Birecik Castle
The castle on a rocky hill on the bank of the Euphrates is dated to the Roman period. It had strategic importance during the Crusades. From the castle you can see the Euphrates and the town of Birecik.
View on map6 places to visit in the Birecik district of Şanlıurfa: Birecik Castle, Kelaynak Üretim İstasyonu and Fırat Nehri Kıyısı. Plan your trip to Birecik with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Birecik is a district of Şanlıurfa Province in the Middle Euphrates section of the Southeastern Anatolia Region. The houses spread across a narrow plain beside the river and up the steep slope behind it.
Name and Meaning
The name Birecik derives from the Aramaic word Bîrsâ, meaning ‘small castle’. In antiquity the settlement was also referred to as ‘Makedonopolis’.
History
The history of the settlement, on the banks of the Euphrates, goes back to very ancient times because of its location. Settlement is thought to have begun in the Hittite period. In the mid-9th century BC, Birecik came under Assyrian rule. In the 2nd century AD it was definitively annexed to Roman territory. In 637 the settlement was captured by Arab armies under the command of İyâz bin Ganm. In 1516 Birecik became part of the Ottoman lands. As a port town with a shipyard, it was an important centre for travel from Anatolia to Baghdad and Basra. The construction of the Birecik Bridge over the Euphrates in 1956 led to a new phase of development.
Language and Culture
Birecik holds an important place in terms of the Turkish spoken in the district. The historian İlber Ortaylı noted that the Turkish spoken in Birecik is pure Oghuz Turkic.
Geography and Economy
The district of Birecik is surrounded by the Arat and Babadağ mountains to the east, Mount Beko on the Suruç border to the south-east, and Kalazan Mountain to the north-west. The local economy is largely built on pistachio growing. The people of the district farm cereals and pulses, and pistachio cultivation plays a very important role in economic life.
History and Culture
On 20 June 2017, the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office registered Birecik aubergine with a geographical indication certificate. Birecik castle has been restored three times. Birecik is an important place because it is a migration centre for the northern bald ibis, a species in danger of extinction.
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