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Marmaris Castle (Marmaris Kalesi) is the most important historical site in the resort city of Marmaris, Turkey. It towers above the city’s harbor.
History of Marmaris Castle
According to ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Marmaris Castle was first built around 3,000 BC to protect the Carian city of Physkos (Φύσκος). In 334 BC, as Alexander the Great conquered the city, the residents burned all their valuables inside the castle before escaping to the hills.
On July 22, 1522, Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent ordered Marmaris Castle to be rebuilt from scratch. He wanted to use it as a military base for his expedition to Rhodes. The blocks used to build the castle are recycled from older buildings dating back to the Hellenistic period.
In 1913, during World War I, the port of Marmaris harbored a German ship that had escaped from French cruisers. Ottoman soldiers refused to surrender the German ship to the French, and the French in turn mined the port. The castle’s security officer, Leyneli Cavit Bey, along with gunnery officer Ömer Efendi, removed 48 mines overnight. Then, in July and August 1914, French ships bombarded the castle destroying a significant section. Ottoman soldiers continued to protect the castle until the French retreated back to their ships.
After World War I, locals repaired Marmaris Castle and inhabited it until 1979. There were 18 houses, one fountain, and a cistern inside. It was later restored and reopened as the Marmaris Museum (see below) in 1991.
Architecture of Marmaris Castle
Marmaris Castle contains seven closed rooms. The barrel-vaulted entrance opens onto an interior courtyard. Stairs on the left and right sides of the courtyard provide access to the walls.
Climbing up to the walls allows for fantastic views of the harbor as well as the city of Marmaris and the entire bay.
Marmaris Museum
The Marmaris Museum (Marmaris Müzesi), which now occupies the castle, is open daily. Admission is 130₺ (as of February 2024). A visit to the museum allows access to the castle walls as well as several exhibition halls containing rare historic artifacts.
Courtyard
First of all, the courtyard is used as a space to exhibit architectural fragments, altars, Ottoman tombstones, jars, and cannons. The courtyard is also decorated with a lovely garden.
Knidos Hall
The tower on the northwest corner is the Knidos Hall (Knidos Salonu), which houses finds from the ancient city of Knidos.
Finds include terracotta Megarian bowls from the 2nd century BC; Patara pottery from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD; oil lamps from the 4th century BC through the 1st century AD; bronze hands from a statue unearthed at the stoa; and Knidos amphorae produced in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.
Marmaris Amphorae
A small section under a vault next to the southwest tower contains the Marmaris Amphorae (Marmaris Amforaları) exhibition. On display are a number of amphorae as well as a chart explaining the origin and style of different types of amphorae of the ancient Mediterranean.
Emecik-Burgaz Hall
In the southwest tower is the Emecik-Burgaz Hall (Emecik-Burgaz Salonu). It contains finds from the Sanctuary of Apollo at the village of Emecik as well as ruins at Burgaz. It’s believed that residents abandoned the site at Burgaz, near the town of Datça, and relocated to the site at Knidos, on the other end of the Datça Peninsula, in the 4th century BC.
Hall of Stone Artifacts
The lower level of the southeast tower houses the Hall of Stone Artifacts (Taş Eserler Salonu). It displays works of stone.
Among the most important artifacts is the frieze from the Temple of Apollo at Knidos as well as a collection of Hellenistic grave stelae.
Marmaris and Around Hall
Finally, in the upper level of the southeast tower is the Marmaris and Around Hall (Marmaris ve Çevresi Salonu). As the name indicates, it displays artifacts found in Marmaris and its environs. Included are works of glass, ceramics, and terracotta figurines.
