Dolmabahce is a luxurious palace in Istanbul. How to get to Dolmabahce Palace

Name " Dolmabahce” was given to the palace due to the fact that even before the construction of the palace this place was a bay, which was covered with earth in the 17th century and a beautiful garden was arranged. And later a wooden pavilion (summer palace) was built on this territory, which became the predecessor Dolmabahce(“dolma” means “filled, poured”, and “bakhche” means garden).

History of the palace Dolmabahce

The current building of the palace was built in 1842-1853 by order of Sultan Abdulmejid I. The main architect who designed this palace was Karabet Balyan from the then famous family of architects of Armenian origin Balyan. Castle It was built during the period of “Europeanization” or “Westernization” of the Ottoman Empire. This period is called Tanzimat (from 1839 to 1876) and, unlike previous reforms, the main place in Tanzimat was occupied not by military, but by socio-economic transformations. Most clearly, these reforms were reflected in architecture. Ottoman architecture came under the influence of the over-decoration of the west. "Baroque", "Rococo", "Empire" and other styles mixed with Ottoman art.

Dolmabahce - a symbol of the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire

After the construction of the palace in 1853, the entire court, headed by the Sultan, moved from to the new Castle. And after the fall of the monarchy and the proclamation of the Turkish Republic (October 29, 1923), Mustafa Kemal Ataturk also lived in the palace for some time; here he died on November 10, 1938 at 09.05, so all the clocks in the palace are stopped and show 09.05. Castle It is a two-story and partly three-story rectangular building located on an area of ​​250,000 square meters. It has 285 rooms and 43 halls, one of which is a very large banquet hall (Ceremonial Hall or Muayede Salonu) and is used to this day for state-level interviews and negotiations. The palace is divided into two parts: the front part (Selyamlyk - marked outlined in pink) color and the personal part of the Sultan and his family (Harem - marked in red on the plan).

Palace plan

Designations of objects on the plan

Mosque Bezm-i-Alem Valide Sultan

Mosque(also known as Bezm-i-Alem Valide Sultan) is located 50 meters southwest of the main entrance of the palace. The construction of the mosque began in 1853, immediately after the construction of the palace was completed. The mosque was built by order of the mother of Sultan Abdulmecid - Bezmial Valide Sultan, but unfortunately, she died very soon and the mosque was completed by her son in 1855. The architect of the palace mosque, as well as during the construction of the palace, was Karapet Balyan. The mosque is part of the palace complex, so its architecture and design are in the same style - it was built in the Baroque style and decorated in the Empire style.

Museum opening hours:

Every day except Mondays and Thursdays from 9.00 to 16.00.

Admission:

• All parts of the palace - 40 lira.
• Only Selyamlik (the front part of the palace) - 30 lira.
• Only (Harem + Glass Pavilion + Clock Museum) – 20 lira

You can visit the palace only as part of a group accompanied by a palace guide. Therefore, if you came to the palace on your own, you may have to wait until the group is recruited.

It is forbidden to take pictures and shoot videos inside the palace (only possible with special permission, for an additional fee), it is allowed to take pictures only in the garden.

Palace Photos Dolmabahce

The main entrance of the palace and the Swan Fountain The facade of the palace from the sea
The swan fountain of the palace is the main decoration of the park One of the 6 hammams of the palace, made of onyx

There are many interesting places in Istanbul that are worth visiting for a tourist. Among them are palaces, temples, hamams and much more. There are almost three thousand active Muslim mosques there alone. There are many small, little-known shrines for visitors, but there are many such that people of various faiths from all over the world seek to visit.

Each of the mosques of the ancient capital has a unique history, unusual appearance and rich interior decoration. But the most visited of them are real masterpieces, works of art that do not leave anyone indifferent. So and Bezmialem Sultan Mosque (tur. Bezmialem Valide Sultan Camii), which appeared in the 19th century, is able to win the hearts of tourists.

Dolmabahce Mosque in Istanbul - a bit of history

The construction of the mosque began in 1853 at the request of the mother of Sultan Abdul Mejid I, Bezmial Valide Sultan. But when she died, the building had not yet been completed. Further, the son undertook to manage the process of erecting a Muslim shrine. The talented architect Karapet Balyan worked on the creation of this architectural monument.

The mosque was completed in 1855, at that time it was one of the richest in Istanbul. The Sultan regularly came there to pray on Fridays. Between 1956 and 1960, the mosque housed the Naval Museum, and in 1967 religious services were again held there. In 2009 the building was completely restored.

Dolmabahce Mosque - description

Dolmabahce Mosque built in baroque style. It has a square shape with sides of 25 meters. Thus, the total area of ​​the mosque is 625 m².

As part of the palace complex, the mosque contains two-story front section in which statesmen could worship Allah and pray. The balcony for the Sultan is protected by a screen, it was made for the purpose of security. It was possible to hold public processions and meetings near the mosque.

The hallmark of the building is circular arrangement of arched windows which resemble a peacock's tail. This unusual architectural solution was not used by the masters who built other mosques before the construction of the Dolmabahce shrine. The mosque has two minarets with balconies. The height of the minarets is 40.25 m. A mixture of baroque and ampere styles can be seen in the interior of the building. Under the dome is a precious chandelier. During the construction of the mihrab and the member, red porphyry was used.

Where is the mosque and how to get to it

The Dolmabahce Mosque stands on the shore, in the south of the territory of the Dolmabahce Palace. The official address of the attraction: Visnezade Mh., 34357 Besiktas/Istanbul. Attraction coordinates: 41°2’12″N 28°59’42″E.

You can get to the mosque in one of the following ways:

• Dolmabahce Mosque can be reached on one of the buses IETT: 30D, 28T, 28, 26B, 26A, 26, 103, 70KE, etc.
• They also follow funiculars: F1, T1.
• In addition, high-speed buses run in the direction of the mosque. ferries: V2, V3, V6.
• For those who prefer to ride by tram, the route T1 -ZEYTINBURNU - KABATAŞ is suitable. Stop - FINDIKLI.

More detailed information about the transport that goes towards the mosque can be found at www.placesinistanbul.com/placeTransit.php?placeID=1524&lan=EN.

Dolmabahce Mosque in the photo

Below you can find a selection of photos of the Istanbul Dolmabahce Mosque. This beautiful architectural monument, located near the waters of the Bosphorus, looks like a fabulous building. It makes you admire and dream of getting there as soon as possible.

The Dolmabahce Mosque was built in the middle of the 19th century. In it, as behind the painted facades of any of the mosques of ancient Istanbul, amazing stories, legends and facts are hidden. However, few of them are as magnificent and as luxurious as this baroque mosque. It is located on the banks of the Bosphorus on the south side of the most European of the palace complexes of the city, Dolmabahce, and is also known as the Bezmialem Valide Sultan Mosque - the mother of the Sultan, for whom it was built.

This mosque is still active today. You can visit it during daylight hours (during prayers, the mosque is closed to visitors).

History

The construction of the palace temple of Dolmabahce began in 1853 at the behest of the wife of Mahmud II - Bemialem Valide Sultan. It was led by the well-known in the Ottoman Empire Karapet Amir Balyan, an architect of Armenian origin who created the old Yildiz Palace, several Armenian churches, the buildings of the Military Academy, the Academy of Fine Arts and the Ortakoy Mosque. He was assisted in his work by two sons - Sargis and Nikoghos. After the death of his mother, her son, Sultan Abdulmejid I, insisted on continuing construction. By 1855, the mosque opened its doors to the Sultan, his family members and court parishioners.

After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Dolmabahce Mosque began to gradually fall into disrepair. From 1956 to 1960, the collection of the Naval Museum was exhibited in it, and only from 1967 worship services began to be held here again. In 2009, the temple was completely restored to its original glory.

Architecture and decoration

The area of ​​the mosque, a square building, is 625 sq.m. Being part of a huge palace complex, it is combined in style with other buildings of Dolmabahce - for example, residential buildings intended for employees. The main architectural solution in the Dolmabahce Mosque is Baroque, but it is richly decorated with elements of luxury and another classical style - Empire. The prayer niche, the mihrab, as well as the pulpit, the mimbar, are carved from red porphyry, a noble rock used to decorate the imperial palaces of Ancient Rome and the residence of Queen Cleopatra.

The magnificence of the Dolmabahce Mosque (video)

A magnificent precious chandelier hangs under the dome of the mosque, but not only it catches the eyes of tourists. On both sides of the building rise two high, 40-meter minarets with balconies. They say that once they were even thinner. Chasing beauty and uniqueness, the architect Nikoghos made them so graceful that they collapsed, unable to bear their own weight. The main decoration that distinguishes Dolmabahce from other Istanbul temples are arched windows arranged in a circle and resembling a peacock's tail. Such an unusual architectural solution, filling the prayer halls with sunlight, was not previously used in the construction of temples.

The mosque adjoins the balconies where the members of the Sultan's family used to spend time, and the courtyard is an ideal place for walking, full of benches, paths and pretty fountains.

Dolmabahce Palace

The palace, of which the Dolmabahce Mosque is a part, is notable for its non-standard architecture for the East. This residence of the Sultan, located in the Besiktas region, rather resembles the most luxurious of the royal houses in Europe. The construction of the Dolmabahce complex, which lasted 13 years, took 5 million gold pounds, and more than 40 tons of silver and 14 tons of gold were spent on decorating the interior. The palace houses a priceless collection of works by Aivazovsky and a precious crystal chandelier weighing more than 4 tons, presented to the ruler of the East by the Queen of Great Britain. During the existence of the Ottoman Empire, Dolmabahce was the residence of six sultans, and in the 20th century, after the founding of the Turkish Republic, it was turned into a summer government residence. The last moments of the life of the great Mustafa Kemal Ataturk passed within its walls. On November 10, 1938, at 9:50, his breathing stopped, and with it, all the clocks in the area froze.

For a long time the complex was used as a museum, and now it is the official residence of the Turkish Prime Minister in Istanbul. Its two main parts - the luxurious Selamlik, the chambers where official state affairs are conducted and high-ranking guests are received, and the cozy Harem, the residence of the members of the Sultan's family and the kingdom of the ruler's mother, Valide Sultan, are open to tourists. Tours of them, as well as a visit to the library, the mosque, the clock tower (showing not only the time, but also pressure and air temperature), the Beiberlei summer palace, garden pavilions, mansions and a park with fountains will take the whole day. You can also look at the Dolmabahce Clock Museum and the museum, which contains palace works of art, factories for the production of silk, carpets and imperial porcelain. Cafes and souvenir shops are open for guests of the complex.

How to get to Dolmabahce Mosque

The Dolmabahce Mosque is located at Visnezade Mh., 34357 Besiktas/Istanbul and is located on the very shore of the Bosphorus Strait. Its coordinates for searching on the navigator are 41°2’12″N 28°59’42″E.

To get to the mosque, you do not have to delve into the intricate infrastructure of huge Istanbul. You can take the branded Istanbul tram T1 and, having reached from Aksaray or Sultanahmet to the Kabatash station, take a few minutes walk along the coast.

If you are traveling by ferry, get off at the Kabatas or Besiktas piers and walk towards the clock tower.

You can go down from Taksim Square to Kabatash using the funicular, marked on the metro map as F1.

Taxi

If you find it more convenient to travel around Istanbul by taxi than to study the public transport map, ask the staff of any hotel or cafe to call you a car or contact the drivers at organized taxi ranks, which are available in all tourist places. The fare, as in the rest of Turkey, is calculated by the meter.

Kabatash Transport Hub (Dolmabahce Mosque visible in the distance) - Google Maps panorama

Dolmabahce Palace is located in Istanbul, in one of the most picturesque areas of the city - Besiktas. This area in the European part of the city offers a magnificent view of the Bosphorus, the Bosphorus bridge, as well as the gardens of the Beyoglu district. The history of Dolmabahce Palace dates back to the middle of the 19th century, because it was built by the decree of Sultan Abdulmecid I, who ordered the construction of a new baroque residence, which would be grander and more monumental than the best European palaces of that time. Prior to that, for many years (since the 15th century), the residence of the Turkish sultans was the Topkapi Palace - the greatest Istanbul medieval complex, which today is one of the most famous museums in the world. We will prepare a separate article about him.

Dolmabahce Palace was built in just 13 years (construction began in 1843 and ended in 1856). The construction cost the Turkish treasury 5 million pounds of gold, and another 14 tons of pure gold and 40 tons of silver were used to decorate the interiors of the palace. The palace complex has grown to 45,000 square meters in a few years.

Dolmabahce Palace became the home for 6 Turkish sultans (from 1856 to 1924). The last ruler whose residence was the Dolmabahce Palace was Caliph Abdulmejid Efendi. By a special decree of March 3, 1924, the palace was transferred to the Turkish Republic as a national heritage site. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, used the palace as a summer residence and venue for special events. It was in Dolmabahce Palace that Ataturk spent the last days of his life and died in his room on November 10, 1938. By the way, sometimes tourists are perplexed by the fact that all the clocks in the palace show the same time - 09:05 in the morning. The answer lies in the fact that it was at this time that Mustafa Kemal died in the palace.

From then until September 2007, the Dolmabahce Palace was a museum, until the Turkish Parliament returned it to the status intended for the palace. Since 2007, Dolmabahce Palace has been the official residence of the Turkish Prime Minister in Istanbul.

Dolmabahce Palace is the largest palace in Turkey. Located on a huge area of ​​45,000 square meters, the complex has 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths (hammam) and 68 toilet rooms. The architecture of the palace combines elements of baroque, rococo and neoclassical styles mixed with traditional ottoman architecture to create a unique style. The interior decoration of the palace demonstrates the growing influence of European styles and art of the Tanzimat era in Turkey at that time.

Traditionally, a tour of the Dolmabahce Palace consists of 2 parts. The first - Selamlik - is part of the public rooms in the palace, adapted for receiving guests and holding official events. The word Selamlik in Turkish means "welcome place". Traditionally, Selamlik is the chambers of a man, the owner of the house. The second - Harem - that part of the Turkish house (or residence) where servants, children and women live. The word "harem" in translation from Arabic (haram) means "forbidden", "inviolable". Entrance to each of the two parts of the palace is paid separately. Entrance to Selamlik costs 30 TL, to Harem - 20 TL. Those wishing to visit both parts can use a single ticket, which costs 40 TL.

A tour of the Dolmabahce Palace takes a lot of time, so for those who have limited time, we advise you to visit only Selamlik, which is more interesting and large-scale, and postpone the harem for another time. The palace has 3 main entrances - 2 from the side of the city, one more - for those arriving by ship from the side of the Bosphorus, and there are 12 gates in total in the complex. Ticket offices are located on the Kabatas side - from the end of the palace complex not far from the tram stop. This is where the Saltanat Kapisi (Gate of the Sultan) is located. Even without entering the territory of the palace, you can admire the flower clock and the magnificent entrance group, which was previously used only by sultans and ministers. In the summer, every Tuesday afternoon, the Mehter Ensemble, a traditional Ottoman military band, performs here in the afternoon, which on other days gives concerts at the Atatürk Military Museum on Cumhuriyet Caddesi.

The second entrance is located in the center of the palace (entrance from the side of the avenue) a little further than the Swan Fountain - the Hazine-i Hassa Kapısı gate (treasure gate). Here you can spend a little time and look at the guard of honor, which takes place every hour.

On the territory of the complex is the Dolmabahce Mosque, which was founded by order of Valide Sultan in 1853, and after her death was completed by her son Sultan Abdulmecid. The height of the minarets of the mosque is over 40 meters.

In front of the Sultan's Gate of the Palace, there is another attraction of Istanbul - the Dolmabahçe Clock Tower (Dolmabahçe Saat Kulesi). The construction of the tower was commissioned by Sultan Abdulhamid II and completed in 1895. The tower is in the New Baroque style. Its height is 27 meters.

Tours of the Dolmabahce Palace take place every 25 minutes, but you will not find a Russian group here. The guides work either in English or in Turkish, and the tour itself takes place at a very fast pace, so those who like to walk slowly and enjoy the beauties are better off taking a personal guide or walking on their own.

Please note that Dolmabahce Palace has a daily quota for the number of visitors - no more than 3,000 people. All palaces and pavilions are closed on Mondays and Thursdays. Dolmabahce Palace is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., however, the ticket office closes after the daily ticket limit has been sold. Recall that the cost of a visit to Selamlik is 30 TL, to Harem - 20 TL, and a subscription to visit both parts of the palace - 40 TL.

SELAMLIK

Selamlik is the male half of the palace, which is also called Mabeyn-i Humayun (Mabeyn-i Humayun). Here the sultans of the Ottoman Empire were engaged in matters of national importance.

The first hall you enter is called Medhal (medhal - entrance). Here you will be told about the history of the palace, given statistics. Under the ceiling you will see an amazingly beautiful chandelier and 60 branches. Historically, visitors to this hall were met by the head of the protocol of the palace and escorted to an audience.

Then the tour will go through the secretariat room, the lobby and the exhibition hall with a magnificent collection of objects made of crystal, porcelain and precious metals. Then you will find yourself in a small palace mosque and go out into the hall to the Crystal Stairs, along which you will go up to the second floor.

Probably the most luxurious hall of the palace awaits you there - the Syufer Hall (ambassadorial hall), where the ambassadors of foreign states expected to meet with the Sultan, and the saloon (red hall) located nearby was used for important negotiations. In the center of the hall there is a huge Iranian carpet with an area of ​​almost 90 square meters, a pair of bear skins, one of which was a gift from Tsar Nicholas II, and the second was bought by the Sultan for symmetry. A two-tone chandelier hangs from the ceiling. In the same part of the palace are the chambers of the Sultan. After that, you will be taken to the ceremonial hall of the Muayede salon (official hall). Here the Sultan received heads of state, held official ceremonies and celebrations. Up to 2500 people could be in this hall at the same time. The dome of the hall is supported by 56 columns, and the largest and heaviest chandelier in the world hangs from the ceiling - a gift from Queen Victoria.

In some rooms of the palace hang the originals of the famous artist Aivazovsky, painted by order of Sultan Abdul-Aziz. For 40 paintings depicting the Bosphorus, the artist received the highest award of the empire - the Order of Osman with diamonds. Interestingly, a few years after this, in protest against the massacre committed by the Sultan in 1894-1896, Aivazovsky threw this order into the sea.

The architecture of the Dolmabahce Palace turned out to be unique also because for the first time in the history of the Ottoman Empire, the premises of the harem were in the same building as the male half of the palace. The interiors of the harem, of course, are inferior to the interiors of the selamlik in luxury. It was here that the personal life of the monarch's family took place. In the harem there are many rooms of the Sultan, the chambers of wives, concubines, heirs and mother, as well as the Rose Hall (Pembe Salonu), where the inhabitants of the harem gathered, as well as Mavi Salonu - the place where Valide Sultan received the wives and favorites of her son on religious holidays. Often the attention of tourists is drawn to the bedroom of Sultan Abdulaziz, his custom-made bed (the Sultan was obese and weighed more than 150 kilograms), as well as the offices and rooms in which Mustafa Kemal Ataturk worked.

HOW TO GET TO

Getting to the Dolmabahce Palace will not be difficult even for those who are not familiar with the Istanbul infrastructure. To get to the palace from the districts of Sultanahmet, Aksaray, Laleli, Zeytinburnu and the districts of Eminonu, Sirkeci and Karakoy, it is enough to use the T1 light rail to the Kabatas station. Then you need to walk (in the direction of the tram) for 5-10 minutes along the shore of the Bosphorus and get to the Sultan's gates of the palace.

To get to the palace from the “upper” part of the city (Taksim Square and its environs, Sisli, Beyoglu), you need to go down the funicular from Taksim Square to the Kabatash station and from there go to the palace by the above route. Also, the palace can be reached from the piers of Kabatash (the same route), as well as Besiktas (you need to walk towards Kabatash).

From the Ortakoy Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge, you can get by passing buses (which go to Taksim and Besiktas), as well as numerous dolmush and taxis. Taxi fare will be 10-15 TL.

HOW IT WORKS AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS

Dolmabahce Palace is open daily except Monday and Thursday from 9 am to 4 pm. Please note that the palace has an attendance limit of 3,000 people per day. After the sale of this number of tickets, the box office closes. Ticket price in Selamlik is 30 TL, in Harem - 20 TL. Subscription to visit both expositions - 40 TL.

Surprisingly, the Dolmabahce Palace was literally built on the water of the bay - once this area was washed by the waves of the Bosphorus. To make any construction possible, it was necessary to build a huge mound, which, in fact, was done back in the 17th century. That is why the palace bears the name, which in translation sounds like “mound garden”.

The shaft from the earth was intended for the construction of Besiktas, which was built in the same century from wood. Of course, the fragile material gradually collapsed, and the building was wiped off the face of the earth by time. The idea to develop undeveloped bulk lands came to Sultan Abdul-Majid only after 2 centuries.

The palace complex includes the Dolmabahce Palace, a mosque and a clock tower, a clock museum and a museum of painting and sculpture.

Dolmabahce Palace, 1918

The construction of the Dolmabahce Palace dates back to the 19th century. The initiator of the construction was the padishah Abdulmecid (Abdülmecit). The capricious sultan found Topkapi's palace architecture too boring and ordinary, and he decided to build a luxurious building that could compete in beauty and grandeur with famous European counterparts, such as the Palace of Versailles in France.

Literally translated into Russian, Dolmabahce means "mound garden". The project of the building belongs to the talented Turkish architect Karapet Balyan, who was born in Armenia. For construction, the territory conquered near the Bosphorus was chosen. For a long period, Dolmabahce was considered the main residence of the Turkish sultans. When Kemal Ataturk, who founded the Turkish Republic, passed away, the palace halls were empty, and later they were turned into a beautiful museum complex.

Sultan Abdulmecid

The idea to build a chic palace was embodied in full. The palace walls stretched along the shore of the bay for as much as 600 meters, and a chic park was laid out in front of the central facade.

The interior of the palace is striking in its luxury. On its territory there are 285 rooms and 43 large halls, richly decorated with gold, gems, carvings, and stucco. Once upon a time, legends about the wealth of the palace went far beyond the borders of the Ottoman state!

Historical documents say that over 15,000 kg of pure gold and 40,000 kg of silver were spent on the construction and improvement of the palace interior. It is known that once the guest of honor of the palace was Queen Victoria, who presented the padishah with a chic gift - an amazing chandelier. Today, all visitors to the large hall of ceremonies can see it.

Dolmabahce Palace is conditionally divided into two main zones. One part - public - is intended for celebrations, meetings, official receptions, etc. The other part - residential - was given to the full disposal of the Sultan's harem.

The large palace tourist complex-museum Dolmabahce includes the so-called State Apartments, which offer views of the Bosphorus coast. This part of the palace consists of two tiers connected by a wide flight of stairs.

Of course, no palace could do without its own kitchen and chefs. Interestingly, there was no kitchen area in Dolmabahce itself: a special building was erected at a distance from the main building, across the road. This was not done by chance: it was assumed that the aromas of dishes served at the table of the padishah would distract from state affairs taking place in the public area.

The modern museum exposition of Dolmabahce has thousands of the rarest exhibits, including a bear skin sent to the padishah from Russia. Initially, the skin had a white color, but in the palace they decided to radically change its shade to black. This was done for practical reasons: so there was no noticeable pollution on the interior.

Art collection of Dolmabahce Museum

Of particular interest to visitors to the museum complex is the art collection. Among the numerous paintings there is a whole collection of works by Ivan Aivazovsky, a Russian marine painter. The ruler of the Empire liked Aivazovsky's work so much that he ordered paintings from a talented artist with views of the Bosphorus, of which there are 40 copies in the collection today. You can admire them in the Treasury of the Palace hall.

Another exhibition dedicated to the life of the palace inhabitants is located in the Salon of Precious Things. Personal belongings of the nobility who lived in Dolmabahçe, made of precious metals and stones, are exhibited here.

But most of all tourists are attracted by a tour of the harem. Inspection of the "women's" premises and private quarters of the Sultan is a real pleasure! The harem also has two main zones: the first is for organizing ceremonial receptions (the Blue Hall), the second is for having fun with the Sultan's concubines and wives.

Palace complex

Dolmabahce Palace - a huge complex

Dolmabahce is a full-fledged complex, which includes a large number of additional buildings, united in a group by one common wall.

Dolmabahce Palace, as already mentioned, consists of two main parts and the Ceremonial Hall:

1. Mabeyn-i Hümayun is the official part or Selamlık
2. Harem-i Hümayun - family part or Harem (Harem)
3. Muayede Salonu - Ceremonial, festive hall (Tören Salonu)

To enter the central administrative buildings, you need to go through the gate. There are two main entrance gates here - the Imperial Gate and the Treasury Gate. Along the coast stretches another 5 gates for those who arrive at the palace by water. A full tour of the palace grounds, accompanied by a guide, lasts about 2 hours.

Imperial Gate

One of the most interesting buildings is the glass pavilion, which offers stunning views of the local nature. Once upon a time, Ottoman padishahs watched military parades and the life of the palace in general from this point.

For tourists, the Pavilion opens its doors on a par with the palace. To get into it, you need to go to the near corner of the park area, located on the left.

Glass Pavilion at Dolmabahce Palace

Lightness and airiness emanates from the building, because the rays of the sun penetrate through the ceiling and walls. Such impressions are achieved not only due to the transparency of the glass, but also due to the large number of crystal lamps and chandeliers.

Another interesting outbuilding of the 19th century is the bird gallery, which was built specifically for the Sultan's feathered pets. Nearby there is a pavilion with various types of plants, the room of the chief eunuch, a kitchen area, as well as a carpet workshop.

The territory of Dolmabahce is 45,000 square meters. m. Here, in addition to chic rooms and halls, there are 5 main staircases and as many as 68 toilets! Stone walls are laid out on the street side, and the inner part of the structure is made of brick. In addition to several tons of gold and silver, 131 silk carpets were woven to decorate the palace interior. Furnishings are mostly European. Their delivery was led by the French ambassador Ahmed Fethi Pasa. For example, flowerpots were brought from Sevres, silk fabric from Lyon, candlesticks from England, Venetian glass, German chandeliers.

The museum has an impressive collection of crystal from all over Europe. More than a thousand chairs, sofas and couches have been preserved here. Part of the furniture is made to order, the other received as a gift from Indian, Chinese, Egyptian and other ambassadors.

To maintain a comfortable temperature in the premises, ceramic stoves and fireplaces were first used. In the early 20th century, they were replaced by more modern heating systems.

Ceremonial Hall (Muayede Salonu)

Hall of Ceremonies

This luxurious hall was intended for audiences of the Sultan and solemn ceremonies.

It is in this hall, from a height of 36 meters, that the largest and heaviest chandelier in the world hangs, which was donated by Queen Victoria in 1853. The chandelier is truly beautiful: its weight is over 4.5 tons. Around the perimeter of the Bohemian glass interior decoration there are candlesticks, the total number of which is 750!

The floor of the Ceremonial Hall is decorated with the largest carpet in Turkey, with an area of ​​124 square meters.

Next to the ceremonial hall (Muayede Salonu or Tören Salonu) there is another hall that cannot be ignored. The Clerk's Room has several names, among which the most famous are the Secretariat Hall or the Ceramic Room. This room is famous for the fact that it houses the largest work of art in the entire palace - a painting dating from the early 70s of the 18th century. The author of this masterpiece is the explorer of the East from Italy, Stefano Ussi. The canvas depicts the pilgrimage of people from Istanbul to Mecca. It is known that the Turkish padishah received the painting as a gift from the Egyptian head of state Ismail Pasha.

Imperial staircase in Dolmabahce Palace

The first floor of the palace is connected to the second one by means of a massive staircase, the railings of which are made of crystal. The staircase design is called Imperial. Stylistically, it belongs to the Baroque direction. The designer was Nigogos Balyan. Baccarat crystals were used to decorate the stairs. The beauty of the interior design of the main palace halls takes your breath away!

Hall of Ambassadors (Süfera Salonu)

Süfera Salonu Hall

Another palace room, the Syufer Hall, strikes with its originality and luxury. This territory was once given for holding meetings and negotiations with ambassadors from different states, as well as the neighboring Red Hall. It also often hosted foreign delegations. Diplomats were not only received in these premises, but also entertainment events were held for them. The flooring in the Ambassadors' Hall is the Hereke carpet, the size of which is amazing. The total coverage area is 120 sq. m.

The Red Hall is named so for a reason. The main shade of the interior here was exactly deep red, especially in textiles. This color symbolized the power of the Ottoman Empire. It is interesting that there are no real solid walls in the hall, they are replaced by thick burgundy curtains. The main decoration of the room is a real picture of Istanbul, which opens up to visitors through wide window openings.

Harem

Harem

Under the Harem, 2/3 of the palace territory of Dolmabahce was given. The apartments on the east side (on the coast) were completely devoted to the needs of the mother of the Sultan and members of the ruling dynasty. The concubines of the padishah, including the "favorites", lived in the street rooms. This area is all painted with magnificent ornaments in the traditions of Turkey and Europe. The harem communicates with Selamlik through a spacious, long corridor. The most interesting for the guests of the palace are two harem halls - Blue and Pink. The first received such a name because of the heavenly color that prevails in the interior and textiles. During the days of religious festivities, chic celebrations were held here. The pink hall also got its name because of the color scheme of the walls. From the window openings of this room, the breathtaking landscapes of the Bosphorus are perfectly visible. Valide Sultan welcomed visitors here, and these apartments were also used for private conversations and acquaintances.

Ataturk's room

The last "owner" of the Dolmabahce palace complex is Kemal Ataturk. As president, Atatürk first visited Dolmabahce Palace on July 1, 1927. The hall, which was chosen by Atatürk as a permanent residence, was once used by the Ottoman Padishahs as a winter bedroom.

The interior of Atatürk's room has come down to us unchanged, including decorations and furnishings. It is noteworthy that there is neither luxury nor chic. Everything is very simple and strict. Travelers coming to Dolmabahce are interested in the same question: why do all palace clocks show the same time - 9:05? And the answer to it is very simple: it was at this time on November 10, 1938 that the legendary Mustafa Kemal Ataturk passed away.

Ataturk's office at Dolmabahce Palace

In the period from 1927 to 1938, he came to Istanbul 31 times and not only stayed here, but also used the premises of the Palace for work, business meetings and negotiations with foreign guests, among which were:
- In 1928, the Afghan king Amanullah Khan (Emanullah Han),
- In 1931, the Japanese heir to the throne Takamatsu (Takamutsu)
- In 1932 the Iranian king Faysal (Faysal),
- In 1932, former French Prime Minister Edouard Herriot (Herriot), Chief of the American General Staff Douglas MacArthur (Mac Arthur), as well as King Alexander of Yugoslavia and many others.

Thus, during the reign of Ataturk, Dolmabahce Palace became, first of all, a place for official meetings and events that benefit the country, and only secondarily it was a unique historical object.

Dolmabahce Mosque

A little south of the beautiful Istanbul Dolmabahce Palace, the mosque of the same name is comfortably located. The building was designed by the famous architect Karpet Balyan. The construction of the shrine started in 1853. Its initiator was Bezm-i-Alem, the mother of padishah Abdul-Mejid the First. It is for this reason that the building is also called the Bezm-i-Alem mosque. Unfortunately, Valide Sultan did not live to see the completion of the project, and her son continued and completed her work.

Dolmabahce is a beautiful mosque with baroque decor. Its lush, even slightly pompous interior is more reminiscent of palace halls for ceremonial receptions. The most memorable detail of the mosque, which gives it originality and uniqueness, is the huge arched window openings. The base of the building is square. The length of one wall is 25 meters.

There is only one dome, and according to tradition, there are two minarets, and each of them has its own balcony. Due to the fact that the Bezm-i-Alem mosque became part of a full-fledged palace complex, it was decided to add a maksura to it - a two-tier extension intended for the prayers of the padishah. The safety of the ruler was provided by a closed balcony. The decor of the room combined the Empire and Baroque styles.

The mihram and mimbar of the shrine are distinguished by their bright red porphyry coating.

For some time, the religious monastery housed a museum exposition dedicated to naval affairs. During this period, the building suffered significant damage. Then the mosque was restored, and it reopened the doors for the faithful. The last restoration of the building took place at the beginning of the 21st century.

Dolmabahce Clock Tower

On the way to the Dolmabahce Mosque, you can look into the clock tower, which was ordered to be erected by the ruler Abdul-Hamid II. Its construction was carried out in the period from 1890 to 1895. Sargis Balyan was invited as an architect, who chose the Ottoman neo-baroque style for his creation. The tower is comfortably located in the square behind Dolmabahce, not far from Hazine Kapisy (Hazine Kapısı - Treasure Gate), which provides access to the palace

The tughra, the monogram of Padishah Abdul-Hamid II, applied on both sides of the building, acts as a decoration for the tower. The clock for the tower was made to order by French craftsmen from the workshop of Jean Paul Garnier. The clock mechanism was installed and started by Johann Mayer. Over time, the mechanism, of course, began to falter, and in the 80s of the 20th century it was decided to modernize it using modern electronics.

Clock Museum (Saat Müzesi)

Exhibits of the clock museum in Dolmabahce

Of great interest to the guests of Dolmabahce is the Clock Museum, which is located in the garden area of ​​the palace Harem. The building contains a chic exhibition of exclusive jewelry belonging to the National Watch Collection. The exposition of watch mechanisms consists of 71 exhibits. In addition to them, the museum contains interesting handmade items created by eminent Turkish masters.

Museum of Painting and Sculpture (Resimve Heykel Müzesi)

Exhibits of the Museum of Painting in Dolmabahce

In the Dolmabahce Palace, as many as 20 luxurious rooms are given over to an exhibition of the greatest examples of painting and sculpture. This complex was opened in the late 30s of the 20th century, and at present the exposition includes over 3,000 exhibits. Today, the halls are being actively reconstructed, but there is talk that the museum may be moved to another building.

Opening hours and cost of visiting

Dolmabahce Palace is open to the public on weekdays, closed on Mondays and on the first days of traditional holidays.

Hours of operation are from 9:00 to 17:00.

Since the museum has a quota for visiting - 3,000 people a day, it is worth coming on a tour in the morning to get on the tour. The last group of the day with a tour departs at 15:30.

Tours are only with a guide (it is forbidden to move around the palace on your own) in English or Turkish, information booklets can be found in Russian. A new tour group leaves every 15-20 minutes.

The cost of visiting the Dolmabahce Palace:

• Full tour Selamlık - Harem - mosque - clock museum - 90 lire
• Full tour Selamlık - 60 lire
• Harem, mosque and watch museum - 40 lire
• Collection Museum - 20 lire

You can take an audio guide - you will need to leave your passport (or $ 100) as a deposit, the rental of the audio guide itself is free.

Ticket offices are located next to the entrance, where the Clock Tower is.

The opening hours of the museum and the cost of visiting may vary slightly according to the season.

Excursion routes of the Dolmabahce Palace Museum

The decoration of the halls of Dolmabahce amaze with splendor

In total there are two main excursion routes, for each of which you can purchase separate tickets or buy a single ticket for a full route.

The first route Selamlık (Selamlık is the official part of the palace) - involves a tour of the ceremonial part of the palace. It was here that the Sultan lived and worked, as well as his subjects from among the men.

The second Haremlik route (Haremlik is a private, family part of the palace) - involves a tour of the chambers of the sultan's wives and relatives of his family (female).

Each route is about an hour long.

Please note that photography and video filming is prohibited in the palace, and independent movement is also prohibited.

How to get to Dolmabahce Palace

If you are staying in the Sultanahmet area, then you can take the T1 tram line and get to the Kabataş stop, and then walk along the promenade for 5 minutes on foot.

From Taksim Square you can take a funicular, also to the Kabatas stop.

From other parts of the city, you can take a bus or ferry to the Kabatash or Beşiktaş pier, and then walk.

Dolmabahce Palace on the map:

For those who want to relax after the tour and let the new impressions "fit" in their heads, we suggest warming up with a cup of hot tea, looking at the Bosphorus in a cafe on the territory of the Dolmabahce Palace itself.

Saat Kule Kafeterya

Cafe overlooking the Bosphorus, next to the Dolmabahce Palace

Located in the outer garden next to the Clock Tower, Saat Kule Café attracts visitors with its magnificent views of the Bosphorus. Here you can rest before a portion of new impressions, looking at the blue waves of the strait and the ships that cut through them. Sea smell and seagulls are included.

The prices in the cafe menu are quite democratic, so if, after visiting Dolmabahce, you are going to continue your excursion route outside of it, you can have a bite here: Turkish tea from 3 liras, coffee from 7 liras, simit 1.75 liras, salads from 10 lire The menu of the cafe includes not only hamburgers, pizza, but also manti, kofte, soup and much more. The cafe is open every day from 9-00.