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Most visitors to the Muradiye district of Bursa, Turkey, will see the Muradiye Complex, but there are a few other landmarks to look out for.
Ottoman House Museum
First is the Ottoman House Museum (Osmanlı Evi Müzesi). It sits just outside the Muradiye Complex and is one of the oldest wooden structures in Bursa. This 17th century Ottoman mansion is believed to sit on the site of the 15th century palace of Sultan Murad II. Although he was born in Edirne, local legend states Mehmed the Conqueror was born at the palace.
The house first opened to the public as a museum in 1958. It was restored in 1973 and closed to visitors in 1992. Another restoration took place in 2005 after which it was once again reopened to the public.
The museum is open to visitors daily from 8am to 5pm and admission is free (as of May 2024). There really isn’t much to see and very little explanation, but it only takes a few minutes to visit.
Features of the Ottoman House Museum
Visitors enter on the north side through a small courtyard. The structure has a basement, an elevated ground floor, and an upper floor. The basement was reserved for servants while the upper floors were for the owners of the house.
The ground floor has a central lounge with a room attached to each side. They’re decorated with carpets and sofas. The ceilings are low in this part of the house.
The upper floor contains the same floor plan, but the ceilings are high and adorned with beautiful decorations. There’s also a small side lounge.
The larger room was reserved for men. It’s illuminated by 14 windows and displays fine examples of items used in the period. The room has a fireplace and the cabinet doors are decorated with hand-drawn flowers.
The women’s room is more plain. It also displays items used in the period, including a hand-carved wooden cradle.
Şair Ahmed Pasha Madrasa
Next to the Ottoman House Museum is the former Şair Ahmed Pasha Madrasa (Şair Ahmed Paşa Medresesi). It was built in the late 15th century by Ahmed Pasha (1426-1496), a poet and vizier under Mehmed the Conqueror.
Today, the madrasa houses the Uluumay Ottoman Folk Costumes And Jewelry Museum (Uluumay Osmanlı Halk Kıyafetleri Ve Takılar Müzesi). It opened to the public on September 18, 2004, displaying the private collection of Esat Uluumay. The collection contains costumes from 72 ethnic groups of people who lived within the borders of the Ottoman Empire as well as over 800 pieces of jewelry, handicrafts, weapons, and other objects.
The museum is open daily except Mondays from 9am to 6pm and admission for foreigners is 150₺ (as of October 2023). I was able to visit in October 2023 and will update with more info soon.
Tomb of Şair Ahmed Pasha
Ahmed Pasha is buried in a tomb on the property of the madrasa. The tomb was built between 1496 and 1497, and contains only the sarcophagus of the poet.
Street Market in Muradiye, Bursa
On one of the days I visited, there was a large street market outside the Muradiye Complex. I was able to find several varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables for very low prices. The market was set among a mix of old Ottoman homes and modern buildings. It was a great opportunity to witness everyday life in Bursa.
Muradiye Park
Just south of the Muradiye Complex is Muradiye Park (Muradiye Parkı). It’s an attractive public space with places to sit, and there’s a modern cafeteria building in the center.
Hüsnu Züber House Museum
Hidden on a narrow street a block west of the park is the Hüsnu Züber House Museum (Hüsnu Züber Evi Müzesi). This 19th century Ottoman house was used as a state guesthouse in 1836 and later as a Russian consulate.
From 1877 to 1988, the house was used as a private residence. A man named Hüsnü Züber then purchased the house, restored it, and opened an ethnographic museum on December 27, 1992. Highlights included a collection of wooden spoons and musical instruments. The house was undergoing restoration when we tried to visit, and was turned into the Muradiye Youth Center (Muradiye Gençlik Merkezi) in July 2021. The museum still functions inside.
Taxiarchis Church
Detouring west through the neighborhood from the Hüsnü Züber House Museum, a steep walk uphill to Demirkapı Avenue will take you to the ruins of the Taxiarchis Church (Demirkapı Kilisesi). It’s one of the rare church buildings still standing in Bursa.
This Greek Orthodox church was originally built in the first half of the 14th century during the reign of Sultan Orhan. The current structure was built in 1835 with the permission of Sultan Mahmud II. The inscription on the door was in Turkish with Greek letters and services were offered in Turkish. In 1883, the congregation was documented as 151 families.
The church lost its entire congregation after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923. In 1926, it became property of the Yılmaz family and functioned as a silk spinning factory until 1985, when it was abandoned.
From the top of the hill, on a clear day, you can get great views of the city of Bursa. I imagine it’s better on a clear day.
Bursa Atatürk House Museum
The Bursa Atatürk House Museum (Bursa Atatürk Evi Müzesi) is housed in a historic mansion on the northwest edge of the Muradiye district. It’s a short walk from the Muradiye Complex and is associated with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s visit to the city.
The Bursa Atatürk House Museum is open daily except Mondays and admission is free (as of May 2024). It’s located on Çekirge Avenue directly across the street from Reşat Oyal Culture Park.
The mansion was built by Muhyi Bey in the late 19th century and later purchased by Colonel Mehmet Bey. Bursa Mayor Hasan Sami Bey then acquired the house and dedicated it to Atatürk (1881-1938) on his second visit to the city, which took place from January 20-24, 1923.
From that point on, Atatürk would stay in the house on his visits to Bursa and it became known as the Atatürk Mansion (Atatürk Köşkü). The property was sold to the city after 1938, and it opened as a museum in 1973. It also houses the Atatürk Archives.
Features of the Bursa Atatürk House Museum
The mansion was built in the Empire style and influenced by 19th century French architecture. It consists of a basement, two floors, and an attic. The basement was used as a kitchen and service area. A French pavilion stands in the garden.
The first floor of the mansion features a large reception hall to the right of the entrance. To the left is a dining room that opens to a sitting room where tea and coffee were served.
On the second floor, there are two bedrooms and a study. Nearly all of the artifacts at the Bursa Atatürk House Museum are original items used by Atatürk himself.
Reşat Oyal Culture Park
Just north of the Muradiye district is Reşat Oyal Culture Park (Reşat Oyal Kültür Parkı), which is the largest and most important public park in Bursa. It’s a wonderful green space providing activities for people of all ages.
The park was created by Mayor Reşat Oyal and opened on May 6, 1955, as Culturepark (Kültürpark). It hosted its first International Bursa Festival (Uluslararası Bursa Festival) in 1963, and has hosted many other fairs over the years. In 1999, it was renamed Reşat Oyal Culture Park after its founder. The park was completely renovated in 2006.
Reşat Oyal Culture Park has multiple entrances. The closest metro station is Kültürpark. It has a total area of 394,000 square meters, with 179,000 square meters of green space. It boasts over 6,000 trees and includes a lake, walking and biking paths, tea gardens, a conservatory, and an open-air theatre.
Visitors can enjoy restaurants, fountains, sculptures, playgrounds, and an amusement park. The Bursa Archaeological Museum is located within the park boundaries as well.
We walked through a section of the park after visiting the archaeological museum. Unfortunately, it was off season and most of the attractions and restaurants were closed. The only people we saw were a handful who were jogging or walking their dogs that day.
Yeni Kaplıca
Finally, just west of the park is Yeni Kaplıca, which is the oldest thermal bath in the city. It was founded after Süleyman the Magnificent went there to cure a case of gout. His Grand Vizier, Rüstem Pasha (c. 1505-1561), then had the bath built between 1552 and 1555. The men’s facility is the original Ottoman bath while the women’s facilities are newer. There’s also a hotel next door. The complex sits on the site of the baths of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
