Discover Karaman: Castle, Mosques and Historic Houses

Karaman combines a layered history of its castle with mosques, a church and historic houses. The buildings tell of different eras and traditions. This gives you a clear question to consider when planning your trip: would you like to discover a city whose sights focus primarily on history and architecture?

The Castle of Karaman and its history of construction

The construction of Karaman Castle, also known as Karaman Kalesi, is dated to the late 11th or early 12th century. Its layout consists of three concentric rings of fortifications: the outer castle, the middle castle and the inner castle. The inner castle stands on a hill bearing traces of the Bronze Age as well as the Roman and Byzantine periods. The castle complex thus connects several distinctly different historical eras.

The form of the inner castle can also be seen in specific details: it has nine towers, four round and five square. This mix of tower shapes and the sequence of three rings of fortifications give the complex its own architectural structure. In 1465, the Ottomans restored the inner castle. When planning your trip, anyone interested in fortifications can therefore consider both the structure of the complex and its documented history of construction.

Another piece of the city’s history can be found in the archaeological exhibition hall of the Karaman Museum: a female body recovered from the Manazan Caves is displayed there. For a visit focused on history, this find complements the view of the castle with an archaeological perspective. The castle complex and the museum offer different ways of exploring the past: fortification architecture in one case, a find from the caves in the other.

Mosques, tombs and architecture

The Aktekke Mosque houses the tomb of Mümine Hatun, the mother of Mevlana. The Yunus Emre Mosque, also known as Yunus Emre Cami, is in the centre of Karaman and was built during the era of the Karamanids. The tomb of Yunus Emre is located immediately beside its western wall. This connection between mosque and tomb offers a distinct point of interest for travellers interested in religious history and the traditions associated with these names.

The Hatuniye Madrasa, built in 1382, is also located in the city centre. Student chambers are situated on its eastern and western sides. The arrangement of the chambers makes the madrasa interesting as a building in its own right: its distinctive description includes not only its date of foundation but also its layout. Visitors exploring historic buildings will find here a different type of structure from a castle or mosque.

The Çeşmeli Church, also known as Çeşmeli Kilise or Surp Asvadzadzin Armenian Church, is an example of Byzantine architecture. It is located in Tapucak, one of Karaman’s oldest settlements or neighbourhoods. Following its restoration in 2007, it was used for art exhibitions, meetings and music concerts. These uses form part of the building’s history after its restoration; alongside its architectural classification, they also give the church a cultural dimension.

Historic houses and choosing your destination

Traditional residential architecture also shapes the collection of historic buildings. Hürrem-Dayı House, also known as Hürrem Dayı Evi, is considered an example of traditional Turkish domestic architecture from the Ottoman period. It has a history of almost 300 years and is distinguished by hand-carved wooden ornaments. The Tartanlar Mansion, Tartanlar Konağı, was built in 1810 by Hacı Ahmet Efendi of the Tartanzade family. Both houses broaden the view beyond public and religious buildings to include historic forms of domestic architecture.

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Karaman, you can first consider whether these cultural highlights suit your trip. The sights appeal to different interests: fortification architecture and traces of earlier settlements, mosques and tombs, Byzantine architecture, and historic houses. This lets you choose Karaman based on specific themes rather than on just one building.

Other places you can consider as travel destinations: Alaçatı, Ambar, Ayrancı, Koçaşlı, Kazımkarabekir, Ermenek and Akçaşehir Municipality.

For the main travel overview: Karaman.