Sinap Castle
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| Sinap Castle | |
|---|---|
| Çamlıyayla, Mersin Province, Turkey | |
 | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fortress |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Outer walls still standing. |
| Location | |
  Sinap Castle | |
| Coordinates | 37°11′21″N 34°36′42″E / 37.18917°N 34.61167°E |
| Height | 1,240 m (4,070 ft) |
| Site history | |
| Materials | stone |
| Demolished | Interior |
Sinap Castle is a medieval Armenian fortification in Çamlıyayla ilçe (district) of Mersin Province in southern Turkey.
The castle is in the Toros Mountains at 37°11′21″N 34°36′42″E / 37.18917°N 34.61167°E. It is situated to the northeast of Çamlıyayla and to the north of Mersin. The distance to Çamlıyayla is 5 km (3.1 mi) and to Mersin is 93 km (58 mi). The 2 km (1.2 mi) stabilized road to the castle diverges from the Mersin-Çamlıyayla highway.[1] Its altitude is 1,240 m (4,070 ft). But it is not particularly high with respect to immediate surroundings.
History
The castle functioned as both a fortified estate house and a guardian along the strategic route between the Het‛umid castle at Lampron (Namrun Kalesi) and the Cilician Gates.[2] It was one of the many dozens of fortifications within the medieval Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. The fort of Sinap is located approximately six kilometers northeast of Lampron on the gentle slope of a partially forested agricultural valley. The name Sinap means "corner" in old Turkish.
