Çeşme Castle, Ottoman coastal fortress in Çeşme, Turkey.
Çeşme Castle is a coastal fortress near the Aegean Sea with a rectangular shape and six defensive bastions positioned at the corners and sides. The structure is surrounded by moats on three sides and sits on slightly elevated ground overlooking the harbor.
A sultan ordered this fortress built in the early 1500s to protect the coast from attacks by western seafarers. The structure was constructed after years of raids on the region and aimed to secure the shipping routes.
The castle now houses a museum where visitors can see artifacts from the ancient city of Erythrai, including pottery and maritime objects from different periods. The collections tell the story of people who once lived on this coast and traded across the sea.
The site lies about 35 kilometers west of Izmir and is easily reached by road. Visitors can explore the museum building and the surrounding grounds throughout the year.
The fortress once stood directly at the water's edge, but sediment deposits shifted the coastline over centuries. Today it sits further inland, showing how dramatically the landscape has changed here.
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