Rising majestically above the entrance to Bodrum’s picturesque harbor, Bodrum Castle, also known as the Castle of St. Peter, is the city’s most iconic landmark. Overlooking a marina filled with elegant yachts and traditional Turkish gulets, the castle is equally impressive beneath the bright Mediterranean sun or beautifully illuminated after sunset.
Built by the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem during the 15th century, the fortress is one of the finest preserved examples of Crusader military architecture in the eastern Mediterranean. Today, it is home to the internationally renowned Museum of Underwater Archaeology, making it one of Turkey’s most fascinating historical attractions.
History of Bodrum Castle
Construction of the castle began in 1402 under the leadership of the Knights Hospitaller, who had established their headquarters on the nearby island of Rhodes after the loss of the Holy Land. The fortress was strategically positioned on the site of ancient Halicarnassus to defend the region against attacks from both land and sea.
Building continued for more than three decades, and by 1437 the castle had become one of the strongest defensive fortifications in the Aegean.
Much of the stone used in its construction came from the ruins of the nearby Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which had already been severely damaged by a series of earthquakes during the Middle Ages. Many beautifully carved marble blocks from the Mausoleum can still be seen incorporated into the castle walls today.
Following the Ottoman conquest of Rhodes in 1522, the Knights abandoned the castle, which subsequently became part of the Ottoman Empire. Throughout later centuries it served variously as a military fortress, prison, and garrison before eventually being transformed into a museum.
The Towers of the Castle
One of the castle’s most distinctive features is its series of towers, each financed and maintained by different national divisions of the Knights Hospitaller.
The fortress contains five principal towers:
- English Tower
- French Tower
- German Tower
- Italian Tower
- Snake Tower (Spanish Tower)
Each displays coats of arms, inscriptions, and architectural details reflecting the nationality of the knights who occupied them.
English Tower
Located on the southwest corner of the castle, the English Tower is among its best-preserved structures.
Constructed with financial support from England during the reign of King Henry IV, the tower originally consisted of three stories. The second-floor entrance opens into a magnificent vaulted hall that once served as the knights’ dining room or refectory.
The walls are richly decorated with medieval coats of arms representing English nobles, members of the Royal Family, and numerous Knights of the Garter. Visitors can also admire an ancient stone lion from nearby Halicarnassus incorporated into the western wall.
French Tower
Standing prominently near the center of the fortress, the French Tower was among the earliest sections to be completed.
It was built during the leadership of Grand Master Philibert de Naillac, whose coat of arms appears alongside those of the Kingdom of France and the Papacy.
As one of the highest defensive positions within the castle, the French Tower offered commanding views across Bodrum Bay.
German Tower
The German Tower functioned primarily as the knights’ communal dining hall.
Above its entrance is an impressive coat of arms featuring the double-headed eagle, symbolizing the Holy Roman Empire. Historical evidence also suggests that this tower may have served as part of the castle’s hospital complex during the Hospitaller period.
Italian Tower
Situated near the French Tower, the Italian Tower is one of the tallest sections of the fortress.
Among its most remarkable architectural features is an Ionic capital taken from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, bearing inscriptions connected with Angelo Muscetola, one of the castle’s earliest commanders.
The walls also display the coat of arms of Tommaso Provana, who served as captain of the castle in 1490, featuring a vine with clusters of grapes and a classical column.
Snake Tower
The Snake Tower, associated with the Spanish knights, derives its name from a carved serpent decorating its walls.
Since snakes were sacred symbols of Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine, historians believe the tower may have functioned as a hospital or infirmary.
Today, the tower houses an impressive exhibition of ancient amphorae recovered from shipwrecks throughout the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.
Museum of Underwater Archaeology
The castle is home to the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, one of the world’s most important museums dedicated to maritime archaeology.
Established following extensive underwater excavations that began in the 1960s, the museum presents extraordinary discoveries recovered from shipwrecks scattered along Turkey’s southwestern coast.
Its collections include:
- Eastern Mediterranean amphorae
- Ancient anchors
- Glassware
- Bronze and iron artifacts
- Coins and jewelry
- Maritime equipment
- Objects illustrating ancient seafaring and trade
The museum’s beautifully landscaped Amphora Garden displays hundreds of transport jars once used to carry wine, olive oil, grain, and other valuable cargo throughout the Mediterranean.
Famous Shipwreck Galleries
The museum is internationally famous for its reconstructed ancient shipwrecks.
Among its highlights are:
Serçe Limanı Shipwreck
Dating to the 11th century AD, this Byzantine merchant vessel carried approximately three tons of broken and finished glass, making it one of the most important medieval shipwreck discoveries ever excavated.
Many fragile glass objects survived remarkably intact after nearly a thousand years beneath the sea.
Yassıada Shipwrecks
The museum also displays finds from two famous shipwrecks discovered near Yassıada:
- A 7th-century Byzantine merchant ship
- A 16th-century Ottoman vessel
These excavations have provided invaluable information about medieval navigation, commerce, and everyday life aboard ancient ships.
Uluburun Shipwreck
One of the museum’s greatest treasures is the reconstruction of the famous Uluburun Shipwreck, dating to the Late Bronze Age (14th century BC).
Widely regarded as one of the world’s most significant archaeological discoveries, the ship carried luxury goods from across the ancient Near East, including copper ingots, ivory, glass, precious metals, jewelry, and exotic raw materials.
Its remarkable cargo has transformed our understanding of international trade more than 3,300 years ago.
Princess Ada and the Royal Tomb
One of the museum’s most captivating exhibitions is devoted to Princess Ada of Caria.
Ada was the daughter of Hecatomnus, sister of King Mausolus, and later ruler of Caria. Her richly furnished tomb was discovered near Bodrum in 1989, containing exquisite jewelry, gold ornaments, and a finely carved stone sarcophagus.
Using her skull, specialists produced a scientific facial reconstruction, allowing visitors to come face to face with one of ancient Caria’s most influential royal figures.
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
Just a short distance from Bodrum Castle once stood the magnificent Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, built around 350 BC by Queen Artemisia II in memory of her husband and brother, King Mausolus.
Designed by the celebrated architect Pytheos and decorated by some of the greatest Greek sculptors of the Classical Age, the marble monument rose approximately 45 meters (148 feet) high and was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Although earthquakes gradually damaged the Mausoleum between the 12th and 15th centuries, many of its stones were later reused by the Knights Hospitaller during the construction and reinforcement of Bodrum Castle. Today, observant visitors can still identify beautifully carved marble blocks from the ancient wonder embedded within the castle walls.
Visitor Information
The Bodrum Castle and Museum of Underwater Archaeology remain among Turkey’s premier cultural attractions, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Highlights include:
- Medieval Crusader fortifications
- Spectacular harbor views
- Historic towers and defensive walls
- Ancient shipwreck galleries
- Amphora Garden
- Princess Ada Exhibition
- Uluburun Shipwreck Gallery
- Byzantine and Ottoman artifacts
- Stunning examples of medieval heraldry
Whether you are interested in archaeology, medieval history, maritime exploration, or simply breathtaking views over the Aegean Sea, Bodrum Castle offers an unforgettable journey through more than two thousand years of Mediterranean civilization.