Bakras Castle

Imagine a massive stone castle nestled against a steep mountain, bordering the clouds. This is exactly the breathtaking setting of Bakras Kalesi in Hatay. For centuries, this fortress has stood watch over travelers passing by, holding within its walls countless mysterious stories. Let us take a step back in time and explore its historical events together.

Bakras Kalesi is built on a very steep hillside at the foot of Kızıldağ in the Belen district of Hatay province. It rises directly above the village of Ötençay (formerly known as Bakras), just beside the main road connecting Antakya and İskenderun.

The castle is surrounded by deep ravines and valleys, giving it the appearance of being inaccessible from the outside. If you wish to reach the castle, you must navigate the winding and steep paths that wind through the village.

No one knows exactly when the castle was first built, but it is certain that it has stood there since ancient times. Even the famous geographer Strabo did not mention it in his writings. According to one legend, King Dakianus of Ammuri had the castle constructed to honor the memory of his beloved wife, Bağrez.

Throughout history, the castle was so strategically important that many empires fought to control it, including the Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, and Seljuks. Ultimately, in 1516 during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim, it became part of the Ottoman Empire.

Bakras Kalesi (Belen Kaymakamlığı)

In ancient times, before the existence of airplanes or paved roads, people traveled between cities using mountain passes. Bakras Kalesi controlled one of the most vital routes connecting Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt.

Thus, the castle functioned as the region’s “gateway of security.” Inside, there were spacious rooms large enough to house individual soldiers, food storage chambers, and water cisterns. The famous traveler Evliya Çelebi described it as being large enough to accommodate an entire army.

Bakras Kalesi is a three-story structure built in a nearly square layout. At the uppermost levels, there are large rooms believed to have been the commander’s quarters, some featuring fireplaces. In fact, there are cool corners with stunning views that could be called the castle’s “balconies.”

The walls contain small openings called machicolations, designed for observing enemies and defending the fortress. Parts of the castle once housed a church, later converted into a mosque, but today these structures are in a state of significant decay.

The castle’s foundations date back to ancient times, to the Hellenistic period. Throughout history, it was used as a defensive stronghold by the Romans, Byzantines, and Crusaders. In 1268, it was captured by Sultan Baybars. In 1516, during Yavuz Sultan Selim’s campaign in Egypt, the castle became part of Ottoman territory. As border boundaries shifted, its strategic role faded, and it returned to quiet solitude.