Rumeli Fortress Museum in Istanbul (Rumeli Hisarı)

Rumeli Hisari Fortress was built in 1452 by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, aka Mehmed the Conqueror. The fortress was built in preparation for the Ottoman’s conquest of the city of Constantinople – modern day Istanbul. Situated on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait, the fortress is a massive complex with a remarkable history.

The fortress is across from the Andadolu Hisari, another major tourist attraction in Istanbul. Rumeli Hisari Fortress was constructed by the Ottoman sultans to prevent military and economic aid to the Byzantine Empire. The building covers a massive 30-acres in Sarıyer which can be explored on a visit.

The history of Rumeli Hisari Fortress

Designed by Ottoman Empire’s architect Muslihiddin, the fortress is made up of three large towers and 14 smaller towers. Each tower is in good condition today. Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the fortress lost its importance to the empire. After losing its military importance, Rumeli Hisari became a customs checkpoint. Then in the 17th century, the fortress became a prison.

The fortress had different names — at first it was «Kulle-i Cedide» or «Yenice Hisar», which means «New castle». But exact name of fortress, because of her position was «Boğazkesen Hisarı» — the fortress which cut the Bosphorus waterway between two sides of Istanbul — Asian and European. On the Asian side opposite Rumeli Hisari there is Anadolu Hisari fortress.

Remarkably, in the 19thcentury, a neighborhood was created inside the fortress. The neighborhood contained houses, a mosque, shops, and much more. In the 1950s, the neighborhood was destroyed and it was later turned into a museum and opened in 1968. Since it was opened, it has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Istanbul.

A remarkable fortress

One of the most fascinating aspects of Rumeli Fortress is that it is in the shape of the name of the Prophet Muhammad when looking down on the castle from above. Builders took just four months to erect the fortress and its grounds. Over the last five decades, Rumeli Hisari has been the setting for a number of Turkish and international films.

More than 3 thousand builders took part in the work. The main architect was Muslihiddin Agha. The Sultan did not bet on this architect for nothing: before that time, he had already managed to design several important defensive and fortification buildings.

The foundation for the fortress walls, which are as much as 7 meters thick, was the base from the once destroyed Foneus fortress, which was located at this place. Foneus fortress was built in the time of the Byzantine Empire. The sultan supervised the construction every day and personally named the towers. The first was named in honor of the vizier Chandarly Khalil Pasha (Halil Paşa), the other in the name of Zaganos Pasha (Zağanos Paşa), who was considered one of the main assistants of the head of state. Another tower, located in the north of the fortress, was named after the war of Saryji Pasha (Saruca Paşa), who was famous for his bravery on the battlefields in the struggle for Constantinople.

The central tower of Saryji Pasha (Saruca Paşa) rises above the water surface by as much as 33 m. It has a multi-tiered structure and consists of 9 parts. The tower circumference is impressive – 23 m. The Zaganos Pasha Tower is even more impressive — it rises 57 m., but at the same time its circumference and wall thickness are less than that of the main tower building. And the most compact of all is the Khalil Pasha Tower. The area of the citadel is impressive – the entire territory has about 30,000 sq. m.

The fortress possesses four main gates, which are named “Mountain Gate”, “Dizdar Gate”, “Hisarpeçe Gate” and “Sel Gate”. There is a secondary gate known as “Mezarlik Gate”. There is a total of 17 towers with the most significant being “Saruca Pasha”, “Halil Pasha”, “Great Zaganos Pasha” and “Young Zaganos Pasha”.

When the fortress was finally completed, the passage through the strait for warships was closed at the most convenient location. That is why the building was also called Boğazkesen Hisarı, which means «slit throat» (that is, the fortress that cut the Bosphorus).

Opposite Rumeli Hisarı stood another fortress – Anadolu Hisarı. Thanks to this reliable stronghold, the Turks could not worry that any vessel, both commercial and military, could cross the strait from the fortress towers, the water horizons were perfectly visible and guarded by four hundred janissaries, ready at any moment to open artillery fire from huge cannons at the enemy. Today, samples of these unique tools are carefully preserved in the local museum.

Walking around the garden outside the museum, you will find items such as cannonballs and a chain used along the Bosphorus Strait exhibited. One of the most popular activities to do when visiting the museum is to look at the Bosphorus Strait from the lush green garden of the fortress.

How to get to the Rumeli Hisarı Fortress?

Rumeli Hisari is situated on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait. The quickest way to reach Rumeli Fortress is to take the bus that passes by Rumeli Hisarı bus station. You can take this to Rumeli Hisari bus stop where you will find the incredible fortress.

• How to get to Rumeli Hisari from Sultanahmet. To do this, take the T1 tram line to Kabataş (Kabatash) stop, then walk to Kabataş (Kabatash) bus stop and take bus 25E. You should get off at the Rumelihisarı stop (Rumeli Hisari) and walk to the fortress.
• How to get to Rumeli Hisari from Taksim Square and Istiklal Street. You need to go down to the transport and tram stop, Fındıklı. Take the bus 22 or 25E and get to the Aşiyan bus stop, and then walk to the fortress in 4 minutes on foot.

What else is near Rumeli Fortress?

The Rumeli Fortress is located near a number of popular tourist attractions including Aşiyan Museum, and the Bebek and Arnavutköy neighborhoods. Around the castle are a number of fantastic traditional restaurants that are perfect for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

But, you have take a walk on the long Bebek quay and then drink a cup of coffee in some nice place with a sea view here.

When to visit Rumeli Fortress?

Rumeli Hisari Fortress Museum is open Thursday to Tuesday each week. The doors open at 9:00 am and close at 5:00 pm. It costs 6 Euro to enter the Rumeli Hisari Fortress Museum.