
- Ardahan Castle
- Babakale Castle
- Bagras Castle
- Belenkeşlik Castle
- Bodrum Castle
- Bodrumkale Castle
- Bolaman Castle
- Boyabat Castle
- Bozcaada Castle
- Cemilli Castle
- Çandarlı Castle
- Çandır Castle
- Çeşme Castle
- Dağlı Castle
- Diyarbakır Fortress
- Eğirdir Castle
- Foça Castle
- Gaziantep Castle
- Gömeç Kulesi
- Gözne Castle
- Güvercinada Castle
- Harput Castle
- Harran Castle
- Hebilli Castle
- Hemite Castle
- Hisarın Castle
- Hoşap Castle
- İbrahim Pasha Casemates
- Kadifekale
- Kahramanmaraş Castle
- Kalepark
- Karacahisar Castle
- Karaman Castle
- Kara Castle
- Kars Castle
- Kastamonu Castle
- Kayseri Castle
- Kaysun
- Kevgürk Castle
- Kızıl Tower
- Kiz Kulesi
- Kızkalesi
- Kızlar Kalesi
- Kol Kalesi
- Koz Castle
- Kozan Castle
- Kuzucubelen Castle
- Loulon
- Mamure Castle
- Mancınık Castle
- Mardin Castle
- Marmaris Castle
- Meydan Castle
- Meydancık Castle
- Mut Castle
- Namrun Castle
- Pertek Castle
- Ravendel
- Riva Castle
- Rize Castle
- Roche de Roissel
- Roche-Guillaume
- Rumelihisari
- Rumkale
- Samsun Castle
- Sarvandikar
- Silifke Castle
- Sinap Castle
- Sinop Fortress
- Softa Castle
- Şanlıurfa Castle
- Şavşat Castle
- Şeytan Castle
- Şile Castle
- Tece Castle
- Tekkadın Castle
- Tokat Castle
- Tokmar Castle
- Toprakkale
- Trabzon Castle
- Trapessac
- Turbessel
- Yaka Castle
- Van Castle
- Yedikule Fortress
- Yelbiz Castle
- Yeniyurt Castle
- Yılankale
- Yoros Castle
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zilkale