Ottoman Architecture in balkan

Originally posted by Bulldog Ottoman architecture is a synthesis of primarilly late Seljuk-Beylik, Roman-Byantine with elements of Timurid, Mamluke, Ummayed styles in addition to it's own unique and original Ottoman architectural developments and styles.   A great example of this is the "Turkish Bath", Turks had steam baths in Central Asia, when they arrived in Anatolia they came across the Roman style baths, hence a new synthesis, the two complimented each other and became something new, what is today known as the Turkish Bath.   The typical Ottoman town would begin with finding a fresh water source, nearby an "Ulu Camii", Grand Mosque would be built, the mosque was not just a place of worship in those days. It would have a primary school and high school building attached, if the town prospered a University and faculty of higher learning would be added. In addition to this, the Mosque would have a abulution and drinking water fountain and fresh water fountains would be built in every district. To support this a "Charshi (market/traders) street" would be constructed adjacent of nearby the Mosque. The traders would contribute some of the money earned to helping support the institutions, also the Mosque's would provide, "homes and food for the homeless", homes for orphans, a hospital and in developed areas mental hospitals. The street's would be planned, gates constructed and the residential houses would follow a similar plan unless wealthy families wished to patron their own original styles.   Sarajavo was and still is a great example of Ottoman civic architecture and city planning.   Until the very end of the Ottoman period, the skyline of Sarajevo was known for its 99 mahalas of whitewashed houses punctuated by 99 slender minarets that rose from their centers.4 It was likewise punctuated by minaret-like poplar trees, for trees were a required adjunct to mosques and graveyards, and a preferred part of a house courtyard. Even until recently, the skies of Sarajevo must have appeared as pierced as eyelet lace, for in 1958 Sarajevo had many hundreds of mosques and mahala mesdzids and poplars. (Balic, 1994) p. 154   http://www.friends-partners.org/bosnia/cb1.html#2   Sarajevo became one of the most advanced cities in Europe. It had its own water system, clock tower, bathhouses, and schools. In a time when education was merely for the wealthy, and most Europeans considered baths to be unhealthy, Sarayliyas (Sa-ray-lee-yas, residents of Sarajevo) were among the cleanest and most culturally advanced commoners on the continent. A famous Sarajevan poet of the time wrote, "There it seems to man that he can live for a long time, for in a thousand places in Sarajevo flows water from the well of longevity".

Originally posted by Kapikulu I wish The Ottomans were to show same level of value to the Anatolian cities. Most of the old architecture in Anatolia belong to the Seljuks, with a very small Ottoman contribution.

I have been twice 2 Ishak pasa palace it is truely beatifull but not as beautifull like i used to be.. SO i have heard.


I agree with kapikulu that the Ottomans focused to much on the rest of there empire and 2 less on Anatolia

Tetevo - Macedonia

Buna River Tekke - Bosnia

Nice photos.

This is due to the diversity of Turkey, including architecture. In general, western Anatolia, and eastern Balkan are more closer to eachother in many aspects.

Originally posted by DayI this is NOT in Balkans, its Amasya in Turkey :) and a clocktower

Ada Kaleh



Ada-Kaleh island had lain in the middle of the Danube, before it was covered by the waters of the river, downstream the Iron Gates, at a distance of 4 km south-east from Dierna (Orsova) and 18 km from Drobeta (Tumu-Severin). In the region, the climate is mild, wet in winter and hot in summer. The mediterranean influence allowed the adaptation of some exotic species of plants and animals.

This paper is meant to describe, as far as the available knowledge allows it, a historical and archaeological monument, which was lost for good. Ada-Kaleh island was 1.750 km long and 400-500 m wide and lay in Mehedinti county, Romania.

At the beginning of the 15th century, the island was occupied by Turks, who intuited its remarkable strategical importance for the development of the river trade on the Danube, after the exit from Kazan region. In 1718, as a result of the treaty from Passarowitz (Pojarevat), the northern Serbia, Banat and Oltenia became possessions of the Austrians, as was also the case of Ada-Kaleh island which bore the name New Orsova then.


The Austrians built a strong fortification of "Vauban" type (Fig. 2) on the island. In 1739, after the treaty from Belgrad, Austria returned Serbia and Oltenia to Turkey. As a result the island was occupied again by Turks, who gave it the name Ada-Kaleh, which may be translated as "the island of the fortress." The toponym can also be found in the documents of that time as: Ada Kale, Ada Cale, Adakaleh, Ada Kaleh or Adacale.

The efforts of the Austrians to retrieve the island between 1789-1790, were unsuccessful. After 1829, together with the treaty from Adrianopol, the Romanian States obtained many facilities such as: administrative autonomy, free trade, rulers appointed for their life time, etc. Therefore, the strategical importance of the island diminished considerably after applying the stipulations of the treaty. At the Peace Congress in Berlin (1878), the situation of the island wasn't raised for discussion during the negotiations, it was actually forgotten, continuing to be an isolated possession of Turkey. On the 22nd November 1885, the island was declared open and from now on, the military functions of the island were ended. This was the situation of the island until 1919, when it was returned to Romania, under the right of self-determination of the inhabitants. The situation was registered by the treaty from Trianon (1920) and it was admitted by Turkey only in 1923, as part of the treaty of Lausanne.

After 1923, the island became a touristic paradise. The ruined fortifications, the occupations and customs ofthe natives, very interesting from the ethnographical point of view, the exoticism of the climate, fauna and flora were interesting sights for visitors and local tourism was developing. The economic situation flourished as never before, especially after 1931, when the former king of Romania, Carol II, visited the island and the inhabitants were given many privileges.


At the end of the 1960s and at the beginning of the 1970s, the governments of Romania and Yugoslavia decided to start the construction of a lake for the Iron Gates I hydro-electric plant. In 1971, as a consequence, when the project was put into practice, Ada-Kaleh island was covered by the waters of the Danube as the water-level rose. Parts of the Austrian and Turkish monuments from the island which could be saved were moved to the island Ostrovul Simian, thanks to the academician C.S. Nocolaescu-Plopsor and the architect Adriana Mihai. These consisted of part of the walls of the fortress, two gates and some Turkish monuments. The inhabitants were moved to other places according to the Decision 2147/1967 of the Council of Ministers of Romania, according to the Decree 1008/1967.



http://alexisphoenix.org/adakaleh.php






































Portrait of a group labelled "Youth of Ada Kaleh"



Interior of a room richly decorated with turkish rugs and other decorations in the Drobeta Museum.






The new Ada Kaleh

Photos of the Simian island, where in the seventies was intended to be recreated the island with Turkish culture:


http://alexisphoenix.org/adakalehnew.php















Edited by Menumorut - 13-Oct-2007 at 13:07