The Yoğun Tower was commissioned by Sultan Izzeddin Keykavus I in 1211 and built as an addition to the southeast corner during the restoration of Kayseri Castle. Designed with a semicircular plan and two stories, the structure is built entirely of cut stone, and both stories are covered with pointed vault systems. The second story is accessed via a narrow, long staircase located inside the tower. While the plan reflects the tradition of corner fortifications seen in the defensive architecture of the period, the massive wall structure and stonework highlight the robust and function-oriented character of Seljuk military architecture.
The structure was built following the succession struggle that led to Izzeddin Keykavus’s accession to the throne at a young age and was planned to enhance the castle’s security. Its placement at the southeast corner was a deliberate choice aimed at reinforcing weak points along the rampart line. The semicircular form both increases resistance against siege weapons and expands the field of view. The use of cut stone has provided the structure with both durability and aesthetic integrity.
From the day it was built, the Yoğun Tower was not used solely for defensive purposes but gradually took on various other functions over time. Known to have been used as a prison in the 16th century, the tower continued to serve security and detention functions in subsequent periods. According to records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the lower level of this tower-shaped structure was used as a dungeon, while the upper level served as a guard post for the sentries. It is also known that the entrance to the building, which housed the dungeon and the guards’ quarters, opened directly into the Government Office.
Today, however, the building has completely moved away from its military function and has been transformed into a social and cultural space. It serves as a cultural center where folk poets gather and where conversations and musical performances accompanied by tea take place.
