Bodrum Castle (The Castle of St. Peter) The Castle of St. Peter, widely recognized as Bodrum Castle, is situated on a rocky peninsula extending into the sea along the southwestern coast of Anatolia, near the modern town of Bodrum. This strategic location was historically utilized by both Byzantine forces and Turkish troops during various periods of antiquity and the Middle Ages. The fortress was constructed in the 15th century by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights of Rhodes, under the command of Grand Master Philibert de Naillac. The knights held control of the castle until 1522, when it was seized by Suleiman the Magnificent, the powerful Ottoman sultan also known as Suleiman I. During the Ottoman era, Bodrum Castle was first utilized as a military garrison before being converted into a prison facility in 1895. In 1915, amidst the events of World War I, the castle suffered damage when it was shelled by a French battleship, prompting the relocation of many inmates to other parts of the region. When Italian forces occupied the Bodrum area, they made use of the deserted structure as their command center. Following the victory in the Turkish War of Independence, led by Mustafa Kemal, the castle was reactivated as a military outpost in 1939. Eventually, in 1962, it was converted into a museum dedicated to displaying ancient shipwrecks recovered from the Aegean Sea, preserving the maritime heritage of the region. While the Bodrum Castle shares several architectural elements with medieval European fortresses, its position in Asia Minor has allowed it to absorb unique cultural influences. The castle has historically hosted a diverse population and is regarded as a symbol of the connection between Europe and the surrounding regions. In 2016, Bodrum Castle was included in the Tentative List of UNESCO as a candidate for world heritage recognition. If you have any questions or would like further details about Bodrum Castle (The Castle of St. Peter), feel free to contact us at [email protected] or send us a message via WhatsApp. We will be happy to assist you as soon as possible.