Yaka Castle

Yaka Castle (also known as Güdübeş Castle) is a castle ruin in Mersin Province, Turkey. Although its name is Güdübeş, it is popularly known as Yaka referring to a former village to the east of the castle.

Yaka Castle
Mersin Province, Turkey
Two walls
Yaka Castle
Coordinates36°51′40″N 34°44′04″E
TypeCastle
Site information
Controlled byMinistry of Culture
Open to
the public		Yes
ConditionOnly two walls
Site history
Built byCrusaders
DemolishedMost of it

Geography

The castle is to the east of Mersin at 36°51′40″N 34°44′04″E. It can be reached by a short lane from the Turkish state highway D.400 which connects Mersin to Tarsus Its distance to Mersin is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi).

History

The castle was built by Crusaders in medieval times and nothing is known about its history.

The plan

The plan of the castle is square. But only two walls (north and west) are partially standing. There are three observation towers. The plan of the one at the south east corner is square, the plan of the one at the east is circular and the plan of the one at north east corner is polygonal.[1] Because the masonry is so dissimilar to that used by the Armenians and the Byzantines in Cilicia and because parts of this coastal region were occupied by the Knights Hospitaller in the late 12th and 13th centuries, it is possible that the site was constructed by the Crusaders.[2]

References
  1. Mersin Ören Yerleri, Mersin Valiliği, İstanbul, 2009, ISBN 978 605 4196 07 4 p.31
  2. Edwards, Robert W. (1987). The Fortifications of Armenian Cilicia: Dumbarton Oaks Studies XXIII. Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University. pp. 265–267, plates 270a-271a. ISBN 0-88402-163-7.
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