My next article about my trip to the Turkish city of Bodrum will be dedicated to a walk through the Castle of St. Peter, also known as Bodrum Castle. As a reminder, I came to this resort city to see the ruins of the Mausoleum, which was once included in the famous list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The castle was the final attraction I visited before heading back to Istanbul.
Bodrum Castle: How to Get There
The massive castle is located in the central tourist area of Bodrum. Due to its impressive size, the castle is visible from many points in the city. My walking route in Bodrum was as follows: from the bus station, I headed to see the windmills, then visited the amphitheater, looked at the ruins of the Mausoleum, and later walked to the castle. The last part of the journey took me about 15 minutes.
In May 2023, the entrance fee to the castle was 350 lira. With a museum card, holders of an ikamet (residence permit) could explore the area for free.
Near the castle, there are several small streets with souvenir shops. Although the resort is considered quite expensive, there are affordable souvenirs available. For example, I bought a small figurine of the Mausoleum building for 30 lira.
A Bit of History
Bodrum Castle was founded by the Knights Hospitaller in the early 15th century. The castle was under the control of the order, whose members were also known as the Knights of Malta, for over a century, until 1522 when the complex came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire.
The members of the knightly order came from different countries. This can still be seen in the structure of the castle today: several towers have been preserved, each named after a European country. For example, in the southern part of the complex, you can find the English Tower, and 100 meters away is the German Tower.
Interestingly, fragments of the Mausoleum mentioned earlier were used in the construction of the castle. I read that marble inserts from the walls of this ancient structure can still be seen in the castle today.
During the Ottoman period, Bodrum Castle was used as a military base, and from 1895, the building served as a prison. Later, during World War I, the structure sustained significant damage.
Today, the large complex houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Visitors can combine a tour of the ancient buildings with a journey through the halls filled with ancient exhibits.
In my next article, I would like to go into more detail about the buildings I encountered during my visit to the castle.
Have a nice trip!
