The most beautiful mosques to visit Turkey

It is one of the most famous panoramas of Istanbul and yet, one never tires of admiring and photographing it: the mosque in the foreground, the Bosphorus and the suspension bridge in the background... The building is located on the tip of the Defterdar, on the European side of the Bosphorus, in the Ortaköy district. Commissioned by Abdülmecid, it was completed in 1853 by the architect Garabed Balian. We usually call it by the name of the neighbourhood, its real name being Mecidiye Camii.

The mosque with the kesik minare, "truncated minaret", (1361) is in fact an ancient Byzantine church dating from the ^6th century and which celebrated the Virgin Mary. The church itself was built from the remains of a ^2nd century Roman temple. Its minaret, now a damaged tower, continues to arouse curiosity and stands out above the ruins of the building, which partially burned down in the ^19th century. These monuments can be seen from a distance as they are not open to the public.

You can only be struck by the grace and elegance of this mosque, which is unlike any other. Combining baroque and neoclassical styles, it has the particularity of having the finest minarets in the world! On the side, the clock of the Dolmabahçe Palace perfectly complements the softness of the landscape. Another marriage between the West and the East, its architect is Garabed Balyan, appointed by Sultana Mother Bezmi Alem, who built the building in the mid-19th century.

Built in 1223 during the reign of Keyqubad I of the Sultanate of Rum. With its finely carved doors, the historic Alaeddin Camii Mosque is located inside Niğde Castle, the most sheltered place in the city. It is a beautiful yellow ochre building, very nice example of Seljuk architecture. It is said that between 10:00 and 11:00 (depending on the season), you should go to the gate on the east side. At that time of the day, the light effects caused by the sun's rays would allow to discern the shape of a crowned woman's head.

It is the first Seljuk külliye (religious complex) in Anatolia, built in the 13th century by Sultan Alaadin Keykubat. Near the citadel stands the mosque of Hünat Hatun (1228). Next to it is the türbe (Muslim funeral building) of Princess Mahperi, wife of Sultan Keykubad, a double hammam (still in use) and a 13th century medersa, which today houses a café in its shaded courtyard, a perfect example of Seljuk architecture.

It is one of the oldest mosques in Istanbul, as evidenced by the epigraphy on the pediment of the front door dated 1471-1472. The prayer hall is an exception in Ottoman architecture, which tends to favour larger ranks of the faithful. It was built on the initiative of Has Hasan Paşa, which is illustrated during the wars waged by Mehmed the Conqueror against the Turkoman White Sheep dynasty, Uzun Hasan.

It is a religious complex(külliye) founded in 1726, comprising, in addition to the mosque, a medersa, a hospice and a library. The mosque is also called Kur unlu ("with lead") because its dome is covered with this metal. Opposite, the hammam is still in use and welcomes mainly tourists. Open from 6am to midnight, it is possible to get all the traditional treatments at very good prices. Note that the men and women sections are not separated.

Built between 1408 and 1409 by Kılıçarslan's son, Rükneddin Mesud, on a rectangular plan, and then enlarged and restored during the Karamanoğulları period, this mosque reflects the architectural traditions typical of the beylicat era following the Persian-influenced Seljuk period. Inside, note the beautiful carved wooden minbar. The mosque is built of smooth cut stones and some yellow stones of the portal have been preserved.

The Great Mosque was built in the twelfth century by the Turkish emirs and completed in 1205 by the Seljuks. It is also known as the Sultan Mosque or Cami-i Kebir. It is the oldest building in the city. Thanks to successive restorations, it has remained in very good condition. Note its rectangular shape, its beautiful cylindrical minaret of red bricks which is one of the highest in the country and the particular minbar in carved wood. Its fountain built near the south wall dates back to the beginning of the 18th century.