Iskenderiye Kayıtbay Castle

Kaytbay Castle is located in the city of Alexandria, Egypt, and is one of Alexandria’s iconic landmarks. It was constructed from the remains of the ancient sea lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which was built in the 3rd century CE and nearly destroyed by an earthquake in Egypt in 1303. Castle

The castle was built between 1477 and 1479 by Sultan Kaytbay of Mamluk to strengthen the defense of Alexandria during the Mamluks period. At that time, the aim was to establish a strong defensive line along the Mediterranean against the Ottoman threat and Crusader attacks originating from Europe. The castle suffered extensive damage during the British bombardment of 1882, damage and was later restored in 1984 and opened to visitors from domestic and foreign tourists.

^{Kaytbay Castle, (2025). From the author’s perspective.}

Kaytbay Castle is a rectangular structure covering an area of 150 meters, surrounded by sea on two sides. On the first floor, there is a mosque and a defense hall to allow soldiers easy movement and to defend the walls during combat. The second floor contains rooms and halls, while the third floor features a large throne chamber where Sultan Kaytbay Sultan observed ships approaching the Alexandria coastline through sail. Additionally, a oven was provided within the castle to supply bread to do to the soldiers stationed there.

During the Mamluk period, Sultan Qansuh al-Ghuri supplied the Alexandria Castle with troops, military equipment, and weapons. The castle is regarded as one of the most important defensive fortresses not only in Egypt but along the entire Mediterranean coast.

^{View of Alexandria from the walls of Kaytbay Castle, (2025). From the author’s perspective.}

After the Ottomans conquered Egypt, they repurposed the castle as a defensive gateway along Egypt’s northern coast. As the Ottoman state weakened, the castle gradually lost its strategic importance. With the decline of Ottoman authority, French forces under Napoleon captured Alexandria in 1798 and subsequently took control of the rest of Egypt.

In 1805, Muhammad Ali Pasha, who seized control of Egypt, undertook the restoration of the damaged sections of Kaytbay Castle in accordance with its original design. The outer walls were extensively renovated, and the castle was reinforced with the latest modern artillery, including coastal cannons. During the 1882 Urabi Pasha uprising, a large portion of the castle suffered significant harm damage during the British bombardment of Alexandria.