Sinop Castle

History

The exact origin of Sinop Castle is not definitively known, although some sources trace its construction back to the Hittites. However, this claim has not been conclusively established. According to historical records, in 72 BC, King Mithridates IV of Pontus constructed a harbor, a marketplace, a gymnasium, and other structures in Sinop and strengthened the city with defensive walls. During the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Beylik, and Ottoman periods, the castle was expanded and repaired with various additions.

Sinop Kalesi

Architectural Structure

Sinop Castle consists of an inner citadel and outer walls, separated by a steep wall descending from north to south. The inner citadel was built by Seljuk Sultan Izzeddin Keykavus I after his conquest of Sinop in 1214 and was supported by eleven towers to control the harbor. The towers of the inner citadel reach a height of 22 meters on the southern side overlooking the sea. The outer walls are on average 18 meters high and 3 meters thick.

In its current state, the length of the outer castle measures 800 meters in the north, 500 meters in the east, 400 meters in the south, and 270 meters in the west. The inner citadel in the north covers an area of 16,875 square meters, while the southern inner citadel, later used as a prison, covers an area of 9,500 square meters. It is known that the castle had four main gates and that the primary entrance facing west was closed at night until the early 1900s.

Sinop Kalesi

Shipyard and Defense Structures

The inner citadel was divided horizontally by a wall, with its southern section used as a shipyard. Here, shipbuilding facilities and storage structures were constructed, and these activities continued until the Russian invasion of 1853. For defense purposes, the inner citadel served as a depot and armory. It also housed the İbrahim Camisi. However, in later years, the mosque and storage buildings were demolished, and today’s Sakarya Caddesi was built through the site.

Constructed as a shipyard, the inner citadel was intermittently used as a prison from the 16th century onward. Evliya Çelebi, during his visit in 1640, described it as a “large and terrifying fortress” and noted that prisoners were kept under strict surveillance.

Due to its location, the inner citadel is virtually impossible to escape from. Even if prisoners managed to breach the inner citadel, they would still have to pass through the outer castle and then confront the mountainous and forested terrain surrounding Sinop. The local population and villagers did not assist escape attempts, making this prison one of the most secure and feared in the Ottoman Empire.

In 1887, Sinop Prison was officially converted into a penitentiary. It was decommissioned in 1997 and transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, after which it was restored and opened to the public as a museum.

Sinop Kalesi

Sinop Castle Today

Sinop Castle, with its historical and architectural significance, is an important cultural heritage site and is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Today, the castle welcomes visitors as a tourist site and helps preserve Sinop’s historical identity.