Garipçe Tower

Garipçe Tower, locally known as Garipçe Kulesi or Hasan Pasha Kulesi, stands on a hill above the village of the same name, on the European side of the Bosphorus Strait in the province of Istanbul in Turkey.

It was built around 1778 by the French military advisor François Baron de Tott. He was of Hungarian descent and was involved in the reform efforts for the Ottoman military. He built several fortifications along the Bosphorus for Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha, also known as Hasan Pasha of Algiers, an Ottoman Grand Admiral. 

Garipçe Tower probably served as a defensible watchtower for Garipçe Castle down the hill by the waterside. It has a circular ground plan. It has a circular vaulted hallway on the first floor and an open platform with embrasures all around on the second floor, as well as 2 turrets guarding the entrance. It is in a ruined state but probably was identical to the, more ruined, Poyrazköy Tower on the opposite side of the Bosphorus.

At present Garipçe Tower is freely accessible. It offers great views over the Bosphorus and the Black Sea but be careful of pits in the dark vaulted hallway. Apparently they were made by illegal treasure hunters some years ago. Garipçe Castle is situated downhill at the waterside.

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