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Kırklareli has a small, compact city center that’s easy to explore on foot. There’s not a great deal to see and you can explore it less than an hour.
Mustafa Kemal Boulevard
After visiting the Kırklareli Museum, we walked down Mustafa Kemal Boulevard, the main street in town, towards the city center. We passed several modern buildings, shops, and restaurants as well as the Kırklareli City Hall.
Şevket Dingiloğlu Park
We then took a quick walk through the pleasant Şevket Dingiloğlu Park (Şevket Dingiloğlu Parkı), which has lots of shade and benches. It seemed like lots of seniors enjoy meeting there to chat.
Republic Square
At the other end of the park is a roundabout where Mustafa Kemal Boulevard ends. This is Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı), which is the heart of the city. The most important historic landmarks in Kırklareli are located on the square.
Hızırbey Mosque
The most prominent building on the square is the Hızırbey Mosque (Hızırbey Camii). Also known as the Grand Mosque (Büyük Camii), it was built by Köse Mihalzade Hızır Bey in 1383. It was restored by Aydoslu Hacı Yusuf Pasha in 1824 and again by Tosunoğlu Ali Efendi in 1887.
There’s one minaret made of cut stone. It was destroyed by the Bulgarians during the Balkan Wars and later rebuilt. The courtyard of the mosque features a dodecagonal ablutions fountain (şadırvan). An enclosed portal leads to the prayer hall.
The prayer hall is beautifully decorated and has an area of 328 square meters. It can accommodate 1,000 worshippers. There’s impressive artwork and calligraphy above the mihrab, and the minbar is made of wood.
Hızırbey Hamam
Across the street from the mosque is the Hızırbey Hamam (Hızırbey Hamamı), which was part of the Hızırbey Mosque complex. The bath had separate men’s and women’s sections, and was repaired by Hacı Hüseyin Ağa between 1683 and 1704.
Arasta
The Arasta, or Bedesten, is attached to the hamam and was also part of the Hızırbey Mosque complex. It was built in a T shape and had 12 shops inside. The Arasta was restored in 1704.
Grand Mosque Fountain
Behind the mosque and right on Republic Square is the Grand Mosque Fountain (Büyük Cami Çeşmesi). It has three sides and elegant designs and is also known as the German Fountain (Alman Çeşmesi).
Up the Hill
From Republic Square, we passed through a colorful street with outdoor cafés then walked uphill through a quiet neighborhood to the Kırklareli Culture and Art House. There were a few historic homes along the way.
