Kayseri Castle
A Byzantine And Seljuk Fortress Of Black Volcanic Stone, Restored By The Ottomans, Now Surrounded By The Bazaar And Housing A Small Market And Cafes, In The Heart Of A City Of Mosques And Tombs. An Easy Stop On The Way To Cappadocia, Near The Huand Hatun Complex · Melikgazi, Kayseri
Kayseri Castle is a dark fortress of black volcanic stone that stands in the middle of the city, at the edge of the old bazaar and a short walk from Cumhuriyet Square, in the central Anatolian plain. The first walls are traditionally linked to the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the 6th century, and the Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubad had the fortress rebuilt and strengthened in the 13th century, with Ottoman repairs after that (confirm the dates). The tall towers and thick walls now surround a courtyard with small shops, cafes and a market rather than a garrison, and the covered bazaar spills around the base. Mount Erciyes, a snow-capped volcano of nearly 3,900 m, rises above the city to the south and shows over the roofs on clear days. Nearby stands the Huand Hatun mosque, a Seljuk building of rare beauty. Kayseri is also famous for pastirma, manti and carpets, so the fort is a pleasant stop for a morning or afternoon on the road to Cappadocia.
Kayseri Castle, a black volcanic-stone fortress in the centre of Kayseri at the Cumhuriyet Square, roughly 80 to 100 km east of Cappadocia's Nevsehir by road; coordinates approximate, Melikgazi, Kayseri, Turkiye
The castle courtyard and the shops inside are normally open daily from about 09:00 to 19:00 or later in summer, with the bazaar around it following the same pattern and many stalls closing on Sunday or earlier on holidays (confirm). There is typically no ticket for the courtyard, and any museum or gallery space keeps short office hours, often 09:00 to 17:00. The Huand Hatun complex is open between prayer times, and cafes in the fort stay open into the evening in summer. Snow and ice can make the cobbles slippery in winter.