Rumeli Castle

Rumeli Castle

Rumeli Castle (Rumeli Hisarı) is an Ottoman fortress dating to 1452. It was built by Ottoman sultan Mehmed II (Mehmed the Conqueror) in preparation for the conquest of Constantinople. The castle is situated on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait at its narrowest point with approximately 660 meters. It is just opposite of Anadolu Castle (Anadolu Hisarı) which is another Ottoman castle built-in 1394 by Bayezid I. Both Anadolu Castle and Rumeli Castle were built by Ottoman sultans in order to prevent military and economic aid to the Byzantine Empire coming from the north, Black Sea. Thus, the Bosphorus strait connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea.

Rumeli Castle consists of three large towers, one small tower, and thirteen smaller towers, which all are in very good condition. The architect of the castle was architect Müslihiddin and by the time it was built, its name was Boğazkesen (Strait Cutter).

Rumeli Castle after the conquest of Constantinople

After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the castle lost its military importance and served as a customs checkpoint until the seventeenth century and then as a prison until the nineteenth century. In the nineteenth century, a neighborhood was formed inside the castle with its houses, mosques, shops, and so on. However, this neighborhood was destroyed in the 1950s. Since 1960 the Rumeli Castle functioned as a museum and this magnificent castle is open to the public as an open-air museum.

Amazing facts about the Rumeli Castle (Rumeli Hisarı)

• From above the Rumeli Castle is in the shape of the name of Prophet Muhammad, which shares the same spelling with Mehmed (Ottoman sultan commissioned the castle) in Arabic. Click this link to watch an aerial video of the Rumeli Castle

• It took only four months to build this enormous castle that is standing for more than five centuries.

• The castle has been home to many local and international movies

How to get to the Rumeli Castle (Rumeli Hisarı)?

Located on the shore of the Bosphorus, the easiest way to get to the Rumeli Castle is to take a bus passing by Rumeli Hisarı bus station and to get off at Rumeli Hisarı bus stop. The castle is just next to the bus stop.

What else is nearby?

Located on the European shore of the Bosphorus, the castle is close to a number of monuments and neighborhoods including Aşiyan Museum, Bebek, and Arnavutköy neighborhoods. Next to the castle -on the shore of the Bosphorus- there are also several nice restaurants that serve the best traditional Turkish breakfast such as Kale Restaurant and Lokma Cafe.

Rumeli Castle visitor information

The Rumeli Castle is open every day except Mondays between 9 am and 5 pm Entrance to the Rumeli Castle is 130 Turkish Liras per person.