Giresun Castle

Giresun Castle is a castle built in the 2nd century BC in the province of Giresun.

One of the bastions of Giresun Castle

Giresun Castle is located on a hill dominating the city on the peninsula north of the city. The remains of the castle that have survived to this day are the central tower and the southern ramparts connected to it. The section made of large rectangular block stones at the base of the ramparts gives the impression that the ramparts and the castle date back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Giresun Castle, described as the "Castle with Bronze Walls" in ancient sources, was probably built during the time of Pontus King Pharnaces I. It was one of the last border castles of the Empire of Trebizond against the Turks in the 1300s. For this reason, it was repaired by Emperor Alexios II of Trebizond in 1301. Its dominance over the sea and its location at the junction of trade routes indicate that it was a military structure intended for coastal control. At the highest point of the castle is the tomb of Topal Osman, and on the north slope facing the sea is a martyr's cemetery and the tomb of Kurban Dede, a disciple of Hacı Bektaşi Veli.