Topkapı Palace
The sultans’ palace on Sarayburnu: courtyards, the Imperial Council, the treasury and the terraces over the water. Dated entry, sold online on its own site.
Gözne Castle
A medieval outpost on high rocks at the entrance to Gözne, north of Mersin, made of two structures that once guarded the route inland.
About the museum
Gözne Castle rises on high rocks at the entrance to the town of Gözne, some 29 kilometres north of Mersin. It dates to the Middle Ages and stands on the route towards Çandır Castle, one of the largest and most significant fortresses of the region. Along with the nearby Belenkeşlik and Sinap castles, it belongs to a chain of strongholds, and it was probably built to keep control of this strategic road.
The castle consists of two structures. The eastern one is rectangular, with four bastions, one on the south and three on the north. Its entrance is on the west, with a threshold about a metre above the ground. Inside, a pointed vault covers the space, which three arches divide into four parts, and five small openings provide light and air.
The western structure is a hexagonal tower with three windows and two doors. Its roof has an arch that divides the ceiling in two, and fifteen porches project from the upper part on the southwest and north sides.
Tips
- The castle is open every day and Müzekart is valid for Turkish citizens.
- Combine it with other castles and sites in the Mersin area for a fuller picture of the region's medieval defences.
Questions
When is Gözne Castle open?
According to the Ministry’s listing it opens at 08:30 and closes at 19:00 (last entry 18:30). Open every day.
Can I buy tickets for Gözne Castle on this site?
No. This site sells no tickets. Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Dolmabahçe Palace are sold on our sister sites; for Gözne Castle, buy at the ticket office or on the Ministry’s official e-ticket system.
Where is Gözne Castle?
Gözne Castle is in Mersin, Türkiye — Toroslar.
Nearby
Mersin
Kızkalesi (Maiden's Castle) and Korykos
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Kanlıdivane Archaeological Site
An ancient Cilician city built around a huge sinkhole west of Mersin, with churches, olive workshops, cisterns and a Roman road.
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Silifke Atatürk House and Ethnography Museum
A 1914 stone-and-timber house in Silifke where Atatürk stayed on his first visit in 1925, now showing his belongings, photographs and local ethnography.
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Silifke Museum
The archaeological museum of Silifke, with finds from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman era shown in stone, coin, jewellery, ethnographic and garden displays.
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Silifke Narlıkuyu Mosaic Museum
A small museum built around a Roman bath floor showing the Three Graces, on the bay of Narlıkuyu near Silifke.
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Silifke Asthma Cave
A natural cave near Narlıkuyu reached by a spiral iron staircase, known for its humid air, its stalactites and its "wishing cave" folklore.
Istanbul tickets online
Four Istanbul landmarks, each sold on its own site by the agency behind this guide — dated entry and free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Basilica Cistern
Justinian’s great underground reservoir: 336 columns in still water and the two Medusa heads. Fast-track entry with a digital audio guide.
Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s cathedral, the sultans’ mosque and a working mosque again today. The ticket admits you to the upper visitor gallery.
Dolmabahçe Palace
A nineteenth-century palace on the water’s edge: the Selamlık, the Ceremonial Hall under its chandelier, the crystal staircase and the Harem.