Sightseeing

History of the Yıldız Palace

History of the Yıldız Palace
The history of the well-protected vast imperial complex, housing imperial Ottoman pavilions and structures in a magnificent natural park with walled sections, goes back to the 16thcentury. In earlier Ottoman periods, even from the time of Süleyman, the Magnificent (1520-1566), the large area between Beşiktaş, Ortaköy and Balmumcu was an uninhabited woodland, named Kazancıoğlu Bahçesi.…
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Great Mâbeyn Pavilion

Great Mâbeyn Pavilion
Built by Sultan Abdülaziz (1861-1876) in 1866, the Great Mâbeyn Pavilion became the main structure of birun (administrative) section of the palace complex. This magnificent building, designed by Agop and Sarkis Balyan, included a combination of Baroque, Art Nouveau and Neo Classic styles. It is located in the first court and is close to the…
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Çit Pavilion, Yaveran Apartments and Set Pavilion

Çit Pavilion, Yaveran Apartments and Set Pavilion
Three of the buildings in the first court at the main entrance, Çit Pavilion, Yaveran Apartments and Set Pavilion were rented to the IRCICA (Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture) in early 1980s in exchange for the buildings’ restoration. Çit Pavilion (Çit Kasrı), built by Sultan Abdülaziz (1861-1876), was used as a reception…
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Yıldız Palace Museum

Yıldız Palace Museum
Located in the first court, the Marangozhane(carpentry workshop) of Sultan Abdülhamid II is now converted into a museum for visitors. The Sultan, who was a skilled carpenter himself, made his own furniture. Those handcrafted items are displayed in the museum. Also exhibited are his personal objects, gifts and some ceramics produced in Yıldız Porcelain Factory.…
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Small Mâbeyn Pavilion

Small Mâbeyn Pavilion
The reception hall of the pavilion witnessed the saddest moment of Sultan Abdulhamid II(1876-1909), who created the Yıldız Palace complex during his 33-year reign of the Empire. He received a letter from a parliamentary committee on April 29, 1909 to leave the throne, and he was exiled to Thessaloniki the same day. Located in the…
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Hünkâr Pavilion

Hünkâr Pavilion
Located in the second court, Hünkâr Pavilion (also called “Valide Sultan Köşkü” or “Hünkar Sofrası”) is the first building where Abdulhamid II stayed when he moved to Yıldız Palace on April 7 1877. It is also one of the oldest pavilions in the complex. Sultan lived here until 1901 when the Small Mâbeyn Pavilion was…
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Yıldız Palace Theater

Yıldız Palace Theater
The private theater of Sultan Abdülhamid II was designed by Raimondo D'Aronco, and built by Sarkis Balyan in 1889. The imperial theater, the only royal theater that remains intact, was completed before the visiting German Emperor Wilhelm II and his wife arrived in October 1889. This theater maintains the honor of showing the first moving…
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Performing Arts Museum

Performing Arts Museum
Housed in the Gedikli Concubines Building next to the palace theater, the museum displays valuable documents related to performing arts. Personal objects of famous artists are also exhibited. It is located in the 2nd Court.
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Observation Pavilion

Observation Pavilion
Located in the private second court, also called the Inner Garden, the 19th century Observation Pavilion was used by Abdülhamid II to watch the spectacular view of Istanbul. The pavilion, located on the edge of the garden next to the wall, has a panoramic view, especially from the attic. The two-story Victorian style pavilion has…
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Island Pavilion

Island Pavilion
Located on an island on the artificial pond in the second court, called Inner Garden (Has Bahçe), the Island Pavilion was constructed by the architect Raimondo D’Aronco in Art-Nouveau style. The entrance of the plain-looking pavilion was in the rear of the building. All sides of the island are visible from inside the building. The…
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