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There are a few points of interest outside the historic city center of Edirne, Turkey. Most are within a 15 or 20 minute walking distance.
North of the Edirne Historic City Center
Walking north from the historic city center of Edirne you’ll find one of the most important cultural attractions in the city as well as the old Ottoman palace.
Kırkpınar Wrestling Complex
First, on the way to Edirne Palace, is the Kırkpınar Wrestling Complex. Edirne is famous for its oil wrestling competition, which has taken place there annually around the end of June since 1346.
Wrestlers cover their entire bodies in olive oil and fight on the grass until one is pinned. The overall winner is called the başpehlivan. Statues of legendary wrestlers adorn the exterior of the stadium.
Edirne Palace
Across the river are the ruins of Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı), also called the New Imperial Palace (Saray-ı Cedid-i Amire). Construction started in 1450 under Murad II, when Edirne was the capital of the empire, and was completed by Mehmed the Conqueror (Mehmed II) in 1475, after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. There were originally 72 buildings, 14 mansions, 18 hamams, 8 mosques, 17 gates, and 13 cellars.
Edirne Palace was continuously used until 1718 and later fell into disrepair. The Russians used it as a military camp when they occupied the city in 1829, and it was mostly destroyed after a nearby ammunition depot was blown up during the Russo-Turkish War in 1878.
Restoration of Edirne Palace
Archaeological works on the palace started in 2004 and some buildings have since been rebuilt. As of July 2024, the entire complex is being rebuilt based on the original plans and photographs. Once restoration of the Second Courtyard is complete, the palace will open to visitors. It’s expected to fully open by 2028.
Two of the buildings that have been restored are the Imperial Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) and the Sand Pavilion Hamam (Kum Kasrı Hamamı). An interpretive panel shows a map of the site and pictures of the kitchen before restoration.
Justice Pavilion
Next to the Kırkpınar Wrestling Complex is the Justice Pavilion (Adalet Kasrı). It was built in 1561 by Mimar Sinan and until recently was the only remaining structure of the old Ottoman palace completely intact. This is where the statutory law of the Ottoman Empire was proclaimed.
In front of the tower are two stones. The first stone was used to assess petitions of subjects of the empire. The second stone was used to display the heads of those the Sultan had sentenced to death. Click here for a virtual tour.
Balkan Wars Memorial Cemetery
Nearby is the Edirne Balkan Wars Memorial Cemetery (Edirne Balkan Savaşı Şehitliği). It’s a mass grave and monument to soldiers killed during the Siege of Edirne while the Ottoman Empire was embroiled in the Balkan Wars. The cemetery is laid out over 858 square meters (9,240 square feet) and was designed by architect Nejat Dinçel as a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. it opened to the public on January 14, 1994. I’ll add photos after my next visit to the area.
Views of Edirne
If you decide to head to the Bayezid II Complex from Edirne Palace you’ll have about a 15 minute walk. The views of the Edirne city center along the way will be spectacular.
East of the Edirne Historic City Center
There are a few minor points of interest a short walk east of the Selimiye Mosque.
Fevzi Pasha Primary School
First is the former Fevzi Pasha Primary School (Fevzi Paşa İlkokullu) was built in 1906 for a Greek association after a donation by a wealthy local Greek, Hacı Yorgi. The building was converted to a primary school in 1923, after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey. The Fevzi Pasha Primary School closed in 2019.
St. George Bulgarian Orthodox Church
A few blocks away is the St. George Bulgarian Orthodox Church (Sveti Georgi / Ayayorgi Kilisesi). It was built with the permission of Sultan Abdül Hamid II and was consecrated on May 9, 1880. The church was closed after the First Balkan War and reopened in the 1940s. Due to years of neglect, it fell into disrepair until it was renovated by the Turkish General Directorate of Foundations and Bulgaria. It reopened in 2004.
St. George Bulgarian Orthodox Church is open to worship and also serves as a museum. It’s typically open Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm, and there’s a museum on the upper floor. Unfortunately, it was closed on the day we walked by. We got a good look at a typical Edirne neighborhood on the way to the church.
Muradiye Mosque
The Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii) is the least visited of the important Ottoman mosques in Edirne. It’s a straight shot down Mimar Sinan Street (Mimar Sinan Caddesi) from the Selimiye Mosque.
The Muradiye Mosque was built by Sultan Murad II and completed in 1435. It was once part of a larger complex that included a soup kitchen and elementary school, but those buildings no longer exist. Earthquakes have damaged the mosque over the years, and it has been repaired each time. The minaret itself has been rebuilt several times, and the current one dates back to 1957.
The entrance to the mosque is behind a portico topped by five small domes. Beautiful calligraphy decorates the wall under the portico.
Upon entering, you’ll see the mosque’s original Iznik tiles surrounding the lower part of the walls on three sides. The large mihrab is covered in priceless tiles as well. They’re very similar to those of the Green Mosque in Bursa, so it’s believed that they were made by the same team of craftsmen.
Above the tile belt, the plaster covering the walls has been uncovered, revealing beautiful Islamic artwork. The artwork was whitewashed but the reason is unknown.
What’s my favorite feature of the mosque? The ping pong table in a room off to the side!
South of the Edirne Historic City Center
Walking southeast along Atatürk Boulevard and then south into the neighborhood, you’ll find a few more interesting spots.
Defterdar Mustafa Pasha Mosque
First is the Defterdar Mustafa Pasha Mosque (Defterdar Mustafa Paşa Camii). It was built in 1576 by Mimar Sinan (1490-1588). The mosque was commissioned by a Mustafa Pasha, but it’s not known exactly who he was other than a treasurer during the Ottoman period. The original dome of the mosque was destroyed during an earthquake in 1752. The mosque was closed when I walked by.
Ayşe Kadın Mosque
Just a few steps away is the Ayşe Kadın Mosque (Ayşe Kadın Camii). It was built by Ayşe Hatun (b. 1414), the daughter of Sultan Mehmed I, between 1468 and 1469. The architect may have been Mimar Hayruddin (b. c. 1500), who was also responsible for the Bayezid II Complex. The mosque is only open during prayers. Ayşe Hatun is buried in the Green Tomb in Bursa along with her father.
Ekmekçizade Ahmed Pasha Caravanserai
Down the stairs from the Ayşe Kadın Mosque is the Ekmekçizade Ahmed Pasha Caravanserai (Ekmekçizade Ahmed Paşa Kervansarayı). It was built in 1609 by Ekmekçizade Ahmed Pasha, a treasurer under Sultan Ahmed I. The architect was Sedefkar Mehmed Ağa (1540-1617), who also designed the Blue Mosque. Local architect Hacı Şaban assisted on the project.
The Ekmekçizade Ahmed Pasha Caravanserai stands on the site of an older caravanserai built by Ayşe Hatun. It had a huge courtyard with two fountains, four stables, and several guest rooms. It was undergoing restoration when I visited, and I look forward to seeing the results on my next trip to Edirne.
Edirne High School
Walking west from the caravanserai along Eski Istanbul Road is Edirne High School (Edirne Lisesi). It was founded in 1857 by Sultan Abdülmecid I and is one of the oldest high schools in Turkey. In fact, it’s regarded as the first Western high school in the Ottoman Empire.
Edirne High School closed during the First Balkan War and served as a hospital. The school colors, red and yellow, come from this period, and represent red blood smeared on the yellow walls. The school reopened after the foundation of the Turkish Republic.
Tomb of Koyun Baba
Across from the school is the tomb of Koyun Baba (Koyun Baba Türbesi). He was a Sufi of the Naqshbandi order and died in 1618.
SS Constantine and Helen Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Finally, about a kilometer south of the Ayşe Kadın Mosque is the SS Constantine and Helen Bulgarian Orthodox Church (Sveti Konstantin-Elena Kilisesi). It was built in 1869 in just seven months. The church was abandoned after the First Balkan War and fell into disrepair.
In 2008, the church was renovated with help from the Bulgarian government and reopened to worship. The iconostasis was built based on photographs from the 1930s. The church yard is typically open daily except Mondays from 9am to 5pm. You can ask a caretaker for permission to enter the church itself. Unfortunately, I visited too early in the day.
Ottoman Bridges outside the Edirne City Center
Edirne has a small collection of historic Ottoman bridges worth seeking out. They span the Tundzha (Tunca) and Maritsa (Meriç or Evros) Rivers to the northwest and south of the city center.
Yalnızgöz Bridge
A pair of Ottoman bridges cross two branches of the Tundzha River on the way to the Bayezid II Complex, which is a short walk northwest of the historic city center. The first is the small Yalnızgöz Bridge (Yalnızgöz Köprüsü), which was built in 1567 and designed by Mimar Sinan (1490-1588). Its name translates to Lonely Eye Bridge after its single arch.
Bridge Connection
After crossing the Yalnızgöz Bridge, there’s another bridge connecting it to the Bayezid II Bridge. It’s a multi-arched structure built in 1611 after the ground became impassable during floods. It makes the Yalnızgöz and Bayezid II Bridges look like one uniform structure, but they were actually built in three different centuries.
Looking back towards the city, you can see the minarets of the Selimiye Mosque and the Mosque with Three Balconies towering over the skyline.
Bayezid II Bridge
Next is the Bayezid II Bridge (II. Bayezid Köprüsü). It was built in 1488 along with the Bayezid II Complex by Mimar Hayruddin.
Tundzha Bridge
South of the historic city center of Edirne are two more Ottoman bridges. They lead to the suburb of Karaağaç. First is the Tundzha Bridge (Tunca Köprüsü), which crosses over the Tundzha River. It was built between 1608 and 1613 by Ekmekçizade Ahmed Pasha, a treasurer under Sultan Ahmed I. The official name is the Ekmekçizade Ahmed Pasha Bridge (Ekmekçizade Ahmed Paşa Köprüsü).
The Tundzha Bridge was designed by Sedefkar Mehmed Ağa (1540-1617), a student of Mimar Sinan and the architect of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Local architect Hacı Şaban assisted in the construction.
The Tundzha Bridge is supported by eight arches and contains a small tower in the center. It’s 136.3 meters (447.2 feet) long and 6.9 meters (22.6 feet) wide. It was completely restored between 2007 and 2008.
Meriç Bridge
400 meters past the Tundzha Bridge is the Meriç Bridge (Meriç Köprüsü), which crosses the Maritsa (Meriç) River. It was commissioned by Sultan Mahmud II in 1832, but because of financial problems, construction didn’t begin until 1842 under Sultan Abdülmecid I. It was completed in 1847.
The Meriç Bridge is supported by 12 arches. It’s 263 meters (863 feet) long and 7 meters (23 feet) wide. Its official names is New Bridge (Yeni Köprü). On the Karaağaç side of the bridge are a few other Ottoman landmarks as well as tea gardens and restaurants.
Like the Tunca Bridge, there’s a small tower in the center with a commemorative inscription. The inscription was destroyed by the Greek army during the occupation of Edirne by Greece (1920-1922).
