MUSEUMS & HISTORICAL PLACES

Bodrum Castle & Museum of Underwater Archeology

Built on a rocky area between  two ports. In ancient times, castle was built on an island  which later took the form of a peninsula with connecting to  mainland. The castle that belong to the  St. Jean knights was built between 1406 - 1523. Castle has a square shape composed of 180 x 185 m measures.

The names of different countries are given to the towers in the inner castle. The highest tower of the castle is French tower with a height of 47.50 m above sea level. 

The another towers of Castle are  Italian, German, British towers and Tower of Serpentines. The walls of the castle except the eastern one are reinforced with  additional Walls.

7 gates decorated with emblems having crosses, dragon and lion figures on, haveto be passed to get inner castle. There are 14 cisterns in the inner castle including the ones under the Chapel.

The most conspicious attractions of the castle are  control and observation tower, suspension bridge, defending walls, ottoman Tughra (special signature of Ottoman Sultans). Castle had gained Ottoman structure character with The Turkish Bath built when castle was converted to a prison in the 19th. century.

Bodrum Castle today is used as a museum of Underwater Archaeology. Turkish bath, Amphoras, Ship of Byzantine empire, Glasshall, glass wreck, hall of coins and jewelleries, Hall of Carian Princess, English tower, German tower and torture rooms are important places to visit in the museum. In addition many more artifacts are also exhibited in the open air parts of the castle that build over a 33.5m large area.

The opening times of Bodrum Castle are:

Everyday except Monday - 09:00-12:00 /14:00-19:00

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MAUSOLEUM

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was built in the name of king Mausolus by his wife and sister Artemisia in ancient Halicarnassus (Bodrum). It is accepted as one of the seven wonders of ancient World has a very great architecture and a fairly large size which merges the Greek architecture and Egypt architecture with its columns and Pyramid shaped roof. Due to the its importance all the graves built in similar stlyes started to call as Mausoleum.

The Mausoleum area today used as an open air museum. When entered the museum a typical old Bodrum house is located on the right side and a long structure on the left side where reliefs, scale model of mausoleum and some drawings depicting the original mausoleum are places to visit.

Today only a large pit can be seen in the place of where the Mausoleum had raised with its all glory in time. To understand the meaning of this large pit firstly exhibition halls have to be visited.

Phone                     : +90 (252) 316 12 19 
Visiting Times         : 10.00 - 16.00 (except Monday)

37°2'16"N   27°25'26"E

ANTIQUE THEATER

It is one of the most important structure which achieved to survive from Hellenistic period untill today. Capacity of the theater is 13000people and consists of three main sections. These sections are Stage, Orchestra and Cavea (seating places). The stage of the theater has a long rectangular shape in which 2 entrance gate are built for the players on both side. After the excavations made in 1973 theater was turned into and arranged as an open air museum.

Theater located on a hillside behind the Bodrum center just by the main road to Gümbet.
 
The view from theater is breathtaking and stunning thus many visitors get stuck to fabulous panoramic view and sit on the seats of theater for long times.

Bodrum antique theater  is also used especially in high season for special events, concerts and festivals. The flawless acoustics of theater provide the best concert area to singers and audiences.

The theatre opens daily (except Monday) 8.30am to 4.30pm

Contact Phone Number : +90 252 316 8061.

MYNDOS GATE

Myndos gate which is one of the two monumental entrance Gates of Halicarnassus is today located in west part of Bodrum in Gümü?lük district. Unfortunately only the walls of gate have survived untill today. It is the western city gate which makes access possible to the city  from the West. Gate is called as Myndos gate since it is facing to the antique Myndus city.

It is possibly built by the King Mausolos in the 4th century B.C. The gate was so solidly and strongly built which even caused to lost the lifes of thousands soldiers of Alexander great’s army in 330 B.C when they came to conquer city.

The restoration of the gate has been accomplished to the data obtainedf rom archaelogical excavations and research around the site. There are three entrances to the courtyard of the gateway on the easternside of the tower. With the exception of  the eastern gateway it is not clear whether two auxiliary entrances may get a date from 4th century B.C. The gateway to the east of courtyard led the ancient city of Bodrum.

WINDMILLS of BODRUM

Bodrum stories start with seeing incredibly elegant Bodrum Castle on deep Aegean blue with the excitement feeling towards Bodrum from the slope. White houses, red bougainvillea and green areas touch your eyes.

And windmills welcoming everyone, meeting silently coming to Bodrum. Windmills that we criticize and accuse somebody of their being neglected.

There is sad silence in windmill surviving on Bardakç? Hills (De?irmenler headland), on the backs of Ortakent, at the shore of Yal?kavak and many areas of the peninsula and many of them disappearing without noticing. All of them bind each other with invisible links and are struggling for life witnessing the history and human. Civilizations both being friend and enemy left them to the loneliness, desolation. I thought that if you wanted to deal with windmills in technical terms in 21. century, it would be nostalgia. Who can say that we will need them in the future when we spend our world so irresponsibly? 

While they are getting ready for farewell, the ones situated in opposite shore of Aegean are luck with white paint, repaired wings, gardens with flowers and enthusiastic songs. How many places are there which do not have a well-kept church and windmill in small islands of Aegean? They are sure that they are well-kept, magnificent and to be loved. What words should I use for my feelings, envy, a little joy for the human values, proud since it is transmitted to the next generation – from past the present. For us, despair, pessimism, pity and shame. I don’t know if it is enough.

Folk songs were composed for them, love and separation were lived here. How many lovers met under those wings silently, hand in hand, in close embrace.

Hasan Dayan?kl? born in 1302 in Islamic calendar and died in 1951 in Julian calendar on the dates that new generation does not know had 3 windmills in De?irmenler headland. The biggest of all is the one at the side of sea. There would be lands around each windmill. People of Bodrum used to move their cereals to these windmills placing in sacks made of sheep and goat skin on donkeys and camels. Miller Uncle Hasan used to write name and number in old writing on these sacks and used to grind them in the mills by order with hand labor and great effort. What if there was no wind, then people used to sleep and wait for the wind. Folk songs were sung until morning at nights of conversations and phosphorescence of full moon on the sea.
 

"My dear miller, honey miller

Let honey lips be yours, grind the wheat
No woman no, sails do not fill with wind
Friends do not stay take the wheat
My dear miller, honey miller
Let all my body be your, grind my wheat
Yes woman yes sails are filled with wind
Let all your body be mine, your wheat become flour"...

OTTOMAN SHIPYARD

The area located next to the Milta Marina which was used to be the Shipyard of Ottoman dynasty founded in 1775. Numerous war ships that used in the sea battles were made to the Ottoman fleet in this shipyard. A large observation tower was later built nearby the shipyard in order to prevent any possible attacks to here. It is a nice off the beaten path to visit in Bodrum when bored from the sun and sea. In addition to shipyard and observation tower, the Ottoman cemetery, which consists of monumental tombs of famous Seamen and soldiers, located just behind shipyard will add a great value to your visit.

Adres:Neyzen Tevfik Cd No:5 Bodrum Merkez/Mu?la

Tel: +90 252 3161860

You can visit every day except Monday between 10am to 5pm.