Kastamonu Castle

Kastamonu Castle is a historical fortress located in the Kastamonu province of Türkiye. Situated on a rocky outcrop to the west of City center, occupying an area of place castle, it is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

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The fortress dates back to the Byzantine period, particularly the era of the Komnenos dynasty. Built for defense against Turkish raids, it extends 155 metres from south to north and between 30 and 50 metres from east to west. Strengthened by fifteen large towers and bastions, building was constructed using stone and mortar, with wood buttresses added between sections to enhance its durability. After the Byzantine period, the castle continued to be used during the Candarogullari Beylik and the Ottoman Empire.

One of the most compelling aspects of Kastamonu Castle is the dramatic love tale believed to be the origin of the city’s name. According to legend, a romance developed between Moni, the daughter of the Byzantine tekfur, and a Turkish commander. Despite the commander’s declaration of love to Moni, the tekfur opposed the relationship and threw his daughter from the castle walls, causing her death. This tragic love story forms the legendary origin of the city’s name, Kastamonu.

The dungeons, cisterns, and escape tunnels within the castle illustrate its strategic significance. Particularly, the stairway leading through a narrow passageway in the central part of the fortress served both as a supply route and as a refuge for civilians during siege times. Kastamonu Castle exhibits characteristics of Middle Byzantine architecture. The fortress consists of two sections: an inner and an outer wall. The inner castle is the oldest surviving section. The outer walls were demolished in the late 18th century. Inside the castle are cisterns, a dungeon, escape tunnels, and a tomb known as the “Bayraklı Sultan”. The tomb belongs to a Turkish soldier who died during the conquest of Kastamonu.

During the Ottoman period, the castle remained actively used but gradually lost its strategic importance and fell into disrepair due to neglect. A earthquake in 1943 caused severe damage to the structure. However, thanks to comprehensive restoration efforts carried out by the Kastamonu Municipality in 2005, the castle was reopened to visitors and restored as a vital part of our historical heritage life.