Sinap Castle: A Medieval Armenian Fortress in Turkey
Visitor Information
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Country: Turkey
Civilization: Unclassified
Remains: Military
History
Sinap Castle is a medieval fortress located in the municipality of Çamlıyayla, in present-day Turkey. It was established by the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia during the Middle Ages, serving both military and administrative purposes within this medieval Armenian realm.
The castle was constructed sometime between the 12th and 14th centuries, a period when the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia fortified many strategic locations across the region. Sinap Castle functioned primarily as a fortified estate and an outpost guarding key routes through the Toros Mountains. In particular, it secured a segment of the road that linked the major Het‛umid castle of Lampron (known today as Namrun Kalesi) with the vital passage of the Cilician Gates, a crucial mountain pass connecting the interior of Anatolia to the Mediterranean coast.
Throughout its use, Sinap Castle operated as a smaller military stronghold subordinate to Lampron fortress. Its role focused on monitoring and protecting movement along the route to the Gülek Pass, which was an important corridor for trade and military campaigns in the region. The name “Sinap” itself stems from an old Turkish word meaning “corner,” possibly alluding to its strategic placement overseeing a critical junction or bend in the landscape.
Although detailed records of conquest, rulers, or religious roles directly linked to Sinap Castle have not been documented, its inclusion in the defensive network of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia attests to its significance within the Armenian feudal and military system. The castle remained a guarded estate throughout the medieval period until its eventual decline and ruination.
Remains
Sinap Castle displays a straightforward rectangular design, rising three stories high and featuring strong cylindrical towers at each corner. These towers and walls were built using rusticated ashlar masonry, a technique typical of Armenian fortifications, where large stone blocks with roughened surfaces are carefully fitted together to create a sturdy yet rugged appearance.
The ground floor is characterized by a pointed vault—a type of ceiling formed by the intersection of two arches—though this vault has partially collapsed in places. This level contains a single entrance on the west side but no other openings, emphasizing its defensive purpose. Originally, a staircase connected this lower chamber to the second floor, but that staircase is no longer present.
Moving to the second floor, the vaulted ceiling partly remains, sheltering an area divided into nine small rooms, or casemates, each equipped with narrow arrow slits called embrasured loopholes, which provided defenders with protected firing positions. This floor also includes two windows and an apse-like recess on the east wall, suggesting a possible space for worship or ceremonial use within the castle.
The third floor, believed to have housed fighting platforms where soldiers could defend the fortress from an elevated position, has been destroyed. It likely featured merlons—upright sections of battlements providing cover for defenders.
Today, Sinap Castle stands in ruins, with much of the internal divisions lost over time. Despite this, the remaining structure allows for an understanding of its function as a small garrison fortress designed to secure strategic routes across the rugged terrain. Access to the site is provided by a short, stabilized road branching from the nearby highway, preserving its connection to the surrounding landscape it once controlled.
