Meydan Castle, Archaeological site in Mersin Province, Turkey.
Meydan Castle is an ancient fortress on a hilltop in Mersin Province with defensive towers, bastions, and storage cisterns spread across the elevated location. The site also contains burial grounds from various periods and shows evidence of multiple building phases spanning centuries.
The fortress was founded during the Hellenistic period under Seleucid rule in a region historically called Cilicia. Over the centuries it underwent renovations and expansions as different powers controlled the area and adapted it to their defensive needs.
The fortress displays construction methods that reflect the period when it was built, with stone walls showing techniques from different eras layered over time. Visitors can observe these building phases by looking at how the stonework changes across the structure.
The site is located near Silifke and accessible from the main highway in the region. Wear sturdy shoes for the steep climb to reach the fortress on the hilltop, as the terrain is rough and uneven in places.
A stone staircase carved directly into the eastern hillside leads down to the river below. This ancient construction method reveals how occupants secured water access when the fortress was under siege.
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