Castle of Kars

Castle of Kars
Kars Kalesi
Kars, Turkey
Castle of Kars
Castle of Kars
Coordinates	40°36′49″N 43°05′23″E / 40.61361°N 43.08972°E / 40.61361; 43.08972
Type	Castle
Site information
Controlled by	Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Open to the public	yes
Condition	Visitor attraction
Site history
Built	1153, 1579, 1616, 1636
Built by	Bagratid dynasty (prior to 1153), Vizier Firuz Akay (1153), Lala Kara Mustafa Pasha (1579)
Materials	Basalt masonry
Demolished	1386, 1606, 1878
Battles/wars	Battle of Kars at Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) Caucasus campaign

The Castle of Kars (Turkish: Kars Kalesi, Armenian: Կարսի բերդ) is a former fortification located in Kars, Turkey. It is also known under the name İç Kale ("Central/Inner Castle", "Citadel").

It was first built during the rule of the Armenian Bagratid dynasty and then rebuilt in 1153 by Firuz Akay Commissioned by Sultan Melik Izzeddin Saltuk II. The outer walls surrounding the city were built in the 12th century. The castle, which was destroyed by Timur in 1386, was rebuilt again in 1579 by Lala Mustafa Pasha, who came to Kars ordered by the Ottoman Sultan Murat III.

It is said in the Ottoman sources that the castle was rebuilt with the help of one hundred thousand soldiers and workers. In 1606, the castle was destroyed by the Iranian Shah Abbas I, and in 1616 and in 1636 it was restored twice and new elements were added to it. The castle was badly damaged after the occupation of the Russians after the Ottoman-Russian War of 1877-1878, and partially changed after 40 years of occupation. The walls of the Castle of Kars were made of basalt masonry.