The historic Gaziantep Castle (Gaziantep Kalesi) in southern Turkey was severely damaged and partially destroyed during the catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6, 2023. This ancient fortress, originally built as a watchtower during the Roman period in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD and later expanded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century, had stood for nearly 2,000 years. The earthquake caused several of the castle’s 12 stone bastions to collapse completely, with debris cascading down the hillside into the surrounding streets. The retaining walls and iron railings around the court were also scattered. As a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of the city’s resilience (particularly during the Turkish War of Independence), the destruction was a profound cultural loss. In 2026, extensive restoration efforts are still underway to stabilize the remains and eventually rebuild the bastions using traditional masonry techniques to honor its Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman heritage.