Sinop Fortress Prison The Sinop Fortress Prison, known as Sinop Kale Cezaevi in Turkish, was a maximum-security state penitentiary located within the inner walls of the historic fortress on the northeastern tip of Cape Sinop. Established in 1887, the prison was decommissioned in 1997, and its prisoners were relocated to a newly built, modern correctional facility in Sinop. Designed in a U-shaped layout, the prison was a stone structure comprising 28 rooms spread over two floors, positioned inside the southern section of the inner fortress. In 1939, an annex with 9 additional rooms across two floors was constructed to serve as a juvenile detention center, expanding the total area to 10,247 square meters. Located within the fortress walls, the Sinop Fortress Prison was regarded as one of Turkey’s most secure detention facilities, offering virtually no chance of escape. Its proximity to the sea was so close that even igniting a match proved difficult for the inmates. This prison has inspired numerous literary works and has appeared in several films and television series. The renowned poet Sabahattin Ali wrote the famous poem Aldırma Gönül in 1933 during his imprisonment at Sinop Fortress; the poem later gained widespread fame through a song by Edip Akbayram. Additionally, the Turkish film Pardon (2004) and TV mini-series such as Firar (Prison Break, 1993) and Köpek (The Dog, 2005) were shot on location at the prison. Following its closure, the prison’s premises were transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 1999. Today, the Sinop Fortress Prison serves as a well-visited tourist destination, attracting hundreds of thousands annually. Its role in cultural media and increased public fascination with historical crimes have further boosted its status as a prominent heritage site. If you have any questions or inquiries regarding Sinop Fortress Prison, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or simply message us via Whatsapp, and we will reply as soon as possible.