Namrun Castle & Çamlıyayla
Namrun Kalesi
A highland summer town about 1,200 m above sea level in the Taurus Mountains. Namrun Castle, an Armenian fortress called Lampron on a cliff, overlooks pine forests and valleys.
Çamlıyayla, formerly known as Namrun, lies about 60 km north of Tarsus. It is a traditional summer retreat for the people of Mersin, with old-style highland houses scattered among the pine forests. Namrun Castle sits on a rocky peak beside the town. It is the medieval Lampron, once a stronghold of the Hethumid dynasty of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Climbing the stone steps takes about 20 minutes. From the top you can see crumbling walls and spectacular mountain views. Entry is free. The drive from Mersin takes about 1.5 hours, and traffic is heavy on summer weekends.
Opening hours
Daytime
Nearby sights
- Cave of the Seven Sleepers (Ashab-ı Kehf)
- Tarsus Waterfall
- Atatürk House Museum, Mersin
- St. Paul's Well
- Tarsus Old Town & Ancient Road
- Muğdat Mosque
- Cleopatra's Gate
- Mersin Museum