- Selimiye Mosque:
Selimiye Mosque, which was built by Mimar Sinan at the age of 80 and described as "my masterpiece", is shown among the masterpieces of the Ottoman-Turkish architectural history as well as the world architectural history. The mosque, which is the symbol of Edirne and also the Ottoman Period; Between the years 1569-1575 II. It was built by the order of Selim. The building, which stands out from afar with its four minarets, shows that Mimar Sinan was also a master urbanist, with the choice of the place where it was founded. The mosque, which is made of cut stone, covers an area of 1620 square meters with its interior and a total area of 2475 square meters as a whole. Selimiye Mosque attracts attention with its dome with a diameter of 31.30 meters and a height of 43.28 meters from the ground.
The dome sits on 8 large pillars connected by 6 meters wide arches. It is the most successful example of the 8-base mosque plan built by Mimar Sinan. The mosque has four elegant minarets with a diameter of 3.80 cm and a height of 70.89 m with three balconies. Each balcony in the entrance direction is accessed by separate roads, and the other two are accessed by a single road.
In addition to the inaccessibility of its architectural features, the mosque is also extremely important with its decorative features such as stone, marble, tile, wood and mother-of-pearl. The mihrab and its pulpit are masterpieces of marble workmanship. The muezzin, sitting on 12 marble columns in the middle, is one of the most beautiful examples of the classical period with its gold leaf Edirnekari handwork. The tile decorations of the building have a special place in Ottoman and world art. 16th century These tiles, which are the most beautiful examples of tile-making, are in the Siratli technique and were made in Iznik.
In the large outer courtyard of the Selimiye Mosque, surrounded by stone walls, there are Dar-ul-Subyan, Dar-ul-Kurra and Dar-ul-Hadis structures. The Dar-ul-Hadis section of these structures is used as a museum of Turkish-Islamic artifacts. The Dar-ul Kura section is the Museum of Foundation Works. The Arasta bazaar, located under the mosque terrace, was built during the reign of Murat III in order to generate income for Selimiye. The first row was made by Mimar Sinan, and later it was completed by Architect Davut Aga.
Edirne Selimiye Mosque and Complex was included in the World Heritage List as a cultural property within the scope of the 1st and 4th criteria with the decision numbered 35 COM 8B.37 taken at the 35th Term Meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held between.
EDIRNE SELIMIYE MOSQUE AND COMPLEX, WHICH WAS MADE INTO WORLD ARCHITECTURE HISTORY WITH 9 ARTICLES
In our country, we have many cultural values that are admired by the whole world, some of which are undoubtedly the cultural heritages of great civilizations and architectural structures that emerged thanks to the talents of our valuable architects. The works of Mimar Sinan, the greatest architect this land has ever seen, are unique examples of this cultural heritage. Edirne Selimiye Mosque and Complex, which was created by the great master and impressed everyone with its technique and beauty, is here with 9 items.
Selimiye Mosque, Sultan II. It was built in Edirne between 1569 and 1575 by the order of Selim I. There are various rumors about the reason why Edirne was chosen for the country's most majestic mosque, but the most popular among them is II. The reason is that Selim loved Edirne very much throughout his life. Unfortunately II. Selim did not live to see the completed version of Mimar Sinan's masterpiece, and died in 1574.
The location of Selimiye Mosque was also chosen expertly. The mosque is in the center of the city, in the Yeni Mahalle district, where Saribayir and Kavak Squares used to be. The feature of the location chosen by the great master for the mosque is that it can be seen from all over Edirne.
When Mimar Sinan completed this mosque, he was 80 years old and called the great master Selimiye
"my masterpiece". The fact that a person as important as Mimar Sinan describes Selimiye as a work of mastery reveals how much importance should be attached to this architectural wonder.
One of the most interesting aspects of Selimiye is that it is imposing, since the dome of Selimiye is even larger than the dome of Hagia Sophia, with a height of approximately 49 meters and a diameter of 32 meters. This dome carries 8 pillars, each of which is supported by 6 meters wide arches. The interior area of the mosque is 1620 square meters and it is our largest mosque.
Architect Sinan placed 32 large windows on the drum of the dome and hundreds of small windows on the walls to illuminate this giant structure. Thanks to the expertly planned positions of the windows, the mosque is perfectly illuminated and the interior decorations of wood, mother-of-pearl, marble and tiles, which are as fascinating as the architectural techniques of the mosque, are also enjoyed.
The minarets of Selimiye Mosque also attract attention with their unique structures. Each of the 4 elegant minarets has three balconies. The structure of the stairs leading to these balconies is also very interesting. Each minaret has three stairs to go up to the balconies. It is said that three people who go up at the same time using these stairs will not see each other until they reach the balcony.
The technical perfection seen in all the buildings produced by Mimar Sinan has reached its highest point in the mastery of the architectural genius. There is not even a crack on the mosque built in the 1500s. Moreover, the giant dome has managed to defy the years. Many local and foreign scientists and architects are still investigating how Mimar Sinan was able to build a building that could withstand earthquakes and natural conditions for hundreds of years at that time.
One of the remarkable rumors about Selimiye Mosque is a small inverted tulip motif placed on a marble pillar in the Muezzinler Mahfeli. There are many different rumors about the meaning of this inverted tulip motif. One of them is that the world will come to an end on the day that the inverted tulip gets closer to the ground and touches the ground every year. A more well-known rumor is that there used to be a tulip garden on the site of the mosque, and this tulip motif symbolizes the old tulip garden.
In the middle of Edirne Selimiye Kulliye, there are buildings used for educational purposes in the southern corners of Selimiye Mosque with all its splendor. The western side of the courtyard is covered by the arasta. The madrasa and Darulhadis in the complex were completed in 1572 before the mosque. In addition, a single-domed Darulkurra is located just behind the arasta.
- Edirne Oil Wrestling:
Our famous oil wrestling is actually held all over Turkey. As you know, the "Champions League" of wrestling is organized everywhere and takes place in Edirne. Kirkpinar private square is one of the must-see places in Edirne, and there are many historical monuments around it, such as the Tower of Justice.
- Edirne Old Mosque (Great Mosque):
This magnificent work, also known as the Ulu Mosque, became one of our favorite places in Edirne. The mosque, where you can see the graffiti of calligraphy, is more important to us than the Selimiye Mosque. Moreover, it also sees Selimiye from its courtyard.
- Saraclar Street:
This old street of Edirne, closed to traffic, is one of the liveliest places in the city. The street, which contains many places where we answered the question of what to eat in Edirne, is also one of the important points of Edirne nightlife. Take a tour, take some time.
- Edirne Great Synagogue:
This religious building, which is Turkey's largest and one of the few largest synagogues in Europe, serves as a museum today, even though it was closed at the time due to lack of community.
- Gokcetepe Nature Park:
Gokcetepe Nature Park is one of the hidden paradises that has managed to remain natural in the Kesan district of Edirne. It is also one of the only pearls of the Gulf of Saros, which forms a bridge between the Marmara and Aegean Seas, is self-cleaning in the world and amazes those who see it with its clarity.
With its vast coves and thousands of square meters of pine forests, Gokcetepe Nature Park stands out as a natural wonder. According to the researches, the harmony in the gas ratio in the air in Gokcetepe Nature Park cures many allergic diseases, especially asthma. With this feature, it is not wrong to say that Gokcetepe Nature Park is a kind of oxygen reservoir.
With the recent arrangements, Gokcetepe Nature Park has become a holiday paradise. Gokcetepe Nature Park has become one of the indispensable routes of nature lovers, especially with its camping areas, restaurants, beaches and organic food market.
In addition to all these, Gokcetepe Nature Park is a region where diving sports enthusiasts show great interest. So much so that Gokcetepe Nature Park makes the pleasure of diving privileged in Saros Bay, which is famous for its underwater beauties.
- Sarayici Balkan War Cemetery:
The Sarayici Balkan War Cemetery in Edirne is one of the sightseeing spots for many tourists coming to the city throughout the year.
It was built to commemorate the 300,000 soldiers who defended their homeland during the 1912-1913 Balkan War, and also to commemorate the 20 thousand soldiers who died in 1913 in Sarayici by starvation and thirst. In 1939, the Balkan Martyrs' Monument was built in the cemetery. During your visit to Edirne, we recommend you to visit the Sarayici Balkan War Cemetery.
- Lausanne Monument and Museum:
Located in the garden of the Trakya University Rectorate building, the Lausanne Monument and Museum was opened to visitors in 1998.
Again, Trakya University Rector Porf. Dr. The purpose of the monument and museum, which was built under the leadership of Osman Inci, emphasizes the importance of Lausanne for Edirne. When you visit the Lausanne Monument and Museum for the first time, we recommend that you first examine the magnificent monument and take photos.
The monument consists of a girl figure in the middle of three columns. One of the columns is long while the others are kept short. Because the big column represents Turkey and the small column represents Edirne. The smallest column is the representative of Karaagac. The figure between the columns is the symbol of grace and law. The figure has a dove in one hand and the document of the Lausanne treaty in the other.
After examining the monument, you can enter the only built museum located next to the monument. The museum was opened to visitors in the same year with the monument. In the museum; There are examples of documents related to the Lausanne Treaty, various historical documents and articles from the newspapers of that period. At the same time, photographs of Ataturk and Ismet Inonu are among the exhibits of the museum.
- Ergene Bridge:
Ergene Bridge, one of the longest bridges in the world, is still in active use with its 1392 meters length and durability.
Ergene Bridge, which forms the name of Edirne's Uzunkopru district, was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet's father, Sultan II. It was built by Murat. The architecture is Muslihiddin Efendi. The construction of the Ergene Bridge started in 1427 and was completed in 1443.
The bridge stretching over the Ergene River has become the focus of attention of foreign tourists as well as domestic tourists today.
- Clock Madrasa:
One of the symbols of Edirne, Saatli Madrasa is one of the first madrasas built by OsmanogullarI. Between the years 1437-1447 II. It was built at the request of Murat.
The courtyards of the madrasah are open and have a single storey structure. It is striking that cut stone was used especially on the south wall, and it is connected to the outside with its three facades, except for the northern part. There are uc serefeli Mosque and Peykler Madrasah right next to Saatli Madrasa. For this reason, if you visit Saatli Madrasa on your Edirne trip, you will also have the chance to see a few more historical buildings.
Although the madrasa has been in a dilapidated state for many years, it has been recently renovated with restoration work.
- Meric River:
Covering many areas, the Meric River is one of the largest rivers in the Balkans. The birthplace of the river, which also passes through the borders of Turkey, is Bulgaria.
It originates in Bulgaria, enters Edirne, and then reaches the Aegean Sea. It is 490 kilometers long in total; Arda, Ergene and Tunca are the main river beds where it feeds.
Especially in the spring, the river, which is surrounded by flowers, takes on colors. Moreover, the locals flock to the Meric River, where the sunset is perfect in the evening. Wouldn't you like to witness this beauty too? You can have a picnic here and spend wonderful hours, then watch the sunset and end your day with a magnificent view. Sounds great, doesn't it? You can spend a special day with the special people in your life.
- Ainos Ancient City
The Ancient City of Ainos, located in the Enez district of Edirne, has a deep-rooted history and is a historical place where important remains were unearthed at every point where it was excavated.
Although it is located in the westernmost part of Turkey, its name is mentioned in the sources of ancient writers. It is also known as the Ancient City of Enez.
