Çanakkale War Memorials Tour

About the tour

Tour programme

Times follow the programme in the catalogue; there may be small changes depending on traffic, weather and the group's pace.

Places to see

• Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial

  A 41.7 m memorial on Hisarlık Hill above Morto Bay, at the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Doğan Erginbaş, İsmail Utkular and Ertuğrul Barla won the 1944 competition, and the memorial opened on 21 August 1960. It was built in memory of the Turkish soldiers who fought in the Gallipoli Campaign.

• 57th Regiment Memorial

  Built in 1992 in memory of the 57th Infantry Regiment, which suffered heavy losses in the counter-attack against the Anzac landing of 25 April 1915. The regiment's commander was Major Hüseyin Avni Bey; Mustafa Kemal's words "I do not order you to attack, I order you to die" were addressed to this regiment.

• Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı)

  One of the summits of the Sarıbayır ridge; briefly captured by the Allied forces in August 1915, the hill was retaken on 10 August by troops under Mustafa Kemal's command. The spot where the watch in his pocket stopped a piece of shrapnel aimed at his chest is marked here. The New Zealand memorial, opened in 1925, also stands on the hill.

• Corporal Seyit Memorial

  Seyit Ali Çabuk (Corporal Seyit) was an artilleryman from Havran, known for carrying a 276 kg shell to the gun at the Mecidiye battery during the naval operation of 18 March 1915. His statue, showing him with the shell on his back, was erected in 1992 just south of Kilitbahir Castle.

• Kilitbahir

  A village and castle on the Gallipoli Peninsula, directly opposite Çanakkale city centre. Kilitbahir Castle was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1463 to control the narrowest point of the strait.

• Seddülbahir

  A village and castle at the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Seddülbahir Castle was built in 1657–1659 by Hatice Turhan Valide Sultan; the first Turkish soldiers to fall on the Çanakkale front died here in the bombardment of 3 November 1914. After restoration work that began in 2015, it opened to visitors on 18 March 2023.

• Anzac Cove

  The cove where soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on 25 April 1915. Its name was officially recognised by the Turkish government as 'Anzac Cove' in 1985. A dawn service is held every year on 25 April at the nearby commemorative site.

• Sergeant Yahya Martyrs' Cemetery

  Located at Ertuğrul Cove, opposite the Ertuğrul Battery, it was built by the Ministry of Culture in 1992. It is dedicated to Sergeant Yahya of Ezine, who took over command when his company commander fell during the British landing of 25 April 1915, and to the soldiers who defended the cove.

Photos

What's covered and notes

Who is it for?

• School and student groupsA pace suited to the age group, planned together with the teacher and group leader.
• History and culture enthusiastsDiscover historic and cultural heritage on site, with a guide's commentary.
• Corporate groupsSuitable for team trips, incentive programmes and company events.

Practical information

Frequently asked questions