History and archaeology / Castle
Rumkale
Nizip, Gaziantep
A medieval castle on a steep rock where the Euphrates and the Merzimen Stream meet, once the seat of the Armenian catholicoses; reached by boat in the middle of the dam lake.
Safety warning
Its story
Rumkale is built on a hill surrounded by high rocks where the Euphrates and the Merzimen Stream meet; after the waters of the Birecik Dam rose, the castle was left at the tip of a peninsula. In the Byzantine period it was a Syriac bishopric; in the 12th century it was bought by Catholicos Gregory III and became the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Mamluks took the castle in 1292 and the Ottomans in 1516. Today the Church of St. Nerses, the Barşavma Monastery, water cisterns, a well and moat remains can be seen. The castle is generally reached by boats departing from Halfeti.
Key facts
- Period
- Byzantine – Ottoman
- Admission
- Paid (Müzekart valid)
- Getting there
- By boat from Halfeti or Yavuzeli
- Visit duration
- 2–3 hours (including the boat)
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Day trip
- Hiking
Location
37.27240, 37.83797
Where to eat nearby
No food & drink venues listed nearby.
Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors; Overture Maps
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumkale | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumkale | https://muze.gov.tr/muze-detay?SectionId=GRO01&DistId=MRK | https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/1065022600