Alanya Castle

Alanya Castle is a medieval Seljuk fortress perched on a rocky peninsula in Alanya, Antalya Province, Turkey. It was founded by the Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubad in the early 13th century.

The site offers extensive defensive walls, towers and ruined domestic buildings distributed along the peninsula, together with views over the Mediterranean and the town below. Within and around the walls are cisterns, stairways and the remains of residential quarters.

Built as a fortified port and lookout to control the surrounding coastline, the castle was adapted by later rulers and retains layers of Seljuk and Ottoman-era features. Parts of the fortifications and harbour installations were used to protect and support naval activity.

The castle sits above Alanya’s old town and harbour on a prominent headland that projects into the Mediterranean, within the modern urban fabric of Alanya.

• Founding: Founded by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad in the early 13th century, the fortress dominates a rocky peninsula above Alanya harbour.

What to See #

• Tersane (shipyard): The Seljuk-era shipyard located on the eastern side of the peninsula, historically used to build and shelter vessels.
• Citadel and inner castle: The citadel and inner fortress containing ruined domestic structures, cisterns and the remains of defensive towers.
• Castle walls and towers: Long fortified walls and numerous towers that run along the spine of the peninsula and afford panoramic views over the town and sea.