Sinap Castle, Medieval fortification in Çamlıyayla, Turkey.
Sinap Castle is a medieval fortification located in the Toros Mountains at 1,240 meters (4,068 feet) elevation. The three-story structure features cylindrical towers at each corner and rusticated ashlar stone construction throughout its walls.
The castle was built between the 12th and 14th centuries as a fortified estate protecting the mountain trade routes. It served the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia during this period as an important defensive position.
The name Sinap comes from an old Turkish word meaning corner, referencing its location where two ancient mountain paths once crossed. This connection to trade routes remains visible in how the castle sits at a natural junction in the landscape.
The castle can be reached by a 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) stabilized road branching from the main Mersin-Camliyayla highway. Wear sturdy footwear when exploring the grounds, as the pathways around the structure are uneven and rocky.
The second floor contains nine gun ports with embrasured openings and shows traces of an eastern wall apse. These features reveal the advanced defensive techniques that builders used when constructing fortifications in this mountain region.
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