Yaka Castle, Crusader castle in Mersin Province, Turkey
Yaka Castle is a stone fortress in southern Mersin featuring three distinct observation towers: a square southeastern tower, a round eastern tower, and a polygonal northeastern tower. The walls form a square overall layout designed to provide defensive coverage from multiple angles.
The fortress was likely built in the late 1100s by the Knights Hospitaller, who controlled sections of this coastal region during that period. Its construction reflects the medieval military strategy these crusader orders used to secure the shoreline.
The stonework at this site reflects construction techniques distinct from the Armenian and Byzantine methods common throughout the Cilician coast. Walking through what remains, you can observe how the builders made different choices in joining stone and shaping defensive structures.
The site sits about 15 kilometers from central Mersin and connects via a small road off the Turkish coastal highway D.400 linking Mersin to Tarsus. Good walking shoes are recommended since the paths and structure surfaces are uneven and show signs of age.
Only the northern and western walls remain standing today, offering a view of how medieval builders assembled stone for defense. These remaining sections clearly show the construction methods employed in this particular fortress design.
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