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The Kırklareli Culture and Art House (Kırklareli İl Özel İdaresi Kültür ve Sanat Evi) in Kırklareli, Turkey, is a small ethnographic museum. It contains displays about local traditions.
Visiting
The Kırklareli Culture and Art House is free of charge and open daily except Mondays. It’s just a short walk uphill from the city center on the way to the Yayla neighborhood. Interpretive panels include text in both Turkish and English. Mannequins, audio, and visual aids complete the experience.
Building
The museum is housed in Dr. Peterkof’s Mansion (Dr. Peterkof’un Konağı), which was built in the early 20th century. The house served as the Turkish Hearth (Türk Ocağı) after the foundation of the Turkish Republic until 1932. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938) addressed the people of Kırklareli at the building on December 20, 1930, expressing his views on culture and civilization.
The mansion was converted to a kindergarten from 1932 to 1944, and later became a tuberculosis dispensary. The Kırklareli Province purchased it 2002 and it opened as the Kırklareli Culture and Art House in 2017.
Ground Floor
The first room on the ground floor depicts the “groom shaving” tradition, which is common before weddings. Local music played at weddings sounds over the speakers.
In the room across the hall, there are mannequins representing a henna night, which takes place at the bride’s house before the wedding.
A third room includes a young couple meeting at a fountain, the Prison Fountain (Hapishane Çeşmesi). Young people would meet at the fountains in squares to meet and get to know each other before their wedding.
Another room educates visitors about peçka, which is a type of clay oven used in the region to cook, bake, and warm meals. Also on display are several items that were used in local kitchens.
Second Floor
In the hallway on the second floor is a mannequin of Atatürk next to a gramophone. Interpretive panels include information about his visit to Kırklareli. There are also traditional handicrafts and dresses on display.
One room is dedicated to cheese making, which is one of the most important industries in Kırklareli. Another room displays information on the production of molasses and tarhana.
The largest room on the second floor exhibits the region’s weaving and knitting traditions. One mannequin sits at a loom making a rug while another is on a chair knitting. Different examples of these crafts are displayed throughout the room.
Basement
The basement, which was closed during my visit, exhibits a few more local traditions. They include basketweaving, winemaking, and pottery. I hope to see these sections on a future visit.
