Many cities will have a kale, a fortress on a hill. There is no certainty about its construction, but the 10th century, in Byzantine times, is most probable. During the Anatolian Seljuk time of Kılıçarslan II (1155-1192), Rüknettin Suleyman Şah II (1196-1204) and Alâeddin Keykubat I (12201237) it attained its principle form.
Though the defences seem to have gone, the kale is still a fine place, partly turned into a park, with two mosques, one, the Alâeddin, and the Rahmaniye. In the Republic the castle has been used as a prison, later it was overhauled and landscaped.