Historical Seddulbahir Castle marks spot for world’s most prestigious architecture awards

The castle, which witnessed the Canakkale Wars, was bombed on November 3, 1914, by the Allied Powers who wanted to cross the Dardanelles Strait

The famous Seddulbahir Castle, restored after a century, has grabbed a spot as a finalist in the Architizer A+ Awards – one of the world’s most prestigious architecture awards.

The castle, which witnessed the Canakkale Wars, was bombed on November 3, 1914, by the Allied Powers who wanted to cross the Dardanelles Strait.

Earlier, the castle was awarded the Shortlist Award at the International Domus Restoration and Conservation Awards among 176 applicants participating from different countries.

The voting for the Seddulbahir Castle Museum Building will continue until May 10. 

Seddulbahir Castle, built by Hatice Turhan Sultan, mother of Mehmed IV, is a 17th-century castle on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

It significantly secured the Bosphorus in the Canakkale Wars, one of the bloodiest wars in history. Hundreds of years ago, the castle, which resisted the seven heights together with a Turkish soldier, became a veteran with cannon shots.

The restoration initiated by the Canakkale Wars Gallipoli Historical Site Presidency in 2015 was completed to raise the dilapidated castle and turn it into an open-air museum.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the Canakkale Naval Victory to visitors on March 18th, Martyrs’ Remembrance Day.

At the Seddulbahir Castle Museum, visitors are informed about the castle’s history from the 17th century until today. They can also visit the cemetery where the first martyrs of the Canakkale Wars are buried.

The traces of the war are kept alive with Ottoman soldier dog tags, French pocket watch, Ottoman hand grenade, Krupp cannon barrel cleaning harp, French and Senegalese soldier machetes, Ottoman mavzer bayonets, Ottoman bayonet scabbard, Ottoman bandolier gunpowder holder, Ottoman, French and Australian soldier uniform cufflinks, bullets and French ammunition chest found during the restoration and excavation works of Seddulbahir Castle.

After 25 years of research, documentation, project design, and implementation, Seddulbahir Castle has also received a significant award from Italy, appreciating its design and spectacular architecture.

Canakkale Wars Gallipoli Historical Site Presidency included the project in the country’s inventory of immovable cultural assets after the contributions of various experts and scientists in the field.

Source: Newsroom