Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
1 day ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
2 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
3 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Turkey Mersin Province Fortress of Kızkalesi

Fortress of Kızkalesi

Mediterranean castle on a tiny Turkish island.

Mersin Province, Turkey

Added By
ser flac
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
(Flickr/AWWS)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/awws/34565372...
(Flickr/AWWS)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/awws/34565372...
(Flickr/damiandude)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/damiavos/3212...
(Flickr/toddraden)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/earth_and_env...
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

According to legend, the Fortress of Kızkalesi was built by a sultan to protect his daughter, who was supposed to die by snakebite. Tragically, a snake snuck into the castle walls in a fruit basket, and even the massive fortress could not protect her and she died.

Despite failing to protect the princess, the walls served as fortifications for many others over the years, including the Armenian Kings who built the fortifications in the 12th century, along with vicious Mediterranean pirates.

The Fortress of Kızkalesi is so large, and its accompanying island is so small that it appears to float improbably on top of the water. However, this is only a recent development, as the castle was once connected to the land and another castle on the shore by a causeway. When a nearby dam broke and caused flooding, the causeway was submerged, and the fortress was rendered an island fortification.

Although it was used sporadically throughout the late medieval period, the fortress eventually fell into disrepair. Despite its glorious history, the island remains a puzzling and visually-stunning ruin today and is slowly decaying under the forces of weather and time.

Related Tags

Castles Fortresses Architectural Oddities Outsider Architecture Architecture

Community Contributors

Added By

serflac

Edited By

hrnick, gdursun, aribrown, atimian

  • hrnick
  • gdursun
  • aribrown
  • atimian

Published

December 14, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Fortress of Kızkalesi
Kizkalesi
Mersin Province, 33790
Turkey
36.46325, 34.148927
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Taşkuyu Mağarası (Taskuyu Cave)

Taşkuyu, Turkey

miles away

Kirkkasik Bedesten

Tarsus, Turkey

miles away

City of Manazan

Manazan, Turkey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Turkey

Turkey

Middle East

Places 127
Stories 20

Nearby Places

Taşkuyu Mağarası (Taskuyu Cave)

Taşkuyu, Turkey

miles away

Kirkkasik Bedesten

Tarsus, Turkey

miles away

City of Manazan

Manazan, Turkey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Turkey

Turkey

Middle East

Places 127
Stories 20

Related Places

  • Castle Otttis

    St. Augustine, Florida

    Castle Otttis

    Two men built this castle on the Florida coast as an artistic “landscape sculpture.”

  • Helicopter view of the site in 2010.

    Lead Hill, Arkansas

    Ozark Medieval Fortress

    Twenty-year effort to raise a castle using tools and techniques from the 13th century is now abandoned in the Arkansas woods.

  • German eagles at the entrance.

    Alt Duwisib, Namibia

    Duwisib Castle

    A German “baron” built this castle for his wife, but their romance was short-lived.

  • St Mawes Castle

    St Mawes, England

    St. Mawes Castle

    A 16th-century artillery fort built to protect England against European invasion.

  • Miramont Castle Museum

    Manitou Springs, Colorado

    Miramont Castle Museum

    This enigmatic building features numerous architectural styles.

  • Malbork Castle

    Malbork, Poland

    Malbork Castle

    This 13th century Gothic brick castle is the largest in the world by surface area.

  • The Alcázar of Segovia, one of Spain’s greatest castles.

    Segovia, Spain

    Alcázar de Segovia

    This magnificent castle grew from a small Moorish fortress, and reportedly inspired two iconic Disney castles.

  • Scaligero Castle of Sirmione

    Sirmione, Italy

    Scaligero Castle

    One of the most well-preserved castles in Italy also contains a rare medieval example of a port fortification.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.