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Gaziantep Castle, one of the city’s most iconic structures, has been fully restored nearly three years after sustaining serious damage during the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquakes, widely referred to as the “disaster of the century.”
The sixth-century hilltop fortress, which has witnessed Byzantine, Mamluk, Dulkadirid and Turkish Republican-era history, including the War of Independence, is now ready to welcome visitors again.
Gaziantep’s Regional Directorate for Surveying and Monuments noted that restoration work began in May 2023 under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
According to provincial director Kemal Yenmez, the team carried out a meticulous process to strengthen the fortress beyond its pre-quake condition.
Yenmez explained that collapsed walls and stones were first separated and documented. Elements classified as cultural assets were collected at the museum, while others were prepared for reuse in accordance with approved project plans.
After removing all rubble and completing the documentation stage, teams began intervening in the ramparts and the main body of the castle.
As the castle sits on an ancient hoyuk (an archaeological mound), experts conducted georadar scans to assess underground conditions. These scans revealed fractures in the limestone layers and cavities forming beneath the surface.
Restoration teams responded by reinforcing these weak zones with hydraulic lime infill to stabilize the base before rebuilding the walls.
The structural reinforcement of the ramparts was completed within a year, though the overall project finished four months later than initially planned.
Final works focused on securing walking paths and the edges of the ramparts against ground movement.
Yenmez stated that all stabilization efforts were finalized in late October and added that the castle is now expected to withstand future earthquakes without sustaining damage.
The restored structure has already been handed over to the relevant authorities and is set to reopen to the public in the coming days.
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