Yedikule Fortress

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Native Name: Yedikule Hisari

Yedikule fortress is the first fortress behind the Golden Gate . It consists of the seven towers and the walls surrounding them . It was originally constructed by Emperor John I Tzimiskes and completed by Manual I Komnenos . It originally had five towers only . During the Fourth Crusade , the fortress was destroyed after the first fall of the city and was later rebuilt again in 1350 by John VI Kantakouzenos . The new reconstructed fort had five octagonal towers , in addition to the two marble towers of the Golden Gate . Having seven towers in all , the fortress became known as the Heptapyrgion ("Seven Towers") .

John V Palaiologos was forced to demolish the fortress in 1391 , after Sultan Bayezid I captivated his son Manuel and threatened to blind him . After the conquest of Constantinople , Sultan Mehmed II rebuilt the fort in 1457 and it has again seven towers (four on the Inner Theodosian Wall - towers eight to eleven - and three larger ones behind) , and became known as the Yedikule Hisar "Fortress of Seven Towers" .

During the Ottoman era , Ottoman treasure was kept there . In addition , the fortress was also serving as a prison . The Epigraph Tower on the left of the entrance door was designated for foreign prisoners whereas the pylons on two sides of the Golden Gate was dedicated for Muslim prisoners . One of the most notable prisoners was the young Sultan Osman II . He was imprisoned and executed in the fort by the Janissaries in 1622 . Also , The French writer and diplomat Francois Pouqueville wrote an extensive description of the place when he was exiled in the fortress and remained there for more than two years (1799 to 1801) , during the Napoleonic Wars . The fortress finally ceased to function as a prison during the time of Mahmut II (1808-1839) .

You can visit the towers of the citadel , walk upon its thick walls or look at the knitted Golden Gate from the roof of the pylons .

The place is open for visiting from 9 . 00-16 . 30 except on Wednesdays .