Zamantı Castle

Zamantı Castle

Zamantı Castle, locally known as Zamantı Kalesi, Melikgazi Kalesi or Kuş Kalesi, lies above the village of Melikgazi, in the province of Kayseri in Turkey.

The castle was built during the Byzantine era. Most probably, it was the fortress known as Tzamandos, which was built by the Armenian Byzantine general Melias around 910 AD. Melias was strategos (a Byzantine military governor) of the area at that time. The castle was strategically situated to guard traffic through the valley of the Zamantı River, which was a trade route between the city of Caesarea (present-day Kayseri) and Melias's seat at the fortress of Lykandos (near present-day Elbistan). In 914/5, the Arabs of Tarsus launched an attack on Tzamandos, which they took and razed.

Tzamandos/Zamantı Castle was probably finally lost to the invading Turkic groups in the 2nd half of the 11th century. The area, and so probably the castle too, was under the control of the Danishmends between 1074 and 1178, during which time they repaired the castle. They were followed by the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm in 1178, who also restored the castle, as shown by Seljuk mason's marks, found on the castle walls. The Seljuks ruled the area until 1243 when they were defeated by the invading Mongols. Probably the castle was destroyed then because no traces of later repairs were found.

The castle was built on a ridge, towering above the north side of the valley. The outer facade of the walls are made of cut stone, some parts which look very Armenian to me. The inner facades are mainly built with Seljuk khorasan mortar. Some 200 meters northeast of the castle, on the same ridge but lower, stands the ruin of a round tower, probably a watch tower.

Zamantı Castle is freely accessible. A dirt road leads up to the castle from the village, to enter it you'll have to scramble up a rather steep hillside, but only for a short distance. Inside, however, there isn't much to see, save for the excellent views of the surrounding area. A very nice castle ruin. In the village below you can also find a fine Danishmend tomb from the 1130s, of their emir Melik Gazi.

Gallery

The watch tower

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Zamantı Castle

Zamantı Castle

Zamantı Castle, locally known as Zamantı Kalesi, Melikgazi Kalesi or Kuş Kalesi, lies above the village of Melikgazi, in the province of Kayseri in Turkey.

The castle was built during the Byzantine era. Most probably, it was the fortress known as Tzamandos, which was built by the Armenian Byzantine general Melias around 910 AD. Melias was strategos (a Byzantine military governor) of the area at that time. The castle was strategically situated to guard traffic through the valley of the Zamantı River, which was a trade route between the city of Caesarea (present-day Kayseri) and Melias's seat at the fortress of Lykandos (near present-day Elbistan). In 914/5, the Arabs of Tarsus launched an attack on Tzamandos, which they took and razed.

Tzamandos/Zamantı Castle was probably finally lost to the invading Turkic groups in the 2nd half of the 11th century. The area, and so probably the castle too, was under the control of the Danishmends between 1074 and 1178, during which time they repaired the castle. They were followed by the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm in 1178, who also restored the castle, as shown by Seljuk mason's marks, found on the castle walls. The Seljuks ruled the area until 1243 when they were defeated by the invading Mongols. Probably the castle was destroyed then because no traces of later repairs were found.

The castle was built on a ridge, towering above the north side of the valley. The outer facade of the walls are made of cut stone, some parts which look very Armenian to me. The inner facades are mainly built with Seljuk khorasan mortar. Some 200 meters northeast of the castle, on the same ridge but lower, stands the ruin of a round tower, probably a watch tower.

Zamantı Castle is freely accessible. A dirt road leads up to the castle from the village, to enter it you'll have to scramble up a rather steep hillside, but only for a short distance. Inside, however, there isn't much to see, save for the excellent views of the surrounding area. A very nice castle ruin. In the village below you can also find a fine Danishmend tomb from the 1130s, of their emir Melik Gazi.

Gallery

The watch tower

Details
Hits: 523