Şanlıurfa Castle

Imagine a stone giant standing atop a massive hill, overlooking the entire city. That giant is Şanlıurfa Castle! This fortress is not just made of stone walls—it holds thousands of years of secrets and fascinating stories. Come, let us explore the history of this ancient castle together!

People began living on the site of Şanlıurfa Castle in very ancient times—even before writing was invented. The sturdy castle we see today was built approximately 1,200 years ago to protect the city from enemies. That is long, long before you were born!

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As you walk through the castle, you will see two massive columns that are even older than the fortress itself. They were erected nearly 1,800 years ago by a king who lived here. Inscriptions in an ancient language can still be seen on them. Over time, this castle has served as a stronghold for many different empires and states.

Şanlıurfa Castle was built atop a steep hill, making it much easier to defend the city. Around the castle are deep ditches known as moats, which further enhance its security.

The castle walls feature exactly 25 projecting towers known as bastions. Soldiers stationed in these bastions would keep watch over the surrounding area and defend the fortress. This ensured they were always prepared for threats coming from any direction.

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One of the most famous stories associated with Şanlıurfa Castle involves Prophet Ibrahim. According to the legend, the cruel king of that era, Nimrod, used the two massive columns within the castle as catapults to hurl Ibrahim into the fire.

But when Ibrahim fell into the flames, a miracle occurred. The fire instantly turned into a cool pond, and the burning logs became fish. It is believed that today’s Balıklıgöl, located just below the castle, was formed by this miracle. This is a beautiful tale that has been passed down through generations.