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You’ll often hear Bursa referred to as Yeşil Bursa. The Turkish word yeşil means green. Yes, Bursa is full of parks and is near many lush forests with tall green trees, but it also has a “green” neighborhood – Yeşil.
The main attractions in Yeşil are the Green Mosque, Green Tomb, and Green Madrasa, which houses the Bursa Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. These structures are part of the larger Green Complex (Yeşil Külliye), the mosque complex built by Sultan Mehmed I in the early 15th century. They are two defining symbols of the city of Bursa and part of its UNESCO World Heritage listing. All three covered in separate posts. In this post, I will describe other lesser-known attractions in Yeşil, which is a short walk east of the historic city center.
Getting There
To get to Yeşil, walk east down Atatürk Avenue (Atatürk Caddesi) from the heart of the city center and cross the bridge. As you cross the bridge, look to your left. You’ll be able to see the scenic Irgandı Bridge (Irgandı Köprüsü).
City Library
On the other side of the bridge is the City Library (Şehir Kütüphanesi). It’s housed in an attractive Ottoman-style building built by Mayor Reşat Oyal in the 1950s as a marriage office. The building was converted to a library in 1998 by Mayor Erdem Saker.
Kılıç Kalkan House Museum
Just below the City Library is the Kılıç Kalkan House Museum (Kılıç Kalkan Evi Müzesi). It pays homage to the historic sword-shield game (kılıç kalkan oyunu), which dates back to the Ottoman conquest of Bursa in 1326. The museum opened in 2012. Admission is free (as of May 2023) and it’s open daily except Mondays from 9am to 5pm.
While the castle was under siege, Ottoman soldiers began playing a game with their swords and shields in groups of two and four. The game was meant to break the morale of the Byzantine soldiers defending the castle and to break the monotony and raise the morale of the Ottoman soldiers. The city fell to the Ottomans on April 6, 1326, and the game has become a folk dance performed at special events in the city.
A monument to the game sits just outside the building, which is adorned with swords and shields as well as images of the game.
Armenian Church
If you take a quick detour down Namazgah Avenue, there’s an alley with a few outdoor cafés. On that alley is a crumbling building that once served as an Armenian church. It was built in the 19th century and was used as a weaving mill after the Armenians left Bursa.
Ottoman Homes
Lining the streets of the Yeşil neighborhood are colorfully restored Ottoman homes and buildings. Many have been turned into shops or restaurants. You’ll also find one of the touristic Bursa signs as you approach the Green Tomb and Green Mosque.
Green Soup Kitchen
Just past the tomb and mosque is the Green Soup Kitchen (Yeşil İmareti Aşevi). It was built between 1414 and 1421 as part of the Green Complex. The architect was Hacı İvaz Pasha (d. 1428).
The soup kitchen provided free meals to students at the madrasa as well as the hungry and poor. It has been restored and is used for events. The building is included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Bursa.
Park
Following the road around the back side of the Green Tomb is a small park full of trees. There’s an outdoor café to sit and enjoy the scenery as well as a row of souvenir, craft, and calligraphy shops.
Şible Mosque
Finally, if walking to the Emir Sultan Mosque, you’ll pass the Şible Mosque (Şible Camii). It was originally built in 1457 by Mevlana Bayezid Çelebi of the Şible family, and rebuilt in 1987 by members of the same family. It’s a small, simple mosque with a wooden roof and a single minaret. Unfortunately, it lost its original appearance during the reconstruction.