Tower of Karakaş Paşa, Buda Castle District

The two-storey design separated artillery and guard functions. Cannons were positioned on the lower level, while the upper storey—with thinner walls—contained guard posts (sometimes referred to as Egyptian guard positions in historical accounts). Loopholes allowed defensive fire while maintaining protection.

In 1684, during the campaigns of the Holy League, forces led by Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (Károly of Lotharingia), attempted to undermine the castle defenses from this point but failed. Although bombardments damaged parts of the surroundings, the tower itself survived. When Buda was finally retaken in 1686, fighting was concentrated elsewhere, leaving the structure largely intact.

The building has undergone multiple reconstructions over the centuries. Its current restored form presents a carefully interpreted version of the tower—arguably more complete than at any single moment in its turbulent history. It stands today as a rare surviving fragment of Ottoman military architecture in Budapest.

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