Suluyayla Castle

Suluyayla Castle, locally known as Suluyayla/Sulayayla Kalesi, is located in the village of the same name in the province of Kahramanmaraş in Turkey. The village was formerly called Mencike/Menciki until 1940, when it was renamed Suluyayla as part of a government effort to Turkify place names. As a result, the castle is sometimes still referred to as Mencik/Menciki Castle.

The castle is situated in Cilicia, a region that was part of an Armenian kingdom from the late 11th century to the late 14th century. Like most fortifications in this area, neither its medieval name nor its history is known.

Suluyayla Castle is located in a secluded highland valley within the Taurus mountain range. The literature says it was built by the Armenians sometime in the 12th or 13th centuries, although some sources attribute it to the Byzantines in the 10th century. It may have served as a fortified residence or a refuge during times of danger.

Built directly on a compact rocky outcrop, it resembles a fortified tower with appendages rather than a true castle, with its walls following the rock's outline. It has a raised entrance that would have originally been reached via a wooden staircase.

Suluyayla Castle can be freely visited. Located about 50 meters from the nearest roads, it is surrounded by cultivated land, so be careful not to damage the crops when approaching. Sadly enough, I was not able to climb in through the entrance and see its interior.

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