Life in the century-old Ankara Castle

The life inside the walls of the ​​Ankara Castle, one of the important symbols of the Turkish capital, takes visitors on a journey into history while keeping the neighborhood culture alive for those living there.

People who have lived in the castle for generations shared their experiences of life right next to a historic structure.

It is not certain when the castle was built, but it is estimated that it was built between 33 and 476 B.C., and hosted different civilizations for centuries. The castle, which served as a military base, ammunition depot and observation center by the states that dominated the area in the past, stands out as one of the most touristic places in Ankara today.

The squares that served as trade centers in the past under the names Atpazarı (horse market), Samanpazarı (straw market) and Koyunpazarı (sheep market) draw attention as a tourist center today.

Those living in the Ankara Houses, made of wood, adobe and brick in different periods in the section within the city walls continue their daily lives next to Ankara Castle.

Local and foreign tourists who visit the castle can see the children playing on the streets of İçkale, people doing their daily work in front of their houses and the tradesmen.

Filiz İlhan, 58, who moved to the Kaleiçi neighborhood when she was two years old, has been living in the castle for 56 years. Stating that her father brought them there because it was close to his workplace, İlhan spends most of the day in the castle. Expressing that she had a beautiful childhood on the historic streets, İlhan noted that the only difficulties of living in the castle were the high hill and transportation problems.

Another resident Hüseyin Demir, 59, who has been running a market in the...