It's time once again to go on a castle tour. Today our location is Turkey, as we explore the vast ruins of Bakras Kalesi (Castle of Bakras).
The medieval castle was most probably built by the Byzantines during the 10th century in Hatay, Turkey. By 1108, it was in the hands of the Principality of Antioch, one of the crusader states created during the First Crusade. It was first known as Pagrae, which became Pagras, before being renamed by the Templars as Gaston, then Baghras, and finally Bakras,... moreIt's time once again to go on a castle tour. Today our location is Turkey, as we explore the vast ruins of Bakras Kalesi (Castle of Bakras).
The medieval castle was most probably built by the Byzantines during the 10th century in Hatay, Turkey. By 1108, it was in the hands of the Principality of Antioch, one of the crusader states created during the First Crusade. It was first known as Pagrae, which became Pagras, before being renamed by the Templars as Gaston, then Baghras, and finally Bakras, as its known today.
It is located at the top of an isolated hill which can be approached only from its western side. Although the original phases of construction and reconstruction are Byzantine and Arab, much of what you see at Bakras Castle today is French. The tall, narrow pointed windows are clear examples of the European influence left on the building.
In 1153 the Principality of Antioch transferred the castle to the Templars to protect the Principality from a new Byzantine attack. Around 1171 it was taken by a renegade Armenian baron, Mleh. In 1175, after the death of Mleh, the Templars regained the castle. In 1187 Saladin, the Muslim ruler of most of Syria and parts of today's Turkey and Iraq, captured Jerusalem and then moved against Antioch, eventually conquering it, including the castle. In 1190, the Muslims left the castle, only after having destroyed it.
In 1191 Leo II, Prince of Armenian Cilicia, took possession of the damaged castle and had it rebuilt. His possession of the castle became the source of argument between him, the Principality of Antioch and the Templars. After much negotiation, it was finally returned to the Templars in 1216.
In 1268, Baibars, the Mameluke general who was the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, waged war on the Christian States with the objective of completely eradicating them from the Levant. He besieged Antioch and in a relatively short time he captured the city; killing or enslaving the whole population and razed the city to the ground. When the news of the fall of Antioch reached Gaston, the Templars abandoned the castle after having set fire to it.
The remains of the castle are made up of two levels, consisting of around thirty rooms and chambers, much of which are quite ruined. There are large remains of an aqueduct which supplied the castle with water from the mountains, a great hall, a church, a massive keep and lots of chambers and underground passages. The hilltop that the castle is built on is quite steep and access into the castle isnβt very easy. Combine this with hidden pits, visiting the castle with small children isn't recommended.
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