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The Ihlamur Pavilion (Ihlamur Kasrı) is an Ottoman imperial pavilion in Istanbul, Turkey. It’s located in the Şişli district in a valley between Beşiktaş and Nişantaşı.
History of Ihlamur Pavilion
The Ihlamur Pavilion is made up of a garden with two small 19th century buildings. It was originally a farm owned by Hacı Hüseyin Ağa that was acquired by the Ottoman government. The farm was transformed into a garden during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III in the early 18th century, and a wooden mansion was built for the sultans to rest. Further alterations were made later in the century during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid I, and in 1791, Sultan Selim III expanded the garden by building several pools and buildings.
Sultan Abdülmecid I constructed the two buildings seen today between 1849 and 1855. They were designed by Ottoman Armenian architect Nigoğayos Balyan (1826-1858) while German gardeners working at Dolmabahçe Palace did the landscaping. It’s situated on nearly 25,000 square meters of land.
Abdülmecid I is known to have hosted French poet Alphonse de Lamartine (1790-1869) at the pavilion. Sultan Abdülaziz organized wrestling tournaments there as well as other entertainment events. Sultan Mehmed V hosted the leaders of Bulgaria and Serbia there in the early 20th century.
The Ihlamur Pavilion was converted to a museum in 1952 and was fully restored in the 1980s. It reopened to the public along with the gardens in 1987.
Visiting the Ihlamur Pavilion
The Ihlamur Pavilion is a great escape from the bustling city that surrounds it. It seems to drown out the noise of the streets, making it a peaceful place to visit any time of year. Admission for foreigners is 90₺ (as of October 2023) and includes a self-guided audio tour. Admission to the gardens only is 15₺ (as of October 2023). It’s open daily except Mondays from 9am to 6pm and there’s a café on the property.
Harem Pavilion
The first building along the path from the entrance is the Harem Pavilion (Harem Köşkü), also known as the Retinue Pavilion (Maiyet Köşkü). It’s a simple two story structure with four rooms at the corners and a hall in the center. The building was reserved for the sultan’s harem.
Today, the Harem Pavilion serves as a café. The interior is quite simple, and the walls have been decorated with stucco resembling marble.
Ceremonial Pavilion
The next building is the Ceremonial Pavilion (Merasim Köşkü), which is the main attraction. It features baroque-style carvings and decorations, and was reserved for the personal use of the sultan. It also hosted receptions and ceremonies.
The Ceremonial Pavilion consists of two rooms on either side of the main entrance hall. The interior is decorated with both 19th century Ottoman and European art, including vases, crystal chandeliers, and European furniture.
The ceilings contain paintings and gold decorations, and the tiles around the fireplace were produced at the Yıldız Porcelain Factory. Hereke carpets cover the floors.
Where to Eat Near the Ihlamur Pavilion
On our way to Ihlamur Pavilion, we stopped for coffee.
Espressolab Fulya
Espressolab in Fulya is a short walk from Ihlamur Pavilion. The coffee is good and the space is comfortable. Espressolab has several locations around Istanbul and Turkey.
