Diyarbakir Castle and Archaelogical Museum, Castle and archaeological museum in Diyarbakır, Turkey
Diyarbakır Castle and Archaeological Museum is a historic fortress and attached museum in the Sur district of Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey. The outer walls, built from dark basalt, enclose an inner and outer castle area accessed through several named gates including Urfa Kapı, Mardin Kapı, Yeni Kapı, and Dağ Kapı.
The walls of Diyarbakır stand on foundations that predate the Common Era and were significantly rebuilt by the Romans in the 4th century. Over the following centuries, Byzantines, Arabs, Seljuks, and Ottomans each held and modified the site, leaving traces that are still visible today.
The name Diyarbakır is thought to come from the Bakr tribes who controlled the region in the early medieval period. The old gates of the fortress, such as Mardin Kapı and Dağ Kapı, remain part of daily life in the city and are used as reference points by locals.
The museum inside the fortress is open daily, and visitors with a Museum Card can enter at no charge. Walking along the top of the walls requires sturdy footwear, as some sections have uneven stone surfaces.
The museum first opened in 1934 inside the fortress, then moved to a new building in 1986, so the collection is now housed in a different hall than most visitors expect. The museum grounds have old trees and rose bushes that give the courtyard a surprisingly green feel for a site mostly known for its stone walls.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
