Photos of the Muradiye Complex
Muradiye Complex
Muradiye Complex, Bursa, Turkey
Muradiye Complex - an early Ottoman ensemble in Bursa, in the Osmangazi district. Its formation began under Sultan Murad II in the 1420s, and today it is one of the clear examples of how educational and charitable buildings clustered around a mosque.
The ensemble includes a mosque, a madrasa, an imaret (soup kitchen), a school for boys and a hamam, as well as twelve family mausoleums of the Ottoman dynasty. The mosque, completed in 1426, is built of brick and follows Bursa's characteristic T-plan; it has two minarets, one of which was rebuilt after a strong mid-19th-century earthquake.
Behind the mosque is the turbe of Murad II, erected in 1427. Its entrance is highlighted by ornamental brickwork; inside, some turquoise and dark-blue ceramics have survived. A distinctive feature of the tomb is an open section of the roof above the catafalque, allowing rain and sunlight to enter.
The other mausoleums date to the 15th-16th centuries and reflect early examples of Ottoman architecture and tile decoration. The grounds are laid out as a garden with pedestrian paths; it is a peaceful place for a leisurely visit. The complex functions as a religious site and a burial place - please observe silence and a modest dress code; in some turbes you may be asked not to use flash.
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Muradiye Complex - an early Ottoman ensemble in Bursa, in the Osmangazi district. Its formation began under Sultan Murad II in the 1420s, and today it is one of the clear examples of how educational and charitable buildings clustered around a mosque.
The ensemble includes a mosque, a madrasa, an imaret (soup kitchen), a school for boys and a hamam, as well as twelve family mausoleums of the Ottoman dynasty. The mosque, completed in 1426, is built of brick and follows Bursa's characteristic T-plan; it has two minarets, one of which was rebuilt after a strong mid-19th-century earthquake.
Behind the mosque is the turbe of Murad II, erected in 1427. Its entrance is highlighted by ornamental brickwork; inside, some turquoise and dark-blue ceramics have survived. A distinctive feature of the tomb is an open section of the roof above the catafalque, allowing rain and sunlight to enter.
The other mausoleums date to the 15th-16th centuries and reflect early examples of Ottoman architecture and tile decoration. The grounds are laid out as a garden with pedestrian paths; it is a peaceful place for a leisurely visit. The complex functions as a religious site and a burial place - please observe silence and a modest dress code; in some turbes you may be asked not to use flash.
Burial site of the Ottoman dynasty and early architecture.
Mausoleums of the princes: Cem Sultan and Shehzade Mustafa
Muradiye Complex is a classic Ottoman kulliye, where educational and charitable buildings and the dynasty's necropolis are gathered next to the mosque. Since 2014 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Bursa and Cumalıkızık - the Birth of the Ottoman Empire" as part of the early urban core.
Here you can see a number of turbes of members of the Ottoman house, including the tombs of Cem Sultan and Shehzade Mustafa. Inside some mausoleums preserved are catafalques, tile panels and calligraphy; several interiors are open to visitors, with short biographies in Turkish and English at the entrances. A walk through the courtyard with historic buildings allows you to examine the brickwork, carved portals and ornaments up close.
Nearby are the Ulu Mosque and Tophane hill with the tombs of Osman and Orhan, which are convenient to visit. It is easy to get there: about a 20-minute walk from the Ulu Mosque to the complex or 5-10 minutes by taxi; city buses also run from central Bursa.
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