Abstract:

There are many castles in the Çukurova region. Most of these castles that are indispensible for military architecture were particularly built on high places such as Toros Mountains, on rocky hills. While building these castles, there were chosen hills which are difficult to reach, and sharp Rockies were used as fortification by utilizing the topographic structure of hill well. Construction material was brought from the hill itself. Maran Castle was built on such a hill that is difficult to reach, an altitude of 1410. The castle that has medieval features within its all details has longitudinal plan in the Northsouth direction like the shape of the hill that was built on it. In the available parts of hill’s east side of the castle, there established a defensive fortification by blocking the breaks of hills. The West side of it that is more available to attacks was all translated to city Wall and towers. The narrow South part of hill was fortified with towers in the aim of observation. The hill where the castle was built on, overlooks to a valley around it and it is in a dominant position of a road in its foothill as well. The castle was guarding the distance of 22 km. from Feke Castle to it besides the civil settlement in front of it. Maran Castle has similarities with Feke Castle in terms of architectural and space besides plan. The castle exhibits great similarities with garrison castles around it with its castle turrets, tanks, entrance doors, chapels, ward, well, material and pantry. In this study, the castle was defined in details, similar castles were discussed in terms of plan and architecture and the examination of assesments on castles around Çukurova with Maran Castle is reflected.

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