Uçhisar Castle (Nevsehir Province, Turkey)
N 38° 37.817 E 034° 48.340
36S E 657172 N 4277296
The natural rock citadel of Uçhisar Castle, for a great distance visible landmark of Nevsehir region and the tallest point in Cappadocia, served in the past as natural fortress for Byzantine army.
Waymark Code: WMKJRZ
Location: Türkiye
Date Posted: 04/22/2014
Views: 4
The natural rock citadel of Uçhisar Castle, for a great distance visible landmark of Nevsehir region and the tallest point in Cappadocia, served in the past as natural fortress for Byzantine army.
The highest peak in the region and the most prominent land formation, the Üçhisar Castle is a larger-than-life sculpture. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Byzantine army took advantage of the natural elevation of three of the area's rock formations and used them as natural fortresses. Üçhisar, together with Ortahisar and a rock castle at Ürgüp (now in ruins), provided the means for an early warning system using mirrors and lights, sending messages among the fortresses and as far afield as Istanbul. Today the outer layers of Üçhisar's rock have been washed away by erosion to reveal a honeycombed structure of tunnels and cavities, rising above the man-made facades of the modern semi-troglodyte village. Recently discovered was a secret tunnel leading to the riverbed, which provided an emergency water supply in the event of an attack.