Much of Amasya’s history in one shot:
Late Ottoman houses (19th & early 20th century) on the river’s bank;
In the middle: A few royal Pontic rock tombs (3th-2nd century BC) and the partly restored fortified palace of the Pontic kings, which was transformed into a (lower) fortress/residence by Romans, Byzantines and Turks.
At the top: Amasya Castle (also called ‘Harşena Castle’), some 300 m above the river. The first real fortress there dates probably from the time of the Pontus king Mithridates I (around 280 BC). It was expanded and repaired by the Romans, the Byzantines and the Ottomans.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Türkye Tarihi Yerler Kılavuzu’ – M.Orhan Bayrak, Inkılâp Kitabevi, Istanbul, 1994.
& Website of ‘Emlakkulisi.com’ .