Guglak Castle

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Guglak Castle (Armenian: Գուգլակ, Turkish: Gülek, Arab: Kawlāk ) - medieval Armenian castle, a large fortification of considerable antiquity, times of Cilician Armenia. In an Armenian document a certain Symbat was named as the lord of the castle. The castle was used to control the passage from Cilicia to Cappadocia and the passengers had to pay a certain sum to the lord of the castle. Situated in midpart of Cilician Taurus mountain ridge, west of Gülek (Guglak) Pass also known as Cilician Gates at 37°16′12″N 34°47′29″E.. Today part of Mersin Province of Turkey. Its altitude with respect to sea level is 1,530 metres (5,020 ft). Its distance to Tarsus is about 63 kilometres (39 mi) and to Mersin is 95 metres (312 ft). The gate is at the south side. The castle walls are on the south and west side. The north and the east sides are protected by the natural sharp clifts. Most of the building material is bossage type stones, typical of Armenian masonry.