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Kozan Castle

Eastern Mediterranean


Towering above the surrounding plains, stunning Kozan Castle stretches some 900m along a narrow ridge. It was built by Armenian King Leo I in the late 12th century. Inside the castle is a mess of ruined buildings, but continue up to the many-towered keep on the right. On the left is a massive tower, which once held the royal apartments. In all there are 44 towers and lookouts and the remains of a bedesten (covered market).

Along the 1km-long road to the castle are the ruins of an 18th-century church, locally called the ³¾²¹²Ô²¹²õ³Ùı°ù (monastery) demolished in the 1940s. From 1293 until 1921 this was the seat of the Katholikos (Patriarchate) of Sis, one of the two senior patriarchs of the Armenian Church.


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