Enez Kalesi

Enez Kalesi, located on a high hill called the Acropolis in Antiquity, was built to prevent barbarian raids coming from the Balkans. Although the construction date of the castle is not certain, the spolia building materials in its walls indicate that it was built before Byzantium. It is stated in sources that in the VIth century AD, one of the Eastern Roman Emperors, Lustinianus, gave instructions to repair the castle.

The castle extends in the northwest-southeast directions. Its main entrance is on the northeast side. Two rampart walls extend from the castle toward the sea, protecting the harbor on the sea side of the castle. On the sea side of the walls, large angular bastions were built, but only the western bastion has survived to the present day. The direction of the western wall was adjusted so that it could also see the Meriç river, thus a precaution was taken against attacks that might come from the direction of the river.

The building materials of the castle, which was repaired in the XIIth century, consisted of cut stone, brick and ancient architectural pieces. Inside the castle there are Enez Ayasofyası, the symbol of Enez, a small church with a mosaic floor, and a cave that was also used as a chapel. A relief found on the cave walls depicting Pan and dancing water nymphs from Greek Mythology was taken to Edirne Museum.

On the wall next to the monumental entrance gate of the castle, there is also a depiction of a Thracian horseman made of white marble. In addition, the pointed Ottoman arch inside the castle also indicates that the structure was used by the Turks.

Source: Edirne Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism

Places to Visit in Edirne Address: Gaziömerbey, Kale Caddesi, Bahçeler Sokak, 22700 Enez/Edirne