Yilanlikale (Snake Castle),
is a castle in excellent condition sitting on a crag above Ceyhan. It is an
outstanding example of Armenian archecture in both construction and situation, making it
very easy to defend. The similarity in archecture to Sis and Tumlu lead historians
to believe that it was built by Leo II. The Route up to the castle is obvious.
The track does have a couple of minor hazards but is nothing too difficult for the
faint hearted. It could be alittle slippery in the wet, but should still prove to be
no great hazard.
Yilankale was constructed during the Crusades
in the 12th Century. Girdling the central and the uppermost portions of a
limestone outcropby the Ceyhan River it overlooks both Cukurova
and the historical Silk Road.
Since it was built on a mightily
protruding rocky foundation and because of its strong walls and three different gates that
lead to the castle square and portable ladders on the way from one gate to the other make
it difficult to conquer Yilankale.
Yikankale was abandoned during the reign
of the Ramazanoglu Principality in 1352. It was called as "Kovara
or Govara" until when Evliya Celebi, a famous 17th Century
Turkish traveler renamed it as the "Sahmeran Castle" after the
well known Sahmeran (Name of a huge serpent believed to live in the
castle) legend in this area. Later it was called Yilankale - The Snake Castle.
Yilankale is in the sight limits of the Anavarza,
Tumlu and Kozan Castles.
