Beçin Castle and Archaeological Site

Beçin Castle and Archaeological Site is located within the boundaries of Beçin Village, approximately 5 kilometers south of the Milas district in Muğla Province. Beçin, accessible via the Milas-Ören road, is situated on a flat plateau about 200 meters above the Milas Plain, dominating the surrounding landscape. Archaeological remains from various periods are found at the foot of the steep northern slope of the castle and around its perimeter.

^{Beçin Castle.}(AA)

The history of the Beçin settlement extends back to the Geometric Period (8th century BCE), and it was inhabited continuously through the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Menteşe, and Ottoman periods. Archaeological excavations have uncovered graves and architectural remains from various eras, including a child’s burial dating to the Early Bronze Age (circa 3000 BCE). The town came under the control of the Menteşe Beylik in the late 13th century and served as its capital for a time. Beçin reached its peak during the reign of Ahmet Gazi; however, after his death in 1391, the capital of the beylik was moved to Balat (ancient Miletus). In 1424, Beçin definitively came under Ottoman rule. During the Celali rebellions in the early 17th century, the town’s population retreated into the inner citadel, and the last settlements within the castle were abandoned in the 1950s.

Throughout history, Beçin has been referred to by various names in different sources. In medieval Italian sources it appears as “Pezona,” while in Turkish-Islamic sources it is recorded as “Barçın,” “Berçin,” and “Peçin.” The modern name “Beçin” evolved from these earlier forms.

The Beçin Archaeological Site consists of an inner citadel surrounded by an outer walled city. The inner citadel contains Hellenistic-period tomb monuments, as well as baths and cisterns dating from the Turkish period. The outer city contains numerous structures representative of medieval Turkish-Islamic architecture, including:

Ahmet Gazi Medresesi (the only building in Beçin with an inscription that has survived to the present day), Orhan Bey Camii, Kızılhan, Kubbeli Çeşme, Karapaşa Medresesi, Yelli (Kepez) Camii and its associated medrese and bath, Bey Konağı and Bey Hamamı, Orman Tekkesi, and a basilica-plan “Yeni Kilise” (19th century, built by the Greek community). Additionally, remains of numerous other structures whose functions and periods have not been fully determined are present in the town.

Archaeological excavations at the castle and its surroundings have revealed cultural layers from multiple periods. Rescue excavations conducted by the Milas Museum have yielded archaeological data including Geometric-period graves, Hellenistic-period foundation remains, Roman and Byzantine artifacts, and an Early Bronze Age burial.

^{Beçin Castle Restoration Works.}(AA)

The town of Beçin comprises the inner citadel, the walled city within the fortifications, and religious and educational structures located outside the walls. The town square is surrounded by structures such as the Ahmet Gazi Medresesi, Orhan Camii, tombs, Kızılhan, and fountains. The architectural fabric of the town reflects the medieval Turkish urban planning concept.

The Medieval Town of Beçin was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2012. Its inclusion recognizes the cultural heritage value of the region on an international scale.

Excavation work at Beçin Castle and the Archaeological Site is currently ongoing under the direction of the Department of Archaeology and History of Art at Ege University, led by Professor Dr. Hüseyin Rahmi Ünal. Simultaneously, various projects are being implemented to promote the site. Among these, the documentary and book titled “A Treasury of History: Beçin Castle” stand as the first comprehensive studies documenting the historical, cultural, and architectural characteristics of Beçin.