In the heart of the rocky Peninsula, on the rock is an ancient fortress, which is surrounded by small houses with shops. According to Herodotus, the castle was built by the Ionians in the year 3000 BC, Inside the castle, there was a town that eventually grew up into the hills and reached the sea.

During the Hellenistic era, Alexander the Great attacked Karya, the castle was surrounded. City residents have understood that you will not be able to repel the attack of a mighty army and decided to set fire to the castle and hide from it. The invaders knew that the castle is strategically important, therefore, rebuilt some of its shattered pieces. Before returning home, the invaders left the castle a few hundred soldiers.

In 1522, Sultan Suleiman the First ordered to rebuild the castle. After strengthening the castle together with the harbour was an additional military base the Navy of the Ottoman Empire. During the First world war, the castle was attacked by the French army and was badly damaged.

Already in 1979 it was decided to restore the original appearance of the castle, therefore, work began on the restoration of the building. To the public, the castle was opened on 18 may 1991. By decision of the Ministry of culture of Turkey, the castle became a Museum. In the courtyard of the fortress placed the archaeological part of the exhibition, the castle houses the ethnographic part. In the castle-the Museum has seven galleries. The largest gallery is the exhibition hall. All gallery and a courtyard decorated with flowers.

The first gallery is devoted to the seventh President of Turkey – the Kenan Evren. Here you can see his awards and gifts. In the second gallery presents ancient artifacts that were found during archaeological excavations. The third gallery, made in ethnographic style, is a traditional Turkish house. In the fourth gallery is the working premise of the commander of the castle. In the castle there are several old cannons and stone balls, and huge anchors that are against the wall.

Often in the walls of the castle hosts various artistic and cultural events. From the bastions of the castle offers a magnificent panorama of the port, Bay and city.