Must-Visit Places in Edirne

Edirne is a city that has witnessed many histories and was ruled by the Romans, Greeks and Ottomans. Each empire that ruled Edirne left a different legacy. It is possible to witness many different architectural beauties in this city.

Saatli Madrasah

Built by Murat II between 1437-1447, the madrasah is one of the first madrasahs built by the Ottomans in Edirne. For this reason, it has great historical importance. There is information that Fatih Sultan Mehmet received his education in this madrasah.

Peykler Madrasah

Its different and beautiful door draws attention with its finely crafted architectural details. The word Peyk means a very valuable soldier who is with the sultan. The madrasah, which was built with a square plan, has 18 rooms.

Selimiye Mosque

This mosque, which Mimar Sinan called his masterpiece, is a structure that must be visited when visiting Edirne. It has a very magnificent structure and four minarets. When viewed from different angles, the minarets appear to be 2. There are 999 windows in the mosque, and it is claimed that these windows symbolize the perfection of Allah.

Old Mosque

It is the oldest of the Three Sultan Mosques built in the center of Edirne. The mosque was built in 1430 by the order of Emir Süleyman Çelebi, the son of Bayezid I. The Üç Şerefeli Mosque was named Eski Mosque after it was built.

Üç Şerefeli Mosque

This mosque, built by the order of the Ottoman Sultan Murat II, is one of the striking structures of Edirne. The workmanship on its minaret is special, which is why it is called the "Burmali Mosque". It takes its name from its three-balconied minaret, which is 67.62 meters high.

Muradiye Mosque

It has a different and more striking structure than other mosques in Edirne with the tiles decorating the walls of the mosque. Muradiye Mosque, II. It is said that it was built because Murad saw Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi. It was first built as a living space for the Mevlevis and later converted into a mosque.

Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai

It is one of the impressive works of Mimar Sinan. It was built upon the request of Rüstem Pasha, the right-hand man of Kanuni. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai, which is a multi-story structure, was restored in 1972 and started to be used as a hotel. Thanks to the success of the restoration, it won the “Ağa Han Architecture Award” in 1980.

Ekmekçizade Ahmet Pasha Caravanserai

This caravanserai has an important place among the historical works of Edirne. Ahmet Pasha Caravanserai is also known as “Ayşe Kadın” or “Eşe Kadın”. It is also known as “Küpeli Han” due to the two earring figures on the door of the caravanserai. The gates of the inn were designed quite high so that camels could pass through, for this reason it was also known as the “Camel Inn”.

II. Beyazid Complex (Health Museum)

The various patterns, fine workmanship and ornaments in the mosque made the II. Beyazid Complex more impressive than other mosques. Thanks to its architectural beauty, it is remembered together with the other important mosques of the city, Selimiye Mosque and Üç Şerefeli Mosque. The complex, which also has a hospital, is a structure far ahead of its time. The fact that psychological illnesses were treated with music and various therapy methods makes the structure stand out. The complex, which is now the Health Museum, literally gives the feeling of traveling in time.

Sveti Georgi Bulgarian Church

This church, also known as the St. Constantine Church, was consecrated on May 9, 1880. The construction of the church was carried out by Sultan II. Abdulhamid and Edirne Governor Rauf Pasha. The church also has an exhibition and library where different ethnographic elements belonging to Bulgarian culture are exhibited.

The Holy Great Synagogue (Edirne Great Synagogue)

The synagogue was built by French architect France Depré in the “Moorish Revival” style. The Great Holy Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Turkey. It is also considered one of the largest synagogues in Europe. The Holy Great Synagogue is an important place of worship for the Jewish world.

Meriç Bridge

The Meriç Bridge, which attracts considerable attention in terms of tourism, is one of the focal points of Edirne with its engravings and striking architecture. The length of the bridge is 263 meters and its width is 7 meters. Pieces of Seljuk architecture can be seen in the arches. The bridge, which stands on 13 legs, provides water passage through 12 arches. There are many businesses around the Meriç Bridge, which is one of the most important touristic spots. It is a very popular spot for those who want to drink their tea or coffee with a view.

Uzunköprü (Ergene Bridge)

Uzunköprü is one of the longest stone bridges in the world. It attracts attention with its 174 arches and various animal engravings on them. The bridge, which is under protection by UNESCO, is currently being restored.

Justice Pavilion

It is known that Justice Pavilion was built by Mimar Sinan in 1561 by Suleiman the Magnificent, but this information is not certain. It is said that many laws of the Ottoman Empire were written here. A few meters away from the tower are the seng-i ibret (stone of warning) and the seng-i arz (stone of wishing), which make this place an important stopk.

Old Train Station (Faculty of Fine Arts)

Built by Mimar Kemaleddin in 1873 during the reign of Abdulhamid II, the station was modeled after the Sirkeci Station in Istanbul. This train station remained beyond the Ottoman borders after the war. With the Treaty of Lausanne signed in 1923, Greece handed over the train station to the newly established Turkey as compensation. The Lausanne Monument, which symbolizes the Treaty of Lausanne, is also located in the garden of the building. Nowadays, it has become a popular spot for those who want to take photos.

Bedesten

The Bedesten Bazaar is a spot that was built in 1418 and has preserved its structure until today. It was built by Mimar Alaeddin by Mehmed I, who also ensured the construction of the Old Mosque. The Bedesten Bazaar was built to maintain the mosque and meet the salaries of its employees.

The bazaar, which consists of white cut stones and red walls, was built with very fine workmanship. It has 36 rooms and shops for merchants on the outside. 14 domes in two rows are located on the structure.

Written by: Ece Var