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The Bayezid I Mosque (Yıldırım Bayezid Camii) is perched on a hill to the northeast of the historic city center of Bursa, Turkey. It’s included in the city’s UNESCO World Heritage listing.
The complex was built between 1391 and 1395 by Sultan Bayezid I. It contains a madrasa and tomb along with parks and trees. It’s a very pleasant space to visit.
Bayezid I Mosque
The Bayezid I Mosque is similar in design to other imperial Ottoman mosques in Bursa. It consists of a prayer hall topped by a large dome, along with two side rooms on each side of the prayer hall. The mosque has two minarets. Click here for a virtual tour.
Bayezid I Madrasa
The Bayezid I Madrasa (Yıldırım Bayezid Medresesi), the religious school of the mosque complex, was completed in 1399. It continues to serve to this day but as a public hospital.
Tomb
The tomb of Bayezid I (Yıldırım Bayezid Türbesi) belongs to the builder of the mosque complex. One of the most powerful rulers in the history of the Ottoman Empire, he was nicknamed Yıldırım (thunderbolt).
Bayezid I (b. 1360, Ottoman beylik – d. 1403, Timurid Empire) was the 4th Ottoman Sultan (r. 1389-1402). He conquered Bulgaria and northern Greece, made efforts to unite Anatolia, and also unsuccessfully laid siege to Constantinople. Known as an unpredictable and impulsive ruler, Bayezid I left most of the governing to his viziers and governors. He was a talented military leader who had a taste for luxury and debauchery, but was also deeply religious.
Bayezid I was captured in the Battle of Ankara against Timur (1336-1405) and the Timurid Empire in 1402 and died in captivity the following year. His death sparked a bloody Ottoman civil war, which was fought among his sons and lasted 11 years. The winner was Sultan Mehmed I. Click here for a virtual tour of the tomb.
Getting There
We walked to the complex from the Green Tomb and it only took 15 minutes. The nearest metro station is Gökdere.