The history of Erzurum Castle dates back approximately 2,500 years to the Urartians who dominated the region. Although the date of its first construction is unknown, it is thought that the castle was built in the 5th century AD.
Erzurum Castle consists of an inner castle where the guards who ensured the security of the city were located, and an outer castle that included the streets, avenues and neighborhoods where the people resided.
The inner castle, which still exists today, was built by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius in 415. There is a brick bath and rooms in the courtyard of the inner castle. During the Ottoman Empire, the Inner Castle Mosque was built next to the northern wall of the inner castle. The Kırklar Tomb, the Ebu İshak-ı Kâzerûnî Tomb and the Ali Ağa Fountain were also added to these structures.
Today, the walls of the outer castle have largely collapsed and only the names of the gates opening to four directions are known. These are the Tabriz Gate, the Erzincan Gate, the Georgian Gate and the Istanbul Gate and the New Gate, which were opened later.
The castle, which has been repaired at various periods, was last repaired twice during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century and during the reign of Mahmud II in the 19th century.
