Halal Travel Guide: Bursa, Turkey - Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage
Reposted from the web
Summary: Bursa was an early Ottoman capital and is covered through its mosques, tombs, markets, baths, madrasahs, and old neighborhoods. This account keeps the original place names, dates, architectural details, food notes, and photographs from the trip.
After the Sultanate of Rum was defeated by the Mongol Empire and became a vassal state in 1243, many small states called beylics (beyliks) broke away from it. The Ottoman state was one of them. Around 1281, Osman became the bey and gradually expanded his territory by constantly attacking the Byzantine Empire. After Osman died in 1324, his son Orhan Gazi continued the attacks against the Byzantines.
In 1326, Orhan captured Bursa, the most important city on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara, and made it his official capital. From then on, the Ottomans used Bursa as a base. Over the next hundred years, they grew into the massive Ottoman Empire. Bursa stands as the best witness to the birth of the Ottoman Empire.
In 2014, UNESCO named the ancient city of Bursa a World Heritage site. Its full name is Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire.
Five of these heritage sites are located within Bursa. These five building complexes (külliye) were built by the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rulers of the Ottoman dynasty: Orhan (reigned 1324-1362), Murad I (reigned 1362-1389), Bayezid I (reigned 1389-1402), Mehmed I (reigned 1413-1421), and Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). They cover the entire history of the Ottomans from the founding of the state to the conquest of Istanbul.
The Inn District—Orhan
The Inn District (Khans Area), also called the Orhan complex (Orhan Külliye), was built by the second Ottoman ruler Orhan (reigned 1324-1362) and several later sultans. It is the first building complex (külliye) in Ottoman history and is known as an important symbol of the Ottoman growth into an empire.
As the first capital of the Ottoman dynasty, Orhan and his successors created a new style of city planning in Bursa. They were the first to build a building complex (külliye) in the commercial area outside the city walls. Besides a mosque, a religious school (madrasa), a public kitchen, and a bathhouse, the complex included many inns (khan), a covered market (bedesten), and a bazaar (bazaar). This style of city planning, known as the Bursa Model, served as an important reference for later Ottoman city construction and can be called a model for the empire.
The Orhan Mosque is the first mosque in Bursa. It was built in 1339 by the second Ottoman ruler Orhan (reigned 1324-1362). It was burned by the Karamanids in 1413, rebuilt by Sultan Mehmed I (reigned 1379-1421) in 1417, and repaired again after being damaged by an earthquake in 1855.
The Orhan Mosque is also the first T-shaped mosque in Ottoman history. The T-shaped mosque is a representative form of early Ottoman mosque architecture. to the main prayer hall, this design includes a room on each side of the entrance.
The Orhan Bathhouse is a double-domed Turkish bath (hammam) built by Orhan in 1339. Together with the Orhan Mosque, it forms part of the Orhan complex. This was also the first Turkish bath (hammam) in Ottoman history built outside the city walls to serve the bazaar commercial district.
The Great Mosque of Bursa (Bursa Ulu Cami) is the largest mosque in Bursa and the largest example of the Ottoman multi-domed mosque style. This mosque has 20 domes and two minarets, and it is known as a masterpiece of early Ottoman architecture.
The Great Mosque of Bursa was built between 1396 and 1399 by the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389-1402), to celebrate the famous Battle of Nicopolis. The architect is said to be Ali Neccar.
The covered market (Yıldırım Bedesten) was built by the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I, and served as the trade and financial center of Bursa at that time. Its relatively enclosed structure allowed domestic and foreign merchants to sell and store their most precious goods. The covered market is also the heart of the entire Bursa commercial district, with various inns and shops built around it. Today, it is a jewelry market and remains the area for the most valuable goods in the entire commercial district.
The Court Madrasah (Vaiziye Madrasah) sits right next to the west side of the Great Mosque. It was built by Amcazade Hüseyin Çelebi during the reign of Sultan Bayezid I (reigned 1389-1402) as a complex combining a religious school and a bazaar. The madrasah was destroyed in an earthquake in 1855. In 1957, archaeological excavations uncovered the foundation, and it was later rebuilt.
The Şengül Turkish bath (Şengül Hamamı) was built during the reign of Sultan Bayezid I (reigned 1389-1402) and is located right next to the north side of the Great Mosque. In the 16th century, the price here was 16 to 25 coins per day. The cold room was later destroyed by fire, but the octagonal main room covered by a dome still stands today.
The Silk Inn (İpek Khan) was built by order of the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413-1421), so it is also called the Sultan's Inn. The architect was the famous early 15th-century Ottoman architect İvaz Pasha, whose representative work is the famous Mehmed I complex in Bursa. The inn consists of a square courtyard with 38 rooms on both the upper and lower floors, and a fountain for cleaning in the middle. The east gate of the Silk Inn was once damaged due to road construction, but it was rebuilt in 1958.
Ivaz Pasha Bazaar is one of the inns and bazaars built around the covered market (Bedesten) during the reign of Sultan Mehmed I (reigned 1413-1421). The architect was Ivaz Pasha, a famous Ottoman architect from the early 15th century.
Geyve Khan was built by the famous Ottoman architect Ivaz Pasha, just like the Silk Inn. It was a gift to Sultan Mehmed I (reigned 1413-1421), so it is also called Ivaz Pasha Inn. The government fully renovated this place in 2006.
Meyhaneli Turkish bath was built in 1426 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). Meyhaneli means tavern, because this place was once used as a winery. Meyhaneli bath is also called Chicken Market (Tavuk Pazarı) bath, which was the former name of the location where the bath stands.
The sections for men's and women's cold showers were torn down for road construction, but other parts were renovated recently.
Rice Inn (Pirinç Khan) was built between 1490 and 1508 by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II (reigned 1481-1512). The architect was Yakup Shah.
The inn is a square courtyard made of 97 rooms, with 50 rooms on the upper floor and 47 on the lower floor. The eastern porch of the inn burned down in 1519 and was renovated afterward. The inn was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1855. Between 1903 and 1906, the northeastern part of the inn was torn down for road construction. Restoration of the inn began in 1983 and was finally completed in 2004.
Fidan Khan was built by order of Mahmud Pasha, the Grand Vizier of the seventh Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed II the Conqueror (reigned 1444-1446, 1451-1488). Because of this, it is also called Mahmud Pasha Inn. Fidan Khan is one of the largest inns in Bursa. It consists of 98 rooms forming a huge square courtyard, with a washing fountain and a small mosque in the center. The 48 rooms on the first floor were used as warehouses, and the 50 rooms on the second floor were used as shops.
The Koza Inn (Khan) was built between 1489 and 1491 by order of Sultan Bayezid II (reigned 1481-1512), and the architect was Abdul-ula bin Pulad Shah. After it was finished, the Koza Inn was also called the New Inn (Yeni Han).
The inn is a square courtyard made of 101 rooms, with 50 rooms on the first floor and 51 on the second. In the middle of the courtyard stands a small octagonal mosque, with a pool for wudu on the first floor and a prayer hall on the second.
Since the 15th century, the Koza Inn has been the trade center of Bursa and the busiest inn for foreign trade.
The Tuz Inn (Khan) is a small inn built by Umur Bey in 1454. It has 43 rooms surrounding a square courtyard, with 23 rooms upstairs and 20 rooms downstairs. There is a washing fountain in the middle of the courtyard, but no mosque.
The inn was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1855 and became even more run-down after a fire in 1901. The inn reopened in 2007 after being restored.
The Kütahya Inn (Khan) was built with funds donated by Buharalı Emir Efendi during the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421-1444, 1446-1451). It was once used as a shoe factory and warehouse, but the city government recently restored it to its original appearance.
The Perşembe Turkish bath (hammam) was built by Hacı Hasanzade Kazasker Mustafa Efendi during the reign of the seventh Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed the Conqueror (Mehmed II, reigned 1444-1446, 1451-1481).
The Perşembe bath is a small, single-unit bathhouse. Its changing room was torn down during road construction between 1903 and 1906.
Hüdavendigar Complex—Murad I
The Hüdavendigâr Complex (külliye) was built by the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362-1389), between 1363 and 1366. Murad I was known as "Hüdavendigâr," which translates literally from Persian as "Protector of Allah."
The Hüdavendigâr Complex is located on a hillside 5 kilometers west of the Bursa city center and includes a mosque, a madrasa, a public kitchen, a bathhouse, and a tomb.
Murad I was the son of Orhan I, the second ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Under his rule, the Ottomans captured most of the Balkans and made Edirne, located northwest of Constantinople, their new capital in 1363. Although Bursa lost its status as the capital, it remained the most important political and commercial center for the Ottoman territories in Asia.
In 1383, Murad I officially declared himself Sultan, marking the transition of the Ottoman state from a principality independent of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum into a powerful sultanate.
The Hüdavendigar Mosque, also known as the Murad I Mosque, was built by Sultan Murad I between 1363 and 1366. It is a classic early Ottoman mosque with a T-shaped floor plan, and its most unique feature is that the madrasa is located on the floor above the main prayer hall. Because many Byzantine craftsmen helped build it, the mosque features Byzantine-style brickwork and column capitals. It is also the only Ottoman mosque that has two porticos.
The Hüdavendigar public kitchen (imaret), also called the Murad I public kitchen, was built by Sultan Murad I between 1367 and 1385. The kitchen was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1855 and was renovated in 1906 by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, who reigned from 1876 to 1909.
During the Ottoman era, everyone visiting the Hüdavendigar complex could eat and stay here for free for three days.
Today, it serves as a cultural center and still provides free food to anyone in need.
The Girçık Turkish bath (hammam) was built by Sultan Murad I between 1365 and 1366, and it has been in continuous use since it was restored in 1990.
The Old Bath (Eski Kaplıca) was built in 1385, and some of its columns, stone statues by the pool, and water spouts in the hot pool are original items from the Byzantine era. Since 1988, it has reopened as part of a hotel, with separate sections for men and women.
The Thunderbolt Complex—Bayezid I
The Thunderbolt Complex (Yıldırım Külliye), also known as the Bayezid I Complex (Bayezid I Külliye), was built in 1390 by the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I, who was known as "The Thunderbolt" and reigned from 1389 to 1402, in the easternmost part of Bursa.
In the late 14th century, Bayezid the Thunderbolt (Yıldırım Bayezid) was known as the most powerful ruler in the Islamic world, commanding its finest army. Under his rule, the Ottoman Empire expanded steadily. In Europe, it included Thrace outside of Constantinople, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and parts of Serbia. In Asia, it reached the Taurus Mountains in southern Anatolia.
In 1402, Bayezid the Thunderbolt fought a decisive battle against the famous Timur the Great in Ankara. Bayezid was defeated and captured, and he died shortly after in Timur's military camp. After Bayezid the Thunderbolt died, his sons started the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, known as the Ottoman Interregnum.
The Thunderbolt (Yıldırım) Mosque, also called the Bayezid the Thunderbolt (Yıldırım Bayezid) Mosque, was built by order of Sultan Bayezid I between 1390 and 1395. It underwent major repairs after an earthquake in 1855, and a new minaret was added in 1963.
The Thunderbolt Mosque is the only early Ottoman mosque in Bursa built entirely of stone, without using any bricks. Additionally, the Thunderbolt Mosque is the first mosque to feature the Bursa arch structure. This flat arch sits between the main hall and the entrance, supporting two large domes.
The Thunderbolt Madrasah (Yıldırım Madrasah) is located northwest of the mosque. It was built by order of Sultan Bayezid I between 1390 and 1395 and was the first early Ottoman madrasah to have high walls. After the madrasah closed, it became a pharmacy in 1948.
The Bayezid the Thunderbolt (Yıldırım Bayezid) tomb was built in 1406 by Bayezid I's son, Süleyman Çelebi. The architect's name was Ali. In 1402, Bayezid the Thunderbolt fought a decisive battle against Timur the Lame in Ankara. He was defeated and captured, died shortly after in Timur's camp, and his body was later brought back to Bursa for burial.
The Mollayegan Madrasah was built in the late 14th century by Kara Eyne Bey, a commander under Bayezid the Thunderbolt, so it was originally called the Kara Eyne Bey Madrasah. Molla Yegan was a scientist during the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). He taught here for a long time in the early 15th century, and the madrasah was later named after him.
The madrasah underwent a major renovation in 1723 and was repaired again in 2006. It is now open to the public as a cafeteria, exhibition space, and handicraft center.
The Green Complex—Mehmed I
The Green Complex (Yesil Külliye), also called the Mehmed I Complex (Mehmed I Külliye), is the fourth complex built in Bursa. It was constructed by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, who reigned from 1413 to 1421.
Mehmed was the fourth son of the fourth Sultan, Bayezid the Thunderbolt. In 1402, Bayezid I the Thunderbolt was captured by the great Tamerlane and died in a military camp shortly after. Mehmed, who was fighting alongside his father, was rescued on the battlefield by Bayezid Pasha and taken to the pasha's hometown of Amasya.
At that time, Bayezid I's eldest son had passed away and his second son was imprisoned by Tamerlane. The remaining four adult princes—Mehmed, Suleiman, Isa, and Musa—began to fight for the throne. This civil war is known as the Ottoman Interregnum.
Mehmed eventually reunified the Ottoman state and was officially crowned as Mehmed I in Edirne in 1413. Because he reunited the Ottoman Empire after its division, he is honored as the restorer of the Ottomans.
During the reign of Mehmed I, Edirne became more important than Bursa as the primary city among the two capitals, but after his death, he was still buried in the complex he built in Bursa.
The Green Mosque (Yeşil Mosque), also called the Mehmed I Mosque, was built by Sultan Mehmed I between 1414 and 1419. It is a masterpiece by the famous early 15th-century Ottoman architect İvaz Pasha. The Silk Inn (Koza Han), Geyve Inn (Geyve Han), and İvaz Pasha Bazaar in Bursa's inn district are also his works. the artists responsible for the painted decorations were Ali bin Ilyas and Mehmed el Mecnun.
The Green Mosque is a typical early Ottoman T-shaped mosque, and the main hall has two domes. The stone carvings on the mosque's main gate are considered the pinnacle of early Ottoman architecture. Due to the death of Mehmed I, the mosque's front porch (narthex) was never finished.
The Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe) is the mausoleum for Mehmed I and his family. It was also ordered by Mehmed I and built by İvaz Pasha between 1414 and 1421. This tomb gets its name from the blue-green Iznik tiles, and the entire complex is named the Green Complex because of it.
The artists who painted the murals were Ali bin İlyas Ali, Mehmed el Mecnun, and Ali bin Hacı Ahmed Tebrizi, and their names appear on the walls of the tomb.
After the 1855 earthquake, this place was covered in blue Kutahya tiles, and the original tiles inside are considered a masterpiece of early Ottoman tile art.
The Green Madrasah (Yeşil Madrasah) was commissioned by Sultan Mehmed in 1414, but it was not finished on time because the Sultan died in 1421, and it finally opened in 1424.
The Green Public Kitchen (Yeşil İmaret) was also commissioned by Sultan Mehmed between 1414 and 1421, and it still gives out free food to the public today. When I visited, I happened to see a family picking up food at the kitchen.
Muradiye Complex—Murad II
The Muradiye Complex (Muradiye Külliyesi), also called the Murad II Complex (Murad II Külliyesi), was built in 1426 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444 and 1446–1451).
Murad II was the last Sultan to rule from Bursa before the Ottomans conquered Constantinople. Besides standard buildings like the mosque, madrasah, and bathhouse, the complex is most famous for being the first to include a royal cemetery (hazire) for Ottoman family members. This style of cemetery later became common in Istanbul.
The Muradiye Mosque, also known as the Murad II Mosque, was built by Sultan Murad II between 1425 and 1426.
The Muradiye Mosque is an early Ottoman "T-shaped" mosque, with two domes over the main hall and a smaller dome on each side. The interior of the mosque is decorated with blue-green and dark blue hexagonal tiles.
The Muradiye (Murad II) Madrasah and the Muradiye Mosque were both built by order of Sultan Murad II in 1426. The madrasah has 14 student rooms surrounding a courtyard, with a large classroom covered by a dome in the center.
After 1951, the madrasah became a tuberculosis clinic, and since 2005, it has served as the Döne Ocak Early Cancer Diagnosis Center.
The Muradiye (Murad II) Public Kitchen was built by order of Sultan Murad II between 1425 and 1426, and it became a restaurant after 1995.
The Muradiye (Murad II) Turkish bath (hammam) was built in 1425 by order of Sultan Murad II. Later traffic planning separated it from the courtyard where the Muradiye Mosque and the madrasa are located.
This building was once used as a foundry before it was restored to a Turkish bath. Between 2008 and 2010, the city government took over the site and restored it. After the work was finished, it was given to the Bursa Disabled People's Committee to become a center for disabled development.
The Muradiye Cemetery, founded in 1449, is the first royal cemetery in Ottoman history. Its 12 tombs hold dozens of wives, sons, and daughters of Ottoman sultans, making it the most important cemetery from the early Ottoman period. Construction of the tombs in the cemetery continued until the 16th century. This shows that even though Istanbul was the capital by then, Bursa still held a high place in the hearts of the Ottoman royal family.
The 10 tombs with clear records are as follows:
(1) Tomb of Sultan Murad II: 1451—the sixth sultan.
(2) Tomb of Hüma Hatun: 1449—wife of the sixth sultan.
(3) Tomb of Sultan Cem: 1479—son of the seventh sultan.
(4) Tomb of Gülşah Hatun: 1487—wife of the seventh sultan.
(5) Tomb of Gülruh Hatun: 1527—wife of the eighth sultan.
(6) Tomb of Şirin Hatun: early 16th century—wife of the eighth sultan.
(7) Tomb of Prince Ahmed: 1513—son of the eighth sultan.
(8) Tomb of Prince Mahmud: 1507—son of the eighth sultan.
(9) Tomb of Mükrime Hatun: 1517—daughter-in-law of the eighth sultan.
(10) Tomb of Prince Mustafa: 1573—son of the tenth sultan.
Food
You have to try the Bursa kebab (Bursa kebap) when you visit Bursa. It is made by adding yogurt and tomato sauce to the meat. This was the first food I had in Turkey that I could not fully get used to. But their fermented grape juice (şıra) is super delicious!
I had breakfast at the hotel, right across from the beautiful Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) in Bursa.
The next day, I had a dish similar to the Bursa kebab called meatball flatbread (Pideli köfte), which just swaps the meat slices for meatballs.
I had Turkish pizza (pide) for dinner. I really liked it because they were generous with the toppings.
In front of a mosque in Bursa, an old man was selling pastries for one lira each. They are called Damascus sweets (Şam Tatlısı) and are said to have a very long history.
Summary: Bursa was an early Ottoman capital and is covered through its mosques, tombs, markets, baths, madrasahs, and old neighborhoods. This account keeps the original place names, dates, architectural details, food notes, and photographs from the trip.
After the Sultanate of Rum was defeated by the Mongol Empire and became a vassal state in 1243, many small states called beylics (beyliks) broke away from it. The Ottoman state was one of them. Around 1281, Osman became the bey and gradually expanded his territory by constantly attacking the Byzantine Empire. After Osman died in 1324, his son Orhan Gazi continued the attacks against the Byzantines.
In 1326, Orhan captured Bursa, the most important city on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara, and made it his official capital. From then on, the Ottomans used Bursa as a base. Over the next hundred years, they grew into the massive Ottoman Empire. Bursa stands as the best witness to the birth of the Ottoman Empire.
In 2014, UNESCO named the ancient city of Bursa a World Heritage site. Its full name is Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire.
Five of these heritage sites are located within Bursa. These five building complexes (külliye) were built by the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rulers of the Ottoman dynasty: Orhan (reigned 1324-1362), Murad I (reigned 1362-1389), Bayezid I (reigned 1389-1402), Mehmed I (reigned 1413-1421), and Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). They cover the entire history of the Ottomans from the founding of the state to the conquest of Istanbul.
The Inn District—Orhan
The Inn District (Khans Area), also called the Orhan complex (Orhan Külliye), was built by the second Ottoman ruler Orhan (reigned 1324-1362) and several later sultans. It is the first building complex (külliye) in Ottoman history and is known as an important symbol of the Ottoman growth into an empire.
As the first capital of the Ottoman dynasty, Orhan and his successors created a new style of city planning in Bursa. They were the first to build a building complex (külliye) in the commercial area outside the city walls. Besides a mosque, a religious school (madrasa), a public kitchen, and a bathhouse, the complex included many inns (khan), a covered market (bedesten), and a bazaar (bazaar). This style of city planning, known as the Bursa Model, served as an important reference for later Ottoman city construction and can be called a model for the empire.
The Orhan Mosque is the first mosque in Bursa. It was built in 1339 by the second Ottoman ruler Orhan (reigned 1324-1362). It was burned by the Karamanids in 1413, rebuilt by Sultan Mehmed I (reigned 1379-1421) in 1417, and repaired again after being damaged by an earthquake in 1855.
The Orhan Mosque is also the first T-shaped mosque in Ottoman history. The T-shaped mosque is a representative form of early Ottoman mosque architecture. to the main prayer hall, this design includes a room on each side of the entrance.
The Orhan Bathhouse is a double-domed Turkish bath (hammam) built by Orhan in 1339. Together with the Orhan Mosque, it forms part of the Orhan complex. This was also the first Turkish bath (hammam) in Ottoman history built outside the city walls to serve the bazaar commercial district.
The Great Mosque of Bursa (Bursa Ulu Cami) is the largest mosque in Bursa and the largest example of the Ottoman multi-domed mosque style. This mosque has 20 domes and two minarets, and it is known as a masterpiece of early Ottoman architecture.
The Great Mosque of Bursa was built between 1396 and 1399 by the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389-1402), to celebrate the famous Battle of Nicopolis. The architect is said to be Ali Neccar.
The covered market (Yıldırım Bedesten) was built by the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I, and served as the trade and financial center of Bursa at that time. Its relatively enclosed structure allowed domestic and foreign merchants to sell and store their most precious goods. The covered market is also the heart of the entire Bursa commercial district, with various inns and shops built around it. Today, it is a jewelry market and remains the area for the most valuable goods in the entire commercial district.
The Court Madrasah (Vaiziye Madrasah) sits right next to the west side of the Great Mosque. It was built by Amcazade Hüseyin Çelebi during the reign of Sultan Bayezid I (reigned 1389-1402) as a complex combining a religious school and a bazaar. The madrasah was destroyed in an earthquake in 1855. In 1957, archaeological excavations uncovered the foundation, and it was later rebuilt.
The Şengül Turkish bath (Şengül Hamamı) was built during the reign of Sultan Bayezid I (reigned 1389-1402) and is located right next to the north side of the Great Mosque. In the 16th century, the price here was 16 to 25 coins per day. The cold room was later destroyed by fire, but the octagonal main room covered by a dome still stands today.
The Silk Inn (İpek Khan) was built by order of the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413-1421), so it is also called the Sultan's Inn. The architect was the famous early 15th-century Ottoman architect İvaz Pasha, whose representative work is the famous Mehmed I complex in Bursa. The inn consists of a square courtyard with 38 rooms on both the upper and lower floors, and a fountain for cleaning in the middle. The east gate of the Silk Inn was once damaged due to road construction, but it was rebuilt in 1958.
Ivaz Pasha Bazaar is one of the inns and bazaars built around the covered market (Bedesten) during the reign of Sultan Mehmed I (reigned 1413-1421). The architect was Ivaz Pasha, a famous Ottoman architect from the early 15th century.
Geyve Khan was built by the famous Ottoman architect Ivaz Pasha, just like the Silk Inn. It was a gift to Sultan Mehmed I (reigned 1413-1421), so it is also called Ivaz Pasha Inn. The government fully renovated this place in 2006.
Meyhaneli Turkish bath was built in 1426 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). Meyhaneli means tavern, because this place was once used as a winery. Meyhaneli bath is also called Chicken Market (Tavuk Pazarı) bath, which was the former name of the location where the bath stands.
The sections for men's and women's cold showers were torn down for road construction, but other parts were renovated recently.
Rice Inn (Pirinç Khan) was built between 1490 and 1508 by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II (reigned 1481-1512). The architect was Yakup Shah.
The inn is a square courtyard made of 97 rooms, with 50 rooms on the upper floor and 47 on the lower floor. The eastern porch of the inn burned down in 1519 and was renovated afterward. The inn was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1855. Between 1903 and 1906, the northeastern part of the inn was torn down for road construction. Restoration of the inn began in 1983 and was finally completed in 2004.
Fidan Khan was built by order of Mahmud Pasha, the Grand Vizier of the seventh Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed II the Conqueror (reigned 1444-1446, 1451-1488). Because of this, it is also called Mahmud Pasha Inn. Fidan Khan is one of the largest inns in Bursa. It consists of 98 rooms forming a huge square courtyard, with a washing fountain and a small mosque in the center. The 48 rooms on the first floor were used as warehouses, and the 50 rooms on the second floor were used as shops.
The Koza Inn (Khan) was built between 1489 and 1491 by order of Sultan Bayezid II (reigned 1481-1512), and the architect was Abdul-ula bin Pulad Shah. After it was finished, the Koza Inn was also called the New Inn (Yeni Han).
The inn is a square courtyard made of 101 rooms, with 50 rooms on the first floor and 51 on the second. In the middle of the courtyard stands a small octagonal mosque, with a pool for wudu on the first floor and a prayer hall on the second.
Since the 15th century, the Koza Inn has been the trade center of Bursa and the busiest inn for foreign trade.
The Tuz Inn (Khan) is a small inn built by Umur Bey in 1454. It has 43 rooms surrounding a square courtyard, with 23 rooms upstairs and 20 rooms downstairs. There is a washing fountain in the middle of the courtyard, but no mosque.
The inn was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1855 and became even more run-down after a fire in 1901. The inn reopened in 2007 after being restored.
The Kütahya Inn (Khan) was built with funds donated by Buharalı Emir Efendi during the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421-1444, 1446-1451). It was once used as a shoe factory and warehouse, but the city government recently restored it to its original appearance.
The Perşembe Turkish bath (hammam) was built by Hacı Hasanzade Kazasker Mustafa Efendi during the reign of the seventh Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed the Conqueror (Mehmed II, reigned 1444-1446, 1451-1481).
The Perşembe bath is a small, single-unit bathhouse. Its changing room was torn down during road construction between 1903 and 1906.
Hüdavendigar Complex—Murad I
The Hüdavendigâr Complex (külliye) was built by the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362-1389), between 1363 and 1366. Murad I was known as "Hüdavendigâr," which translates literally from Persian as "Protector of Allah."
The Hüdavendigâr Complex is located on a hillside 5 kilometers west of the Bursa city center and includes a mosque, a madrasa, a public kitchen, a bathhouse, and a tomb.
Murad I was the son of Orhan I, the second ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Under his rule, the Ottomans captured most of the Balkans and made Edirne, located northwest of Constantinople, their new capital in 1363. Although Bursa lost its status as the capital, it remained the most important political and commercial center for the Ottoman territories in Asia.
In 1383, Murad I officially declared himself Sultan, marking the transition of the Ottoman state from a principality independent of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum into a powerful sultanate.
The Hüdavendigar Mosque, also known as the Murad I Mosque, was built by Sultan Murad I between 1363 and 1366. It is a classic early Ottoman mosque with a T-shaped floor plan, and its most unique feature is that the madrasa is located on the floor above the main prayer hall. Because many Byzantine craftsmen helped build it, the mosque features Byzantine-style brickwork and column capitals. It is also the only Ottoman mosque that has two porticos.
The Hüdavendigar public kitchen (imaret), also called the Murad I public kitchen, was built by Sultan Murad I between 1367 and 1385. The kitchen was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1855 and was renovated in 1906 by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, who reigned from 1876 to 1909.
During the Ottoman era, everyone visiting the Hüdavendigar complex could eat and stay here for free for three days.
Today, it serves as a cultural center and still provides free food to anyone in need.
The Girçık Turkish bath (hammam) was built by Sultan Murad I between 1365 and 1366, and it has been in continuous use since it was restored in 1990.
The Old Bath (Eski Kaplıca) was built in 1385, and some of its columns, stone statues by the pool, and water spouts in the hot pool are original items from the Byzantine era. Since 1988, it has reopened as part of a hotel, with separate sections for men and women.
The Thunderbolt Complex—Bayezid I
The Thunderbolt Complex (Yıldırım Külliye), also known as the Bayezid I Complex (Bayezid I Külliye), was built in 1390 by the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I, who was known as "The Thunderbolt" and reigned from 1389 to 1402, in the easternmost part of Bursa.
In the late 14th century, Bayezid the Thunderbolt (Yıldırım Bayezid) was known as the most powerful ruler in the Islamic world, commanding its finest army. Under his rule, the Ottoman Empire expanded steadily. In Europe, it included Thrace outside of Constantinople, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and parts of Serbia. In Asia, it reached the Taurus Mountains in southern Anatolia.
In 1402, Bayezid the Thunderbolt fought a decisive battle against the famous Timur the Great in Ankara. Bayezid was defeated and captured, and he died shortly after in Timur's military camp. After Bayezid the Thunderbolt died, his sons started the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, known as the Ottoman Interregnum.
The Thunderbolt (Yıldırım) Mosque, also called the Bayezid the Thunderbolt (Yıldırım Bayezid) Mosque, was built by order of Sultan Bayezid I between 1390 and 1395. It underwent major repairs after an earthquake in 1855, and a new minaret was added in 1963.
The Thunderbolt Mosque is the only early Ottoman mosque in Bursa built entirely of stone, without using any bricks. Additionally, the Thunderbolt Mosque is the first mosque to feature the Bursa arch structure. This flat arch sits between the main hall and the entrance, supporting two large domes.
The Thunderbolt Madrasah (Yıldırım Madrasah) is located northwest of the mosque. It was built by order of Sultan Bayezid I between 1390 and 1395 and was the first early Ottoman madrasah to have high walls. After the madrasah closed, it became a pharmacy in 1948.
The Bayezid the Thunderbolt (Yıldırım Bayezid) tomb was built in 1406 by Bayezid I's son, Süleyman Çelebi. The architect's name was Ali. In 1402, Bayezid the Thunderbolt fought a decisive battle against Timur the Lame in Ankara. He was defeated and captured, died shortly after in Timur's camp, and his body was later brought back to Bursa for burial.
The Mollayegan Madrasah was built in the late 14th century by Kara Eyne Bey, a commander under Bayezid the Thunderbolt, so it was originally called the Kara Eyne Bey Madrasah. Molla Yegan was a scientist during the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). He taught here for a long time in the early 15th century, and the madrasah was later named after him.
The madrasah underwent a major renovation in 1723 and was repaired again in 2006. It is now open to the public as a cafeteria, exhibition space, and handicraft center.
The Green Complex—Mehmed I
The Green Complex (Yesil Külliye), also called the Mehmed I Complex (Mehmed I Külliye), is the fourth complex built in Bursa. It was constructed by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, who reigned from 1413 to 1421.
Mehmed was the fourth son of the fourth Sultan, Bayezid the Thunderbolt. In 1402, Bayezid I the Thunderbolt was captured by the great Tamerlane and died in a military camp shortly after. Mehmed, who was fighting alongside his father, was rescued on the battlefield by Bayezid Pasha and taken to the pasha's hometown of Amasya.
At that time, Bayezid I's eldest son had passed away and his second son was imprisoned by Tamerlane. The remaining four adult princes—Mehmed, Suleiman, Isa, and Musa—began to fight for the throne. This civil war is known as the Ottoman Interregnum.
Mehmed eventually reunified the Ottoman state and was officially crowned as Mehmed I in Edirne in 1413. Because he reunited the Ottoman Empire after its division, he is honored as the restorer of the Ottomans.
During the reign of Mehmed I, Edirne became more important than Bursa as the primary city among the two capitals, but after his death, he was still buried in the complex he built in Bursa.
The Green Mosque (Yeşil Mosque), also called the Mehmed I Mosque, was built by Sultan Mehmed I between 1414 and 1419. It is a masterpiece by the famous early 15th-century Ottoman architect İvaz Pasha. The Silk Inn (Koza Han), Geyve Inn (Geyve Han), and İvaz Pasha Bazaar in Bursa's inn district are also his works. the artists responsible for the painted decorations were Ali bin Ilyas and Mehmed el Mecnun.
The Green Mosque is a typical early Ottoman T-shaped mosque, and the main hall has two domes. The stone carvings on the mosque's main gate are considered the pinnacle of early Ottoman architecture. Due to the death of Mehmed I, the mosque's front porch (narthex) was never finished.
The Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe) is the mausoleum for Mehmed I and his family. It was also ordered by Mehmed I and built by İvaz Pasha between 1414 and 1421. This tomb gets its name from the blue-green Iznik tiles, and the entire complex is named the Green Complex because of it.
The artists who painted the murals were Ali bin İlyas Ali, Mehmed el Mecnun, and Ali bin Hacı Ahmed Tebrizi, and their names appear on the walls of the tomb.
After the 1855 earthquake, this place was covered in blue Kutahya tiles, and the original tiles inside are considered a masterpiece of early Ottoman tile art.
The Green Madrasah (Yeşil Madrasah) was commissioned by Sultan Mehmed in 1414, but it was not finished on time because the Sultan died in 1421, and it finally opened in 1424.
The Green Public Kitchen (Yeşil İmaret) was also commissioned by Sultan Mehmed between 1414 and 1421, and it still gives out free food to the public today. When I visited, I happened to see a family picking up food at the kitchen.
Muradiye Complex—Murad II
The Muradiye Complex (Muradiye Külliyesi), also called the Murad II Complex (Murad II Külliyesi), was built in 1426 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444 and 1446–1451).
Murad II was the last Sultan to rule from Bursa before the Ottomans conquered Constantinople. Besides standard buildings like the mosque, madrasah, and bathhouse, the complex is most famous for being the first to include a royal cemetery (hazire) for Ottoman family members. This style of cemetery later became common in Istanbul.
The Muradiye Mosque, also known as the Murad II Mosque, was built by Sultan Murad II between 1425 and 1426.
The Muradiye Mosque is an early Ottoman "T-shaped" mosque, with two domes over the main hall and a smaller dome on each side. The interior of the mosque is decorated with blue-green and dark blue hexagonal tiles.
The Muradiye (Murad II) Madrasah and the Muradiye Mosque were both built by order of Sultan Murad II in 1426. The madrasah has 14 student rooms surrounding a courtyard, with a large classroom covered by a dome in the center.
After 1951, the madrasah became a tuberculosis clinic, and since 2005, it has served as the Döne Ocak Early Cancer Diagnosis Center.
The Muradiye (Murad II) Public Kitchen was built by order of Sultan Murad II between 1425 and 1426, and it became a restaurant after 1995.
The Muradiye (Murad II) Turkish bath (hammam) was built in 1425 by order of Sultan Murad II. Later traffic planning separated it from the courtyard where the Muradiye Mosque and the madrasa are located.
This building was once used as a foundry before it was restored to a Turkish bath. Between 2008 and 2010, the city government took over the site and restored it. After the work was finished, it was given to the Bursa Disabled People's Committee to become a center for disabled development.
The Muradiye Cemetery, founded in 1449, is the first royal cemetery in Ottoman history. Its 12 tombs hold dozens of wives, sons, and daughters of Ottoman sultans, making it the most important cemetery from the early Ottoman period. Construction of the tombs in the cemetery continued until the 16th century. This shows that even though Istanbul was the capital by then, Bursa still held a high place in the hearts of the Ottoman royal family.
The 10 tombs with clear records are as follows:
(1) Tomb of Sultan Murad II: 1451—the sixth sultan.
(2) Tomb of Hüma Hatun: 1449—wife of the sixth sultan.
(3) Tomb of Sultan Cem: 1479—son of the seventh sultan.
(4) Tomb of Gülşah Hatun: 1487—wife of the seventh sultan.
(5) Tomb of Gülruh Hatun: 1527—wife of the eighth sultan.
(6) Tomb of Şirin Hatun: early 16th century—wife of the eighth sultan.
(7) Tomb of Prince Ahmed: 1513—son of the eighth sultan.
(8) Tomb of Prince Mahmud: 1507—son of the eighth sultan.
(9) Tomb of Mükrime Hatun: 1517—daughter-in-law of the eighth sultan.
(10) Tomb of Prince Mustafa: 1573—son of the tenth sultan.
Food
You have to try the Bursa kebab (Bursa kebap) when you visit Bursa. It is made by adding yogurt and tomato sauce to the meat. This was the first food I had in Turkey that I could not fully get used to. But their fermented grape juice (şıra) is super delicious!
I had breakfast at the hotel, right across from the beautiful Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) in Bursa.
The next day, I had a dish similar to the Bursa kebab called meatball flatbread (Pideli köfte), which just swaps the meat slices for meatballs.
I had Turkish pizza (pide) for dinner. I really liked it because they were generous with the toppings.
In front of a mosque in Bursa, an old man was selling pastries for one lira each. They are called Damascus sweets (Şam Tatlısı) and are said to have a very long history.
