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 Ionians built the castle in 3000 BC Inside the castle there was a city that has grown over time, over the hills and reached the sea.

During the Hellenistic era of Alexander the Great attacked Caria, the castle was surrounded. Residents of the town realized that they could not repel a powerful army and decided to set fire to the castle and hide from it. The invaders knew that the castle is strategically important, so have built some of its destroyed parts. Before returning home, the invaders left in the castle a few hundred soldiers.

In 1522 Sultan Suleiman the first ordered to rebuild the castle. Once a fortified castle along the harbor has become more a military base of the navy of the Ottoman Empire. During the First World War the castle was shot by the French army and was badly damaged.

Already in 1979 it was decided to restore the original appearance of the castle, in this connection, work began on the restoration of the building. To the public, the castle was opened May 18, 1991. By decision of the Ministry of Culture of Turkey, the castle became a museum. In the courtyard of the fortress housed the archaeological part of the exhibition and inside the castle is part of the ethnographic. The castle museum has seven galleries. The largest gallery is an exhibition hall. All gallery and a courtyard decorated with flowers.

The first gallery dedicated to the seventh president of Turkey - Kenan Evren. Here you can see his awards and gifts. In the second gallery features antique artifacts that were found during archaeological excavations. The third gallery, made in the ethnic style, is a traditional Turkish house. The fourth gallery - workroom commander of the castle. The castle contains several old cannons and stone nucleus, as well as huge anchors, which are against the wall.

Often the walls of the castle hosts various artistic and cultural events. From the ramparts of the castle offering magnificent views of the port, the bay and the city.