Maiden’s Tower, called (Kız Kulesi in Turkish, means Maiden’s Tower), and also called Maiden’s Tower or Maiden’s Tower, is located on a tiny islet in the Bosphorus between the European side and the Istanbul which is located at a distance of about 200 meters. Attached to the district of Üsküdar, the Maiden’s Tower is one of the essential symbols of Istanbul, it has inspired many poets and artists from all over the world.

The first tower on this island was built in 408 BC by the Greek general Alcibiades. Maiden’s Tower was built to control Persian ships within the Bosphorus Strait and was a checkpoint between the cities of Byzantium and Chrysopolis.

In 1110, Léander’s tower was rebuilt into a fortress by the Byzantine emperor Alexis Comnenus. It was then modified by the Ottoman Turks during the 16th and 18th centuries.

Maiden’s Tower served as a lighthouse for centuries.

The last restoration of the Léandre tower, which served as a lighthouse for several centuries, dates from 1998 to give rise today to a semaphore, a small museum and a restaurant.

The particular situation of the Maiden’s Tower makes it an exceptional point of view from where you can see, among other things, the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Saint Sophia Basilica.