Historical and Cultural Journey Through Osmaniye

Toprakkale Castle

Toprakkale Castle (Toprakkale Kalesi) dates back to the 2000 BCE. The castle has a rectangular plan, 12 bastions and outer court fortification, and it was restructured under Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid (8th century) using black stones. Toprakkale Castle, is built on a man-made hill, at the very junction of Osmaniye-Adana and Hatay roads. In Ottoman times, it was called the Kınık Castle (Kınık Kalesi).

Harun Reşit Castle

Located on the slopes of the Amanos Mountains in Kurtbeyoğlu District, Harun Reşit Castle is one of the 26 castles in Osmaniye, known as the city of castles. It was restored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2011 and opened to visitors. The castle was built in 799 by Faraç Bey, the frontiersman of Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid, to protect the region and the strategic routes passing through it, and to provide connection and support for the surrounding castles. Volunteer Turkish warriors from Khorasan were stationed and settled in this militarily important area. Built on natural cliffs, Harun Reşit Castle has remained loyal to its original plan. With its panoramic view overlooking Düziçi and its historical texture, it attracts both local and foreign visitors. In the area surrounding the castle, the endemic Adana Crocus (Crocus adanensis) grows, and this area has been designated as a natural conservation site.

Kastabala Archeological Site

Kastabala-Hierapolis is an ancient city located in Ancient Cilicia, near Kesurburun, Bahçe, and Kazmaca villages, close to the Ceyhan River. The city’s boundaries encompassed a fertile plain extending from the Ceyhan River to regions like Karatepe. The city, protected by city walls dating back to the Roman period, expands to the northern and eastern slopes dominated by a castle hill. It served as the cult center of Artemis Perasia, mentioned in ancient sources, with recent excavations providing significant insights into its sacred structures. Kastabala was documented on coins from the reign of Antiochos IV Epiphanes, where it was named "Hierapolis" due to its religious association with Artemis Perasia.