Yoros Castle

Visit The Edge of Istanbul at Yoros Castle

Istanbul is a city packed with history, and that means that at many points over the years, various invaders have tried their luck at conquering this powerhouse of a city. That’s true, and most of them failed, due to the extreme fortifications that were built across the entire city limits of Istanbul.

We have the mighty Walls of Constantinople, and the various fortresses which line the waters of the Bosphorus. Of course, we also need extra land fortresses, to check if anyone is heading over from the various nearby borders. This is where Yoros Castle comes into play.

What is Yoros Castle?

One of the oldest of Istanbul’s castles is Yoros Castle, which sits right on the outer edge of the city, in Yedikule. Yoros Castle was strategically placed to cover as a land border fortress, but it also sits opposite the Black Sea coast, and the views from the top were more than sufficient to allow a watch out over that long portion of water. The castle sits atop a very large and very green hill, so the views in general by visiting here are something very spectacular indeed.

Yoros Castle was built in 1838, and stands on a former Greek trading point. In this region there also used to be a temple in honour of Zeus, as well as several other templates which were used for rituals and sacrifices. The castle was occupied several times, by several different inhabitants, including during the Byzantine Empire, well before the Ottomans arrived. In fact, the castle passed hands between the Byzantines and Ottomans, before the Genoese also tried their luck. For this reason, you will also year Yoros Castle called the ‘Genoese Castle’. Of course, after the fall of Constantinople, the Ottomans regained complete control, and this castle was then turned into a check point, quarantine building, and a customs office.

Visiting Yoros Castle

Yoros Castle is nowhere near as well preserved as many of the other fortresses across the city. It is mostly in ruins but the main towers and columns remain, and will show you the scale of what used to stand there. Most people visit for the sheer feel of history, as well as the amazing views across the Bosphorus and out over to the Black Sea. The natural area around the castle is very green and is also a very calming feel after a few days of hustle and bustle in the centre of the city!

Because we are talking about a castle that is in ruins, there is no admission fee to go to the castle grounds, however it is quite a long and hilly walk from the centre of the town, up towards the summit of the hill. It will take you around 15 minutes, and you should certainly wear comfortable shoes! Once there however, be sure to spend a good amount of time enjoying the view and the feel of total peace and serenity, from one of the most strategic and historic lookout points in Istanbul history.

You can reach Yoros Castle quite easily from Beykoz, with buses running to the area. From there, it is up to you to walk up to the top of the hill, but on a sunny day that is quite a fun experience to have! You could take a picnic, but be sure to take your rubbish with you, to ensure this area stays as well kept as it is now.

After your visit, head back down towards the centre of Beykoz, or perhaps venture further over to Uskudar. From there you can easily head towards Sultanahmet via the Marmaray train, or via the ferry, which is a wonderful experience during the early evening hours, when the sun is setting over the Golden Horn.

There is a lot to do in this general area, and whilst Yoros Castle might be a slightly longer trip than many other visitors would consider taking it will show you a calmer, and more laid back feel to Istanbul, which you would otherwise miss. Remember, this is a very busy and frenetic city, one which houses millions of people, plus millions of other visitors on top. Occasionally, you need to breathe in some fresh air, away from the hustle and bustle, and a visit to Yoros Castle will allow you to do that, whilst filling up your camera memory card with endless snaps of the view, and the history which stands right before your very eyes