Things to Do in Edirne

Commissioned by Sultan Selim II and built by Mimar Sinan in the 16th century, this Islamic architecture masterpiece is the most elegant summary of Ottoman architectural philosophy. The interiors and exteriors are highly symmetrical, a distinctive feature that was designed to draw the eye and centralise the rapidly expanding city. The highlights to notice are:

• How, unusually for mosques, this one was designed to appear to be a single unit rather than multiple ones.
• The four up-shooting minarets that focus attention on the central dome (they are the second tallest in the world).
• The humbly decorated interiors, with a great number of small windows that filter in the light.
• The highly ornately decorated dome.
• The calligraphy on the dome.

The mosque is in the centre of a kulliye (a neighbourhood complex consisting of a row of shops, a time-keepers rooms and a madrassa).

This hospital museum is set within a complex of buildings that was for four centuries famous for its treatment of various diseases, and especially mental illnesses (which they treated unusually humanistic methods - with musical therapy and aroma therapy).

Today it exhibits the history of medicine and health matters in general. As such, it is a critically important centre on the development of medicine and medical services. You even get to see a Medical School, one of the best of its kind in the world in its times. A lot of the school’s original treatment infrastructure has been preserved exactly as it was centuries ago – you can actually see the influences employed their healing techniques.

The museum is the second most visited site in Edirne after the Selimiye Mosque, and has received upto 130,000 visitors in a single year.

This lovely 15th century Ottoman Mosque is located close to the historical centre of Edirne, not far away from Selimiye. It is one of the three imperial mosques in the city, and the smallest of these. Still, that doesn’t mean the other Mosques overshadow it, for it houses something beautiful – exquisite calligraphic writings on its interior walls. The other highlights are the small dome, the beautiful pulpit, and the balconies.

The 150 year old bridge crosses the Maritsa, and though it doesn’t seem very remarkable in and of itself, it stands on one of the most picturesque spots in town. There is a cute cafe nearby, where you can grab some tea, sit down, and watch the crowd go by. In the middle of the bridge, there is an Ottoman Kiosk, from where apparently, the Sultan used to watch the sunsets – you can take a leaf from his book and snap some excellent pictures. It’s also nice in the mornings, when there’s usually fog over the river.

A quaint town, Karaagac has an important history, not least of which is that the Treaty of Lausanne was signed here. Just 4km southwest of Edirne, the city has pretty streets, lovely boulevards and parks. It’s an extremely charming place, and you should make it a point just to walk around. Some of the attractions and highlights you’ll find here are:

• Two ottoman bridges: one spanning the Tundzha that connect to downtown at the end of Maarif Caddesi; the other, only 250 metres away, spanning the Maritsa.
• A mile and half long road connecting Maritsa Bridge with Karaagac.
• Sogutluk park forest – a picnic favourite.
• The old train station.
• The Lausanne Monument, and the free open air sculpture museum in the pinewoods nearby.

Built in the 16th century by Mimar Sinan, this covered bazaar isn’t like the usual Turkish bazaars you may have heard of, especially like the one in Istanbul. The merchants here are very polite and nice to you, not pushy. The bazaar isn’t quite so large, either, but there is a good range of merchandise - ceramics, carpets, lamps, clothes, bags, shoes, spice, antiques and souvenirs. Bargain away to your hearts content. The building itself is quite beautiful.

This museum is sister to the Museum of Islamic Arts close to Selimiye Mosque and is located right next to it. It’s highlights are:

• Thracian funerary steles featuring horsemen.
• Textiles and carpets (Socks, gloves, various embroidered napkins, waistbands and towels).
• Clothes (shirts, jackets, dresses and Turkish trousers).
• Calligraphy and jewellery.
• Decorative wooden objects.
• Kitchen utensils.
• Artefacts from Anatolia from the Prehistoric age.
• Ceramics from the European Antiquity.
• Greek Roman and Silver coins.
• Miocene era fossils (30 million years old).

The museum stores an eclectic collection of Ottoman-era artefacts, many of them taken from buildings that no longer exist. These artefacts cover lligraphy, weaponry, glass, woodwork, ceramics, costumes and jewellery. In the Tekke Works Room there are dervish related Korans, prayer rugs and musical instruments. There is also a Circumcision room. A third room contains furniture and kitchen utensils. You’ll also found an Ottoman era tent of embroidered satin, where state affairs were once conducted. Finally, you’ll find fifteenth century gravestones.

This is the third of the three imperial mosques in the city centre. You best cover them all together. When first built, it was distinct for having the largest dome of any Ottoman building. The highlights are:

• Two blue-turquoise tile panels in the tympana of the windows.
• Chinese floral borders.
• A prettily painted central dome.
• The fountain in the gorgeous courtyard.
• The minaret with stylistic twists in its body.
• The minaret with three balconies, which has 273 steps to the top and is 76 metres high. Find out if you can climb these.
• Ahmed Pasha’s beautiful gravestone.

It is not clear who the architect of this mosque was.

This monument was opened in 2000, and lies on the highest hill in the city, close to the city cemetery. Rustu Pasha was the commander of Edirne’s defending forces during the Balkan war. The museum isn’t that big, but manages to a surprising number of war-artefacts in its four galleries. There is extensive documentation and also figurines and weapons, such as a small cannon used during the war. And though the museum lies a little away from the main city, its worth making your way here just for the view of Edirne from high above.

Opened in 1998, this museum is housed in the historic Karaagac Railway Staion. The Treaty of Lausanne came about in 1923, because the Turkish National Movement rejected the treaty formulated by the Allies and the Ottoman Empire as a result of losing too much territory. Karaagac was thus returned to Turkey after initially having been given to Greece (the current border is just about 1km away).

Once the Railway was discontinued in 1971, the Trakya University took it over, and in 1997, they established this museum and monument. The monument consists of:

• The Anatolia Column
• The Thracian Column
• The Karaagac Column
• A 4.2m high statue of a woman representing aesthetics, grace and justice.
• A pool at the feet of the monument representing the seas of Turkey.

The museum in the railway station contains documents and photographs and records pertaining to the treaty.

There is a beautiful garden nearby, and a coffee house.

This 15th century Ottoman palace was one of the largest in the empire. Even when Edirne wasn’t the ottoman capital anymore, it remained as a favourite royal summer retreat, with large hunting grounds surrounding it. In 1875 however, the Russians tore the palace down, as it was at that time being used as an arsenal, and they didn’t want it falling into the hands of the Bulgarians. Today, a slow but steady restoration process is ongoing. In the meanwhile, you can catch the following sights:

• Cihannuma Room – a seven story building with a pool on top
• Sand Pavilion
• Justice Pavilion
• Palace Garden
• Palace Gate

Technically this is a hotel, but it’s sheer historical value makes is must visit tourist attraction. May we recommend that you stay here rather than any of Edirne’s other, modern hotels. This traveller’s inn was built by the famous Mimar Sinan in the 16th century. Or you can just visit.

Pedestrians only. This shopping street, with a good number of cafes at its sides, is one of the best places in the city to people watch. The architecture surrounding the place is neo-classical. It’s especially pretty in the evening, when everything is lit up in neon lights. There are benches aplenty to sit on under shady trees, and a few fountains.

There are two reasons this tower could have been named such. One, that it looks over the general direction where Macedonia used to be. Two, Macedonia used to once extend all the way to Edirne. The tower is one of the four great ramparts of a castle built in Edirne during Roman times. Today, you can get into the tower, but you can’t climb to the top. The upper part of the tower was demolished in in 1953 when it was suspected there was danger it might collapse. Currently, it is undergoing restorations. Once complete, an archaeological museum will open here, containing artefacts found in the tower itself. Currently, the tower and its grounds have been designated as a City Archaeology Park.

If you’re having a hard time finding the tower, it’s because it’s located in a back alley – from the tops of other buildings see if you can spot a tower of red brick with a flag on it.