The Rumelian Castle

A Picture of History – Rumeli Hisari

The Bosphorus Strait has long been a contested area of the world. During the Ottoman Empire this famous waterway was constantly watched for signs of invaders who might be trying to take over Istanbul (then known as Constantinople) as their own. To keep a watch, there needed to be something to watch from, and that is why a series of fortresses were built along the water’s edge, to protect the city throughout the ages.

One of the largest and most impressive of these fortresses is without a doubt Rumeli Hisari, or Rumeli Castle to give it its English name.

The History of Rumeli Hisari

Rumeli Hisari is a huge fortress located on the European side of Istanbul, towards the Bebek area. The castle stands close to the second bridge nowadays, although it was standing long before the bridge! The castle was actually constructed in 1452, and took just four months to be completed. Sultan Mehmed II (also known as Mehmed The Conquerer) commissioned the building of the fortress, as he was convinced that invaders were on their way to Istanbul.

Rumeli Hisari stands directly opposite Anadolu Castle, which is on the Asian side of the city. Rumeli Hisari sits on the narrowest point of the Bosphorus and offers clear vantage points over towards the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, which the Bosphorus connects to on either side.

Of course, after the conquest of Constantinople, Rumeli Hisari was no longer required as a lookout point of importance, and instead it served as a checkpoint for customs purposes. From there it served as a prison, up until as late as the 19th century. A small residential area took shelter inside the castle from that point onwards, and it was home to shops, houses, and a mosque, until the 1950s. Nowadays, Rumeli Hisari is an open air museum, and a very popular one at that. The castle also houses regular events during the summer months, such as concerts.

Visiting Rumeli Hisari

Rumeli Hisari is a large complex, and there are three huge towers, a smaller tower, as well as a series of other even smaller towers, of which there are 13. The entire castle complex is in great condition considering its age, and walking around you will be able to get a real feel for history. Of course, the first purpose of the fortress was for lookouts, and that means you need your camera! The views are spectacular, and on a clear day you can see for miles, right over towards the Black Sea. Some people say you can even see Bulgaria, but that’s to be proven!

It is very easy to reach Rumeli Hisari, and the fact it sits on the main road means you know when to get off the bus! Simply take the bus from Besiktas to Bebek, or you can jump on the same bus from Ortakoy, near to the Bosphorus Bridge. Simply get off at the Rumeli Hisari bus stop, and walk up to the castle gates. The castle has been seen in many films, so you might even recognise it!

There is a 10TL entrance fee to go inside, and the castle is open every day apart from Wednesdays, from 9am until 7pm. Do check nearer to the time of your visit as there are sometimes concerts and open air exhibitions taking place, which will certainly be a great addition to your break in Istanbul.

Once you have finished in the castle and you have stared at the amazing view for long enough (probably filling up your camera memory card along the way), then be sure to continue your journey onwards towards Bebek. You can either jump on a passing bus and get off a few stops later, or you can walk. The walk on a sunny day is very pleasant, and will take you right along the waterside.

Bebek is a high end neighbourhood, full of huge mansions and beautiful houses, and the seaside vibe is evident, with joggers, walkers, and locals fishing from the water’s edge. There are countless wonderful restaurants around here, and you can also sit and spot the expensive yachts and boats coming in and out of the harbour! If you continue your walk down into central Bebek you’ll see a very pleasant waterside park, and you can grab a coffee from the nearby Starbucks and enjoy the scenery from here. Whilst Bebek might be upmarket, it’s certainly not a ‘stuffy’ atmosphere and you’ll enjoy the different feel to the city from this location.