Rumkale Situated approximately 50 km from the center of Şanlıurfa along the Euphrates River, the ancient fortress of Rumkale stands as one of the region’s most important landmarks. The origins of the fortress trace back to Assyrian times, though its current form mainly reflects Hellenistic and Roman architectural influences. Legend has it that John, one of the disciples of Jesus, lived here during the Roman era and contributed significantly to the spread of Christianity. During the Middle Ages, the castle was controlled by various Byzantine and Armenian warlords, and it served as the seat of an Armenian bishop from the 12th century onward. In 1179, a synod convened at Rumkale aimed to mediate a reconciliation between the Greek and Armenian communities. Between 1203 and 1293, Rumkale served as the spiritual headquarters of the Armenian Church until it was overtaken by the Muslim Mamluks in 1293. Later, control passed to the Ottoman Empire. Rumkale stands as one of the region’s most significant Christian heritage sites, with its architectural remains ranging from the Late Roman period through the Middle Ages. Visitors can explore a 3500 m² area that includes columns and bushes, the 13th-century Barsavma Monastery, Saint Nerses Church (built in 1175), water cisterns, a spiral-shaped well, and a deep ditch measuring 8 meters wide and 75 meters deep. During the 11th century, Rumkale gained importance due to the tradition that John, one of Jesus' apostles, lived there in the Roman era and created copies of the Bible in a concealed chamber within the rock formations. Furthermore, under the era of Nerses, the poet saint who gathered ambassadors from across the empire for a national effort to unite different sects, Rumkale Castle became a pivotal location. Once a thriving city located on a peninsula formed by the reservoir of the Birecik Dam, Rumkale is now accessible by boat from the nearby archaeological site of Zeugma or from the town of Halfeti, part of Şanlıurfa's Halfeti district. If you have any questions or need more information about Rumkale, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or simply message us on Whatsapp, and we will reply as quickly as possible.