Tokat Castle

Tokat Castle, locally known as Tokat Kalesi, lies in the city of the same name, in the province of Tokat in Turkey.

When the castle was founded is unknown. The oldest traces found in the castle date back to the 5th century. In that era, Anatolia was part of the Byzantine Empire. The city itself is much older and was established in the Hittite era and was a stronghold of the Kingdom of Pontus in the 1st century BC. Some sources however state that the first people inhabiting the castle were Christian groups migrating from the nearby antique city Comana Pontica.

Tokat Castle was taken by the Danishmends in 1074. Later it fell to the Seljuks. They were followed by the Eretnids, until it finally was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1392. During Seljuk and Ottoman rule, the castle was restored and had a purely military purpose, although it was also used as a prison. As with several other castles in Turkey, it is said that Vlad the Impaler was also imprisoned here during the 15th century.

The castle was built on a high hill, near the confluence of the Tokat and the Yeşilırmak (the ancient Iris) rivers, guarding the Kızıliniş pass. The entrance to the ruined castle is through a tunnel cut in the rock at the north side. According to myths, there existed subterranean tunnels that connected the castle to other castles in the area; Turhal and Niksar.

Tokat Castle is normally said to be freely accessible, but when I visited it was closed, sadly enough. There were signs on the gate saying it was being restored, so I don't know when it might reopen again. From the outside it looked very promising. The old town center is worth a visit in itself, though.

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