Seddülbahir Fortress is a fort built in 1659 during the Ottoman Empire to defend the entrance of the Dardanelles Strait. Commissioned by Hatice Turhan Valide Sultan, the structure is located at the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula, where the Dardanelles meets the Aegean Sea. The fortress has held strategic significance throughout history, playing a crucial role particularly during the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I.

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History and Construction

Seddülbahir Fortress was constructed as part of the Ottoman Empire’s efforts to strengthen the defense of the strait following prolonged wars with the Venetians. Built by the order of Hatice Turhan Valide Sultan, the mother of Sultan Mehmed IV, the fortress was designed to work in conjunction with Kumkale Fortress on the Anatolian side to protect both shores of the Dardanelles.

Although there is no definitive information about its architect, it is believed to have been designed by Mustafa Ağa, an Ottoman court architect. The foundation charter of the fortress belongs to the Hatice Turhan Valide Sultan Foundation. The fortress underwent a restoration process during the 19th century under the Ottoman rule.

Architectural Structure

The fortress has an asymmetrical and tiered design, roughly in a rectangular shape. Positioned on the coastline, its outer walls feature a break in the middle. Today, the fortress has five surviving towers, with a distance of 136.5 meters between the northern and western towers. No structures within the fortress have survived to the present day.

During World War I, it served as one of the key defense points of the Gallipoli Front. On November 3, 1914, it was bombarded for the first time by the Allied forces, resulting in the first casualties on the Turkish side. It was again heavily bombarded on February 19 and February 25, 1915, by the Allied navy, leading to significant destruction.

Later in the war, the fortress was captured by the British on April 26, 1915, and by the French on April 27, 1915. Due to its strategic importance, it changed hands multiple times during the Gallipoli Campaign.

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Restoration Efforts

Seddülbahir Fortress was officially registered as a cultural heritage site on November 14, 1980. As part of a project launched in 2006, restoration plans were approved by the Çanakkale Cultural Heritage Preservation Board on November 16, 2006. Conservation projects were approved on February 23, 2007, and landscaping and restoration projects were approved on November 24, 2009.

The restoration was carried out under a protocol signed between the Gallipoli Historical Area Presidency and the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums on May 11, 2015. The restoration process, which began on June 5, 2015, was completed on March 18, 2023, and the fortress was reopened to visitors.

International Awards

The restoration of Seddülbahir Fortress has gained international recognition and has received several awards:

• In 2024, it was shortlisted for the "Shortlist Award" at the International Domus Restoration and Conservation Awards in Italy.
• In 2024, it won an award in the "Heritage Project" category at the UK-based Dezeen Awards, securing first place against projects from China, Malaysia, Belgium, Australia, and the UK.
• It received an award in the Building-Conservation category at the 19th National Architecture Exhibition and Awards organized by the Chamber of Architects of Türkiye (TMMOB).
• At the World Architecture Festival in Singapore, it received the jury's special commendation in the "Completed Cultural Buildings" category.

The restoration project has also been nominated for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Europa Nostra Awards, and ICOM awards.

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Current Status

Following its restoration, Seddülbahir Fortress was reopened to visitors in 2023, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye. As one of the significant historical structures of the Gallipoli Campaign, the fortress is managed by the Gallipoli Historical Area Presidency and is preserved as a cultural heritage site. Today, it remains open to visitors as a monument bearing the marks of the Gallipoli Campaign.