Kaleköy: Castle, Ancient Paths and Island Views

Kaleköy brings together an ancient settlement, a Genoese castle, historic paths and an elevated location with views all the way to Samothrace. The north coast is also part of the town’s character: Kale Köy Beach lies there, at the mouth of the Büyükdere River. If you are looking for a holiday apartment on Gökçeada, these different sides of Kaleköy may shape your choice of destination.

Ancient Settlement and Protected Townscape

Kaleköy, formerly called Kastro, is an ancient settlement. The village is one of Gökçeada’s five former Greek villages, whose built-up areas are protected as urban conservation sites; Kaleköy itself has also been designated an urban conservation site. Building projects must first be approved by the conservation board, and only stone buildings may be constructed there. In this way, the building style is part of the history you can discover in Kaleköy.

İskiter Castle is a particularly striking landmark. It was built by the Genoese and is one of the oldest structures on the island; part of its walls remains. The castle is in the Yukarı Kaleköy area, on a hill above the Çınarlı Plain. The castle grounds contain ancient inscriptions, marble architectural fragments and fragments of sculptures. The Roksades cistern was also built on the hill to meet the residents’ water needs. Some remains of a Temple of Hermes are preserved in the Kaleköy valley.

The Aya Marina Church in Kaleköy is also among the restored churches on Gökçeada. Older stones reused in buildings can be seen around the castle. A distinctive craft business is found at the edge of the village: the island’s only soap workshop is in a garden with a view.

Views, Beach and Surroundings

Thanks to its elevated location, Kaleköy is one of the best places on Gökçeada to watch the sunset. Samothrace is visible from there. From İskiter Castle, you can also clearly see Lower Kaleköy and the villages of Yeni Bademli, Eski Bademli and Zeytinli. Yelkenkaya is also visible from the castle to the northeast; this place can only be reached by sea.

Kale Köy Beach is on the north coast, where the Büyükdere flows into the sea. Kaleköy therefore brings together several different aspects: the view from above, the buildings of the protected settlement and its location at the river mouth. As you plan your trip, you can consider whether you would like to focus primarily on the village’s history, the views or the coastal area.

Historic Paths and Getting to Gökçeada

The historic path between Kaleköy and Yukarı Kaleköy was restored true to its original form and made available for public use. It was first used during Genoese rule on Gökçeada. A route between Kaleköy and the district centre was built on the municipality’s initiative by the road authority. There is also a harbour below Kaleköy that has been used since ancient times.

Gökçeada can be reached by daily GESTAŞ ferry services from Kabatepe Harbour and Çanakkale city centre. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you could consider Kaleköy as a destination if you are interested in the ancient settlement, the castle and the historic paths. The views and the beach offer further ideas to help you decide which side of the island you would like to discover during your trip.

Discover More Places

If you would like to explore more place pages: Kösedere Köyü, Lapseki, Uğurlu, Geyikli, Küçükköy, Ayvacık, Biga, Bozcaada.

For the wider travel overview: Çanakkale.