Turkey: Kastamonu
110km east of Safranbolu, lies the town of Kastamonu, another spectacular Turkish gem, well off the beaten path for most tourist. The town preserves its character with narrow dusty streets and crumbling Ottoman houses. But the view is totally dominated by the massive Byzantine fortress build on a rocky hill high above the town. The castle was built in the 10th century by a Byzantine commander and named Kastra Komnenon aka “Castle of the Komnenoi”, and later a corrupted version of this became the name of the city in Turkish, i.e. Kastamonu. The castle requires a steep high up the town streets but it’s all well worth it – it’s beautifully restored and offers stunning panoramic views.
