Palu Kalesi

Palu Kalesi is a castle standing on a rocky outcrop above the Murat River in Turkey, featuring stone walls and several defensive towers spread throughout the fortification. The site also contains rock-cut tombs, tunnels, temples, and water storage systems built across different periods.

The fortress was founded during the Urartian period when King Menuas built it as a strategic military outpost to control the surrounding valleys. Over the centuries, structures from the Artukid, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods were added to the site.

The castle walls display cuneiform texts from the Urartian era and rock-cut tombs that belonged to the civilizations inhabiting this location.

The site is partially accessible and situated on rocky cliffs that provide natural protection, so sturdy footwear is advisable. The steep pathways require sure-footedness and caution when exploring the older structures.

The structure layers remains from multiple ancient cultures, showing how successive rulers used this location to exercise control. The accumulated building phases from different civilizations are directly visible when walking through the ruins.