Last updated on .
Edirne has a very compact historic city center with lots to see. This entry covers sights in the historic core that aren’t mosques or museums.
Monuments
First of all, in the space in front of the Selimiye Mosque, there’s an “Edirne” sign and two monuments. They sit at a major intersection in the city center and the mosque acts as a beautiful backdrop.
The monument to the left depicts Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan (1490-1588). He designed the Selimiye Mosque and other structures in Edirne as well as several more in Istanbul.
The monument to the right depicts Mehmed the Conqueror on horseback flanked by two Ottoman cannons. He was born in Edirne and went on to conquer Constantinople in 1453.
Yemiş Kapanı Hanı
Between the monuments and the Selimiye Mosque is an archaeological site containing the foundations of Yemiş Kapanı Hanı. It was a fruit and vegetable market commissioned by Sultan Selim II and Mimar Sinan on March 17, 1573. Construction didn’t begin until October 19, 1588, under architects Davud Ağa (c. 1540-1599) and Hüseyin Çavuş.
The building had 100 rooms and covered a space measuring 4,000 square meters. It was destroyed during an earthquake on July 30, 1752, and collapsed in 1937. A park was built over the ruins in 1967.
Excavations were carried out between 2014 and 2016, revealing water channels built by Mimar Sinan in 1570 as well as a grave dating to the Roman period.
Bedesten
On the other side of the Old Mosque sits the Bedesten (Bedesten Çarşısı). Built in 1418 by Sultan Mehmed I, it’s the oldest covered market in Edirne. It served as a source of income for the maintenance of the Old Mosque.
The architect of the Bedesten was Mimar Alaeddin, who used red and white ashlar stone in its construction. There are two long corridors inside the building with a total of 36 rooms for merchants. More shops surround the outside of the building.
14 domes cover the Bedesten, arranged in two rows of seven domes. During Ottoman times, the most valuable goods available in the city were sold there. This included jewelry, carpets, and weapons. Other items from all corners of the empire were also available.
Tea Garden
Outside the northwest entrance of the Bedesten is a small tea garden with a pleasant setting. In the tea garden is a fountain with a statue of two wrestlers. Every year since 1360, Edirne has hosted the Kırkpınar oil wrestling tournament. Visitors walking to Edirne Palace can see the grounds where the tournament takes place.
Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai
The Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) is southeast of the Bedesten. It was built in 1561 by Rüstem Pasha (c. 1505-1561), a Grand Vizier under Süleyman the Magnificent. The architect was Mimar Sinan.
The Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai has two floors and consists of two sections – Big Han (Büyük Han) and Little Han (Küçük Han). There are 39 rooms on the first floor and 41 on the second floor. 21 shops line the front of the building.
Today, the Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai serves as a hotel. Of particular interest are the large doors opening to the courtyard. Ornamental chandeliers hang in front of them. A small park separates the Bedesten from the Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai.
Sokullu Mehmed Pasha Hamam
Across the street from the Mosque with Three Balconies is the Sokullu Mehmed Pasha Hamam (Sokullu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı). It’s a Turkish bath built between 1568 and 1569 by Sokullu Mehmed Pasha (1506-1579), a Grand Vizier under Sultans Süleyman the Magnificent, Selim II, and Murad III.
The bath was designed by Mimar Sinan and is one of the largest of its kind in Turkey. It was meant to provide income for the maintenance of the Mosque with the Three Balconies. The façade was partially destroyed during road construction in the 1960s. The bath is still in service today, and there are separate entrances and bathing times for men and women.
Edirne Fortress
Tucked away behind a few buildings near the hamam, you’ll find the last surviving ruins of Edirne Fortress. The fortress was built by the Romans after the foundation of Hadrianopolis.
Edirne Fortress was demolished between 1866 and 1870. The stones were used to build a hospital, school, government buildings, and barracks. The ruins of a 10th century Byzantine church is mixed in with the ruins.
Macedonian Tower
Next to the ruins is the Macedonian Tower (Makedonya Kulesi). It was originally one of the four corner towers of Edirne Fortress. After the fortress was demolished, Ottoman governor Hacı İzzet Pasha (1798-1876) commissioned the construction of a wooden clock tower atop the bastion. A clock produced in France was added in 1886. The wooden tower burned down and the current tower was built out of stone in 1894. It was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1953 and later with dynamite by local authorities who believed it was an eyesore. There are plans to convert it to a museum.
Edirne Municipality Building
Back near the Edirne sign and two monuments is the historic Edirne Municipality Building (Edirne Belediye Binası). It was built between 1898 and 1900 by local engineer Nazif Akanlar, who also developed the plan for the Kaleiçi district.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), the founder of the Turkish Republic, stayed in the building when he visited Edirne from December 21-25, 1930. It also hosted Sultan Mehmed V in 1910; King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria during Bulgarian occupation (1913); and King Alexander of Greece during Greek occupation (1920-1922).
Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha Fountain
Further down the street and directly across from the Selimiye Mosque is the Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha Fountain (Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Paşa Çeşmesi). It was built in 1667 by Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha (1635-1683), nine years before he became Grand Vizier under Sultan Mehmed IV. It’s the largest fountain in Edirne.
The street in front of the fountain is full of a few touristy shops and cafés. It leads to the Edirne City Museum.