Akçakale Castle

Akçakale Castle, locally known as Akçakale Kalesi (or simply Akçakale) or Haldandoz Kalesi, lies in the village of Akçakale, in the province of Trabzon in Turkey.

Akçakale Castle is thought to have been built in the first quarter of the 14th century by the Emperor of Trebizond; Alexios II Megas Komnenos, to protect the city of Trebizond (modern Trabzon) from Seljuk Turks. It also guarded a small bay east of it. At that time, the castle was known to the Trapezuntines as "Kordyle".

After Trebizond itself fell to the Ottomans in 1461, Kordyle Castle held out for 7 more years against Ottoman attacks. In 1468, it was then finally taken after a siege by Mahmut Pasha, a commander of Mehmed II the Conqueror. Mahmut Pasha, however, died at the end of the siege and is said to have been buried inside the castle.

During the Ottoman period the castle was repaired and sometime during the 19th century, a large section of the eastern, seaward wall was rebuilt to hold 7 cannon emplacements. It was used as a military base until the early 20th century. After that, the interior of the castle was used for agricultural purposes and as a children's playground.

Archaeological excavations were carried out in 2007 and 2022.

The castle was built out of rubble masonry and cut stones on a rocky promontory jutting out into the Black Sea. At its highest point the promontory is about 20 meters above sea level. It has a very irregular rectangular plan. The large square tower in the southwest wall may have served as a keep.

When I visited, Akçakale Castle was not accessible. I read the castle ruin will soon be consolidated, after which it will be opened to the public as a small public park.

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