Canakkale Martyrs Monument — Attraction in Eceabat

The Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial (Turkish: Çanakkale Şehitleri Anıtı) is a war memorial commemorating the service of about 253,000 Turkish soldiers who participated at the Battle of Gallipoli, which took place from April 1915 to December 1915 during the First World War. It is located within the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park on Hisarlık Hill in Morto Bay at the southern end of the Gallipoli peninsula in Çanakkale Province, Turkey.

The memorial was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 500,000 lira banknotes of 1993-2005. For the erection of a memorial in Gallipoli, an architectural contest was opened in 1944. The design by architects Doğan Erginbaş, Ismail Utkular and civil engineer Ertuğrul Barla won the official contest. Construction of the monument was decided in 1952, and the ground stone was laid on 19 April 1954. Financial problems caused interruption of the construction works several times. The main structure was completed on 15 March 1958. In the meantime, the Turkish daily Milliyet started a countrywide financial support campaign, and the memorial was officially opened on 21 August 1960. The 41.70 m (137 ft) high monument is in the form of four square columns 7.5 m (25 ft) wide with 10 m (33 ft) space between each other, topped by a concrete slab of 25 by 25 m (82 by 82 ft). The huge structure is well visible during passage through the Dardanelles.

The museum underneath the monument was opened later and the bas-reliefs on the columns were completed afterwards. Situated to the north of the memorial, a war cemetery holding the remains of 600 Turkish soldiers was established in 1992.

Posted at the site, an inscription with verses from Turkish national anthem by Mehmet Akif Ersoy, reminds the visitors:

Do not ignore the ground on which you have walked, It is not ordinary soil. Reflect on the thousands of people, who lie beneath Without a shroud. You are the son of a martyr – Do not hurt your ancestor, Do not give away this beautiful motherland, Even if you have the...

The Çanakkale Martyrs’ Monument (Çanakkale Şehitler Anıtı) stands as a powerful and emotional tribute to the Turkish soldiers who lost their lives during the Gallipoli Campaign (1915) in World War I. Here's a brief on its touching meaning:

Symbol of Sacrifice: The monument honors the immense bravery and sacrifice of the Turkish soldiers who defended their homeland against a larger and better-equipped Allied force. Many of these soldiers were very young—some just teenagers.

National Unity and Resilience: The monument represents the unity of the Turkish people from all regions who came together during a critical moment in history. It marks a defining point in the Turkish national consciousness.

Legacy of Peace: Despite being a site of immense bloodshed, Gallipoli is also remembered for the mutual respect between enemies. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s words to the mothers of fallen foreign soldiers (“You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country…”) show deep humanity and have become an enduring message of reconciliation.

Emotional Impact: The size, design, and solemnity of the monument evoke a strong emotional response in visitors—reminding them of the cost of war and the value of peace and freedom.

Would you like a poetic reflection or a visual description of the...

This monument was built as a war memorial commemorating the service of about 253,000 Turkish soldiers who participated at the Battle of Gallipoli, which took place from April 1915 to December 1915 during the First World War.

The construction started on 19 April 1954. The construction was interrupted due to financial problems, but with the help of a countrywide financial support campaign, it was finally opened on 21 August 1960.

Situated to the north of the memorial, a war cemetery holding the remains of 600 Turkish soldiers was established in 1992.

Posted at the site, an inscription with verses from Turkish national anthem by Mehmet Akif Ersoy, reminds the visitors:

Do not ignore the ground on which you have walked, It is not ordinary soil. Reflect on the thousands of people, who lie beneath Without a shroud. You are the son of a martyr – Do not hurt your ancestor, Do not give away this beautiful motherland, Even if you are given the whole world.

I was full of emotion. You can feel the power of the Turkish soldiers when you stand underneath the monument and look up at the...