Mamure Castle is one of the biggest castles n in Mersin and Turkey. The castle, which has an area of 23,500 square meters, preserved its importance during the Romans, Byzantine, Karaman and Ottoman Empire periods.

It is known that Mamure Castle was built by the Romans to control the Mediterranean trade routes. Its location on the rocks, which dominate the sea, has made it an easy to defend and important castle throughout history. All civilizations that ruled in Anatolia struggled to capture this castle. The castle, which was conquered by the Anatolian Seljuk ruler Alaeddin Keykubad in 1221, later passed into the hands of the Christians again. Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey captured the castle again with an army of 36 thousand people in the 15th century. During the Ottoman period, Mamure Castle was one of the most important castles and underwent various restorations. Mamure Castle is one of the best preserved examples of medieval castles.

The castle, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2012, consists of 3 parts: the inner courtyard, the outer castle and the inner castle. There are 39 watchtowers in the castle, four of which are large. There are paths on the walls that can be walked around the entire castle.

The Mamure Mosque, located in the interior of the castle, is a mosque with a single minaret, built by Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey and bears the traces of Seljuk architecture. The mosque, which is open for worship, is temporarily closed due to the restoration in the castle.

Mamure Castle Story & Legend

Mamure Castle is a structure that has preserved its importance for all civilizations due to its location and its defensive structure. Since Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey, who conquered the castle while it was in the hands of the crusaders, revived and reconstructed it, it was called Mamure Castle, which derives from the word Mamur which means “prosperous”. The Arabic word mamur derives from the same root as zoning and means "constructed, flourishing. This describes the reconstruction of the castle agter the conquest.

Mamure Castle has also attracted the attention of film and TV series producers due to its very well-preserved condition and its location overlooking the sea; In 1967, the scene of jumping from the castle into the sea in Cüneyt Arkın's movie "Malkoçoğlu Against the Kings" and some scenes from the Kuruluş series, in which Cihan ÜNAL played Osman Gazi, were shot here.

Where is Mamure Castle? Directions Information. How to go to Castle?

Located within the borders of Bozdoğan village in Anamur District of Mersin, Mamure Castle is 6 km away from Anamur District Center and 231 km from Mersin.

While driving west on the Mersin-Antalya highway, the castle can be seen just before reaching Anamur. Mersin-Antalya buses can be used to reach Mamure Castle by public transport. To reach Mamure Castle by air, Gazipaşa Airport, which is 80 km away from the castle, can be used. To reach Anamur Town Center and Mamure Castle from the airport shuttles can be used..

Restoration of Mamure Castle, which started in 2015, is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

Mamure Castle is a historical value that will be loved not only by history buffs but also by everyone who sees it. Watching the sea in the direction of Cyprus over the bastions, walking around the castle knowing that it is in one of the southernmost points of Turkey, and having a souvenir photo taken with the bastions and the sea will be a different experience.

Places to be seen around Mamure Castle

Anemurium Ancient City: 11 km

Köşekbükü Cave: 18 km

Anamur Museum: 7 km