Gözne Castle

On the high rocks above the road into Gözne, two buildings that look nothing alike catch the eye. The castle stands about 29 km north of Mersin, in the Gözne neighbourhood of Toroslar district, and dates to the Middle Ages.

History

Gözne sits along the route that runs to Çandır Castle, among the largest and most important castles of the region. The castle is thought to have been built to keep that route under watch, and the nearby Belenkeşlik and Sinap castles are counted among the other guards of the same road. It worked as an outpost more than a settlement.

What to see

The eastern building

The eastern building is rectangular and has four bastions, projecting defensive corners that stick out from the walls. Its only gate faces west, and the threshold stands about a metre above the ground. A pointed vault covers it, a barrel vault curved in the shape of a pointed arch, and three arches split the interior into four parts. Five holes admit light and air, two in the north wall and three in the south.

The western building

The western building takes the form of a six-sided tower, pierced by three windows and two doors. Fifteen porch-like roofs are counted above it on the south, west and north sides. An arch that wraps from the floor over the roof divides the ceiling in two, and the ceiling west of that arch is made of three separate triangular faces.

Visiting

Gözne can be reached from Mersin by municipal bus, private car or hired car. The castle and its surroundings are also used for highland outings and picnics. Hours and fees can change, so check the page for the site on muze.gov.tr. The MüzeKart is valid for Turkish citizens.