Bodrum Castle set to open next year

MUĞLA – Anadolu Agency

The Bodrum Castle, which is famous for its visual magnificence, knight towers and archaeological works in the western province of Muğla’s Bodrum town, will open its doors next year to visitors with its renewed face. 

The construction of the castle began in 1415 and continued until 1523. The castle served as a military base until 1895. 

The castle has been on the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage since April 2016 and is expected to be included on the main list. It is considered one of the most important castles in the eastern Mediterranean. 

The castle was historically part of the Medieval City of Rhodes, which is already on the World Heritage List. Both castles are considered the finest examples of the Knights of St. John. Rhodes was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1988. 

Between 1939 and 1945 during World War II, the castle served again as a military base but was evacuated at the end of the war. Today, the Bodrum Castle is home to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology and one of the most significant Underwater Archaeology Museums in the world. 

The Bodrum Castle preserves its original plan and character from the medieval era and represents Gothic architecture. Since the Order of the Knights of St. John was a multinational organization with members from several countries of Europe, each order had its own tower, each in its own style. 

The castle consists of French, Spanish, German, Italian and English towers. Some 249 separate designs still remain, including those of grand masters, castle commandants, countries and the personal coats of arms of knights and religious figures. Among them, the most noticeable one is the coat of arms of King Henry IV of England in the English tower. 

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency, the Bodrum Castle Underwater Archaeology Museum Deputy Director Tayfun Selçuk said the restorations and landscaping of the castle were still ongoing. He said the project was initiated in 2014 and lasted nearly three years and restorations started in 2017. 

“Work on the Bodrum Castle is set to finish in 2019. We will also focus on promotional works to increase the number of visitors to the castle. As the works are done, people will be able to visit the castle in an easier way,” he said.