Welcome to Kozan

This large market town and district seat, 72km northeast of Adana, was once Sis, the capital of the kingdom of Cilicia and the linchpin of a cavalcade of castles overlooking the expansive (and hard-to-defend) Çukurova plain. Towering above the plain is stunning Kozan Castle, built by Leo II (r 1187–1219), stretching some 900m along a narrow ridge.

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Along the 1km-long road to the castle are the ruins of a church, locally called the manastır (monastery). From 1293 until 1921 this was the seat of the Katholikos (Patriarchate) of Sis, one of the two senior patriarchs of the Armenian Church.

Inside the castle is a mess of ruined buildings, overgrown with weeds, but continue up to the many-towered keep on the right. On the left is a massive tower, which once held the royal apartments. In all there are 44 towers and lookouts and the remains of a bedesten (covered market).

Kozan has some lovely old houses and makes a good day trip by minibus along the D815 from Adana.

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