Çanakkale - Sultan's Castle

(Local Name: Sultaniye Kale) The fortress of Sultaniye Kale (Sultan's Castle) in Çanakkale on the shores of the strait is the counterpart to the Fortress of Kilitbahir (Key of the Sea; three massive round towers, built in 1454) on the European side. Between them the forts controlled the narrowest point on the Dardanelles. The Sultaniye Kale now houses a Military Museum maintained by the Turkish Navy (guided tours, including English). In addition to guns and other military equipment it has an interesting collection of material concerning the battle for the Dardanelles in 1915. Here, too, is the minelayer "Nusrat", which mounted the successful attack leading finally to the Allied withdrawal.