Kiz Kulesi, Rize

Kiz Kulesi is a medieval castle located on small islet, 1 km west of the center of Pazar, Rize Province, Turkey. According to A. Bryer it was built between 13th to 14th centuries, during the time of the Trebizond Empire.[1] According to another sources castle was built by Genoese, as a summer residence for the daughter of a Genoese prince.

Kiz Kulesi
Location of Kiz Kulesi
General information
TypeCastle
Town or cityPazar, Rize Province
CountryTurkey
Coordinates41.182760°N 40.874441°E / 41.182760; 40.874441
Completed13th-14th century

Local Laz tradition claims that the castle belonged to Queen Tamar of Georgia[2], who founded the Empire of Trebizond on the Black Sea coast in 1204 after the Georgian expedition to Chaldia.

Architecture

The interior plan of the tower is about 7 x 7 m. The walls are about 1.5 m thick at ground level. They are faced both in the interior and exterior with regular courses of rectangular blocks. The gateway is in the west wall.

References
  1. BRYER, A., & WINFIELD, D. (1985). The Byzantine monuments and topography of the Pontos. Washington, D.C., Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.02923.
  2. KIPSHIDZE, I. (1939). Textes Tchanes (Lazes). Édition de la Filiale Géorgienne de l'Académie des Sciences de l'URSS, Tbilisi (in Georgian).
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