Ayasuluk Castle, Ephesus (must see)
Perched atop Ayasuluk Hill, Ayasuluk Castle鈥攁lso known as Sel莽uk Castle鈥攃ommands sweeping views of the surrounding countryside and stands as a silent witness to centuries of shifting empires. Just a mile from the ancient city of Ephesus, the castle was constructed by the Byzantines in the 6th century using stones from earlier Greek and Roman structures. It was part of a broader defensive strategy as the once-thriving harbor city of Ephesus began to decline. The Byzantines built the citadel to protect the Basilica of Saint John, which lies on the southern slope of the hill, effectively transforming the area into a fortified religious and administrative center.
The castle's massive stone walls, some 4 meters thick and stretching 1.5 kilometers in circumference, were reinforced by 17 towers and accessed through the Gate of Persecution. This gate led first into the basilica, a place of great spiritual significance, believed to house the tomb of St. John the Apostle. Over time, the population migrated uphill toward this citadel as the Ephesus harbor silted up and malaria plagued the lower city. By the time the Seljuk Turks captured the site in 1090, it had become little more than a small village, though it later experienced a resurgence when the Seljuks repaired the walls and dredged the harbor.
Throughout the centuries, Ayasuluk Castle remained a key strategic and religious site. Under the Seljuks and later the Ottomans, it served as a military garrison and administrative hub. In the 14th century, it became the capital of the Ayd谋no臒ullar谋 Principality, and despite the harbor's eventual silting again in the 15th century, the Ottomans maintained a garrison into the 17th century. Within the castle today are remnants of its varied past: the partially intact Kale Mosque with its domed roof and minaret, Ottoman-era cisterns, the remains of a Turkish bath, and traces of former residences.
Ayasuluk Castle has two main gates. One is on the east side, and the other, which is used as the tourist entrance, is on the west side.
The castle's massive stone walls, some 4 meters thick and stretching 1.5 kilometers in circumference, were reinforced by 17 towers and accessed through the Gate of Persecution. This gate led first into the basilica, a place of great spiritual significance, believed to house the tomb of St. John the Apostle. Over time, the population migrated uphill toward this citadel as the Ephesus harbor silted up and malaria plagued the lower city. By the time the Seljuk Turks captured the site in 1090, it had become little more than a small village, though it later experienced a resurgence when the Seljuks repaired the walls and dredged the harbor.
Throughout the centuries, Ayasuluk Castle remained a key strategic and religious site. Under the Seljuks and later the Ottomans, it served as a military garrison and administrative hub. In the 14th century, it became the capital of the Ayd谋no臒ullar谋 Principality, and despite the harbor's eventual silting again in the 15th century, the Ottomans maintained a garrison into the 17th century. Within the castle today are remnants of its varied past: the partially intact Kale Mosque with its domed roof and minaret, Ottoman-era cisterns, the remains of a Turkish bath, and traces of former residences.
Ayasuluk Castle has two main gates. One is on the east side, and the other, which is used as the tourist entrance, is on the west side.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ephesus. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App
Ayasuluk Castle on Map
Sight Name: Ayasuluk Castle
Sight Location: Ephesus, Turkey (See walking tours in Ephesus)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ephesus, Turkey (See walking tours in Ephesus)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ephesus, Turkey
Create Your Own Walk in Ephesus
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ephesus is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Selcuk Introduction Walking Tour
Sel莽uk is a town near Izmir, in western Turkey. It鈥檚 the gateway to Ephesus, a vast, ancient city with the remains of a large theater and the Library of Celsus. South is the House of Virgin Mary, a domed chapel and religious shrine. Near Sel莽uk, a marble column is one of a few remains of the Temple of Artemis. The Ephesus Museum has more items from the temple, plus other artifacts excavated... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Ephesus Introduction Walking Tour
Ephesus, the most important Greek city in Ionian Asia Minor, the ruins of which lie near the modern village of Sel茍uk in western Turkey. Ephesus is one of the largest and most impressive ancient cities in the world and is one of T眉rkiye鈥檚 most significant ancient cities. Its cultural and historical significance was highlighted in its addition to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2015. The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles