| Gözne Castle | |
|---|---|
| Mersin Province,Turkey | |
.JPG) East building | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Controlled by | Ministry of Culture |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Most of east building still standing. |
| Location | |
  Gözne Castle | |
| Coordinates | 36°59′32″N34°34′27″E / 36.99222°N 34.57417°E /36.99222; 34.57417 |
| Site history | |
| Built by | Byzantine Empire |
| Demolished | Part of it |
Gözne Castle is amedieval castle inMersin Province,Turkey.
The castle is in theToros Mountains at36°59′45″N34°34′40″E / 36.99583°N 34.57778°E /36.99583; 34.57778. It is situated to the south ofGözne town. It is accessible only from the north i.e. Gözne. Its distance toMersin is 30 kilometres (19 mi) The road to the castle is an all seasons open road. The altitude of the castle is 1,120 metres (3,670 ft). The castle is open to visits.
According to the published archaeological description and plan of this site, this “castle” was probably a fortified estate house. It was built with distinctive Armenian masonry between the 12th and 14th centuries.[1] It also protected a strategic route which linked the Mediterranean coast toÇandır Castle andLampron, the main seats ofHet'umid power in theArmenian Kingdom of Cilicia.
This site consists of two fortified chambers without connecting masonry walls. The one at the east is a building with a vaulted rectangular hall, a defensive doorway, four towers, five extremely narrow windows, and a single embrasured loophole. The one at the west is a two-story hexagonal tower-donjon with two doors and three windows. Projecting corbels at the top once supported fighting platforms.[2] Recently, a picnic area was established to the north of the castle. An extensive photographic survey and plan of Gözne Castle was made in 1979.[3]
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