Edirne
is located at the south of Tekirdağ, the province
between Turkey and Greece. The city had been the
second capital of Ottoman Empire for years and in
the 18th century had become one of the seven biggest
cities of Europe.
As it was the capital city
of the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago, there are numerous
historical and architectural important structures
in the province. Edirne is a living city - museum
with its mosques, religious complexes, bridges,
old bazaar places, caravanserais and palaces. SITES OF INTEREST:
Koru Mountain and Söğütlük forest recreation
areas, Sarayiçi, Erikli beach, Edirne and Enez
castles, Khrysopege Church, Peykler Medresesi (old
theological school), Saatli Medrese (old theological
school), Saray-ı Cedid, (New Palace), II. Bayezıd
and Sokullu or Kasım Pasha complexes, Yıldırım Bayezıd,
Eski Beylerbeyi, Gazi Mihal, Mezit Bey (Yeşilce),
Muradiye, Şah Melek, Üç Şerefeli and Selimiye mosques,
Bazaar, Ali Pasha Shops and Arasta, Rüstem Pasha
Inn (caravansary) and Ekmekçioğlu Ahmed Pasha Inn
also called Ayşe Kadın, Küçük Rüstem Pasha Inn,
Gazi Mihal, Saraçhane (Şehabeddin Pasha), Fatih,
Bayezıd, Yalnız Göz, Saray (Kanuni), Tunca, Meriç
bridges, Uzunköprü, Edirne Archeology and Ethnography
and Edirne Turkish Islamıc Works Museums MUSEUM: Edirne Museum Address: Selimiye Camii
Yanı - Edirne Tel: (284) 225 11 20
Open hours to visit: 08.00 - 12.00, 13.00 - 17.00
Open days to visit: Everyday except Monday
Turkish Islam Works Museum - Museum Tel: (+90 -
284) 225 16 25
Address : Adjacent to Selimiye Mosque
Open hours to visit: 08.00 - 12.00, 13.00 - 17.00
Open days to visit: Everyday except Monday
Lozan Monument and Museum - Museum Tel: (+90 - 284)
214 42 10
Address : The courtyard of Trakya University Presidency
Open hours to visit: 08.00 - 12.00, 13.00 - 17.00
The Health Museum - Museum Tel: (+90 - 284) 212
09 22
Address : Külliye of Beyazid II
Open hours to visit: 08.00 - 12.00, 13.00 - 17.00
Open days to visit: Everyday except Monday HISTORICAL SITES AND RUINS: Enez (Ainos)
Kale - Enez/Edirne
NATIONAL PARKS AND FOREST CAMPSITES: Göktepe
Mecidiyeköyü, Keşan / Edirne
Tel: (284) 212 43 07
Danişment Danişment, Keşan / Edirne Tel: (284) 212
43 07 Mosques and Churches :
The creation of Architect Sinan's mastery period,
Selimiye Mosque is the most important work of Edirne
and is one of the most beautiful samples of Ottoman
Architecture.
The other major mosques
and churches of the city could be counted as Üç
Şerefeli Cami (Three Minaret Balcony Mosque), Muradiye
Mosque, 2nd Bayezid Mosque and Külliye, Eski Cami
(Old Mosque), Yıldırım Bayezid Mosque, Fatih Cami
(Enez Hagia Sophia), Külliye of Sokullu (Külliye
of Kasım Paşa), Sweti George Church and Yahudi Havrası
(Jewish synagogue). Bridges : One of the major structure types
of Edirne is the bridges. No other capital or city
had attained the beauty of the bridges constructed
inside and outside Edirne, which were constructed
in the period of Sinan.
The oldest bridge constructed
in the city was from the period of Byzantine Emperor
Michael Palaiologos (1261-1282). As the bridge was
later reconstructed by Gazi Mihal Bey, it was called
with his name (1420). In 1640, Kemankeş Kara Mustafa
Paşa had added the sharp arched History Mansion
to this twenty seven sectioned bridge. The Şahabettin
Paşa (Saraçhane) Bridge that was constructed in
1451 has twelve arches and eleven pillars.
The major bridges of
Edirne Province are the Fatih Bridge constructed
in 1452 during the period of Fatih Sultan Mehmet;
Bayezid Bridge constructed by Architect Hayrettin
in1488; the Saray (Kanuni) Bridge, which was among
the creations of Architect Sinan in 1560; the Ekmekçizade
Ahmed Paşa Bridge constructed by Sedefkar Mehmed
Ağa between the years 1608-1615; the Meriç Bridge
(New Bridge)constructed at the junction of Meriç
and Arda rivers between 1842 - 1847. Caravanserais : The Rüstem Paşa Caravanserai,
which has a line of shops among the street and is
one of the most interesting examples of classical
Ottoman architecture was constructed by Architect
Sinan in the name of the famous grand vizier of
Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, Rüstem Paşa.
The Ekmekçioğlu Ahmed
Paşa Caravanserai was constructed by Defterdar (head
of the financial department) Ekmekçioğlu Ahmet Paşa
by the order of Sultan 1st Ahmed in 1609. Houses of Edirne :
The houses were constructed by the wooden framework
darned by stone walls and plasters. These houses
displayed a wonderful symmetry with the roof, which
is connected to the higher fringes by dual curved
elements, and the central entrance that was located
deep in the main entrance cubicle.
There was sections
called "hayat" (life), among the houses
located in the Balkan Peninsula. This section was
found either in the smallest or in the imposing
house. This section was the space where all the
chamber doors are opening to and was directed towards
the garden of the house and was on the columns of
1,5 - 2 meters. At the end of this section, another
separate part one step higher was covered with wooden
divans.
There was a marble
fountain located at an appropriate part of the gardens,
which were accessed by large doors from harem and
selamlıklar (Greeting halls for men and women).
In some houses, there were small ponds at the central
regions of the gardens covered by pergolas on which
vines grow. There was a small door between the Harem
ve selamlık (Greeting halls for men and women),
which was accessed through the courtyard. Bazaars : In order to cover the requirements
of an increasing economy and commerce density of
the city located on the transition ways and obtain
income for the mosques and charitable establishments
in the development period, numerous inns, bedestens
and bazaars were constructed. Beaches : Edirne has border with the Aegean
Sea (Saros Gulf) at the south part of the province
and the shores and the beaches have rich tourism
potential. National and Natural Parks : Gala Lake Natural
Protection Area Ornithology Areas : Meriç Delta SIGNIFICANT
DAYS: Local Days
of Celebration: Sultan Nevruz Day Edirne 21-22
March
Commemoration day for Mimar Sinan Edirne- Center
9 April
Kırkpınar Traditional Wrestling Edirne (Sarayiçi)
28 June-4 July
Celebration of the Hunters Edirne (Süloğlu and LalaPasha)
First Week of September
Arrival of Atatürk at Edirne Edirne-Center 21-25
December
Karagün (The Black Day) Edirne-Center 26 March
Commemoration day for Fatih Sultan Mehmed Edirne
29 March
Havsa Wrestling Havsa 11 June Freedom from Occupation
Days: Freedom Day - Uzunköprü Uzunköprü 18 November
Freedom Day - Keşan Keşan 19 November
Freedom Day - Meriç Meriç 19 November
Freedom Day - İpsala İpsala 20 November
Freedom Day - Enez Enez 23 November
Freedom Day - Havsa Havsa 23 November
Freedom Day - Edirne Edirne 25 November
Freedom Day - LalaPasha LalaPasha 27 November
Sırpsındığı Battle Victory Sarayakpınar Village
21 October Festivals: Enez
Fish Festival Enez First week in June Festivities: Kakava
Festivity Edirne Acı Çeşme and Gogo Graveyard 5-6
May
Hıdrellez Edirne 5-6 May
Hıdrellez İpsala (recreational areas in the vicinity)
6 May
Keşan Dallık Keşan 5 May
Hıdrellez Uzunköprü (Bülbül Korusu) (The Grove of
the Nightinpales) 6 May
Uzunköprü Dallık Festivities Uzunköprü (Bülbül Korusu)
Sunday on 2nd week of Hıdırellez
Enez Dallığı Enez 2nd week in May
Kırkpınar Festivities Edirne Fairs: Lalapaşa
Animal and Goods Fair Lalapaşa Kavaklık Mevkii First
week of August
Süleoğlu Fair Süleoğlu 9 August
İpsala Animal and Goods Fair İpsala Last week of
August
Keşan Animal and Goods Fair Keşan First week of
September
Uzunköprü Animal and Goods Fair Uzunköprü First
week of September
Havsa Animal and Goods Fair Havsa 10 September
