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Rumeli Fortress (Rumeli Hisarı) is a medieval Ottoman fortress in Istanbul, Turkey. It’s located in the village of Rumeli Hisarı, on the European side of the Bosporus.
History
Rumeli Fortress was built in 1452 by Mehmed the Conqueror in preparation for a siege of Constantinople. The Sultan supervised the project himself, which took only four months and 16 days. Construction began on April 15 and was completed by August 31. The architect was Müslihiddin Ağa.
The purpose of the fortress was to cut off any military and logistical aid that would come to the Byzantines through the Bosporus from the Black Sea. It was also known as Boğazkesen Fortress (Boğazkesen Hisarı), which translates to Strait-cutter Fortress.
Rumeli Fortress sits directly across the Bosporus from Anadolu Fortress, which was built between 1393 and 1394 by Sultan Bayezid I. The two fortresses are on the narrowest point of the strait, at only 660 meters (2,170 feet) wide. They worked together during the siege in 1453 to control maritime traffic on the Bosporus and make the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople a success.
After 1453, Rumeli Fortress served as a customs checkpoint as well as a prison. It suffered heavy damage during an earthquake in 1509 and was later repaired. A fire gutted all of the wooden structures in two of the towers in 1746. The fortress was restored by Sultan Selim III in the late 18th century.
After the fortress was abandoned in the 19th century, a neighborhood popped up in the courtyard. In 1953, the inhabitants were relocated and the homes torn down on the orders of President Celal Bayar (1883-1986). A three year restoration project began in 1955, and the fortress opened to the public as a museum in 1960. Since then, it has also hosted cultural events, festivals, and concerts.
Visiting
Rumeli Fortress Museum is open daily except Mondays from 9am to 6pm. Admission is 130₺ (as of October 2023) or free for holders of the Museum Pass Istanbul.
Courtyard
The entrance takes you through to the courtyard of Rumeli Fortress, which once contained wooden homes used by soldiers. 400 Janissaries were stationed there.
Today, none of the structures remain, but there are some Ottoman cannons on display. They date from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Mosque
The mosque that stood in the center was built by Mehmed the Conqueror at the same time as the fortress. It was built over ruins of old Byzantine cisterns but burned down in the 18th century. The last remains of the mosque disappeared in 1907.
During my visit, only the minaret remained, however, the mosque was rebuilt in 2015. It’s called the Boğazkesen Fetih Mosque (Boğazkesen Fetih Mescidi).
Towers
The complex covers 30,000 square meters and contains three main towers, one small tower, and 13 watchtowers. Each of the three towers is named for the vizier in charge of its construction. They were once topped with conical wooden roofs covered in lead.
The Halil Pasha Tower (Halil Paşa Kulesi) sits nearest the waterfront. It’s 22 meters (72 feet) high and 23.3 meters (76.4 feet) in diameter, with walls measuring 6 ½ meters (21.3 feet) thick. It’s named for Grand Vizier Çandarlı Halil Pasha (d. 1453).
The Saruca Pasha Tower (Saruca Paşa Kulesi) is the main tower to the north. It’s 28 meters (92 feet) high and 23.3 meters (76.4 feet) in diameter, with walls measuring 7 meters (23 feet) thick. It’s named for Saruca Pasha.
Finally, the Zağanos Pasha Tower (Zağanos Paşa Kulesi) is the main tower to the south. It’s 21 meters (69 feet) high and 26.7 meters (87.6 feet) in diameter, with walls measuring 5.7 meters (18.7 feet) thick. It’s named for Zağanos Pasha (d. 1462 or 1469), who replaced the executed Çandarlı Halil Pasha as Grand Vizier on June 1, 1453.
Views
Because there’s no exhibition hall at Rumeli Fortress, the best thing to do is explore the grounds, climb up to the towers, and enjoy the spectacular views. Some of the best scenery on the Bosporus can be found there.
