Edirne: Selimiye, Museums and Kakava

The Selimiye Complex and Edirne’s Architecture

The Selimiye Mosque complex is a masterpiece of human creativity by the architect Sinan. The mosque’s dome measures 31.5 metres in diameter, and it has four soaring minarets. In addition to the mosque, the complex includes educational institutions, an open courtyard and a covered bazaar. The ensemble therefore encompasses not only the place of worship, but also spaces for education and trade.

Southeast of the mosque, a madrasah houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, which has been used as a museum since 1925. In the Kırkpınar room, photographs of wrestlers, a mannequin of the Kırkpınar Ağa and a Kırkpınar hologram are part of the display. In the garden, the museum exhibits dining cars from the Balkan Wars, a cannon and cannonballs. Exhibition details may change; check the latest information before visiting.

Museums: From Crafts to City History

The Selimiye Vakıf Museum displays historic foundation objects in rooms arranged around metalwork, calligraphy, woodwork, tile art and clocks. The Edirne City Museum covers topics ranging from the Chalcolithic period to the present day. Three-dimensional silicone figures and digital screens convey the city’s past and present. The city museum offers educational programmes as well as cultural and artistic events for schoolchildren.

The Balkan History Museum explores, among other subjects, Ottoman rule in the Balkans, Ottoman architecture, the Balkan Wars, the siege of Edirne and migration. The museum grounds include a reception and ticket desk, parking, a rest area and toilets. The National Struggle and Lausanne Museum displays books, documents and materials relating to the Treaty of Lausanne. The Tower of Justice is the only surviving building of Edirne Palace.

Ethnographic and archaeological collections also offer insights into a range of subjects. With 30 hyperrealistic silicone figures, the Necmi İğe Evi Ethnographic Museum depicts wedding customs, crafts and local traditions and customs. The Edirne Archaeology and Ethnography Museum displays Thracian horseman stelae and Stone Age tombs, including the Hacılar Dolmen, Arpalık Dolmen and Taşlıca Bayır Mound. Exhibitions and visitor programmes may change; checking the latest visitor information can help with planning.

Medical History and the Tunca

The Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum is located in the darüşşifa of the complex in the Yeniimaret neighbourhood in the centre of Edirne. The Sultan Bayezid II Complex stands on the banks of the Tunca. The museum recreates a 500-year-old Ottoman bimarhane, with historical treatment methods that used music, the sound of water, pleasant scents and activities. The elements on display show how varied these historical approaches were: in addition to listening and smelling, treatment also involved an activity.

Kakava and Kırkpınar: Two Festival Traditions

The Kakava-Hıdırellez celebrations take place in Edirne every year on 5 and 6 May. They begin with a large fire on the banks of the Tunca in Sarayiçi. Residents and visitors gather to traditional music and jump over the fire while making wishes. During Kakava-Hıdırellez, participants also go to the riverbank early in the morning and wash their faces with water.

Every summer, Sarayiçi hosts the seven-day Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival, which features regional food, dances and music. The historic Sarayiçi Kırkpınar Er Meydanı is the venue where the Turkish Başpehlivan is determined. Kakava takes place on fixed dates in May, while Kırkpınar is held in summer. For your specific trip, it is worth checking the latest event information and programmes.

Local Specialities

Edirne Kavala cookies are available in souvenir arcades, bazaars and the manufacturers’ branches in Edirne. Another speciality is Edirne Tava Ciğeri: thin slices of liver are fried in sunflower oil produced in Edirne. The dish is served with fried red peppers, which are typical of Edirne; you can try it at many restaurants in the city. Exploring the local cuisine reveals both a pastry sold in several types of outlets and a typical restaurant dish.

Karaağaç Historic Railway Station is included in GoTürkiye’s Visitor Route 5 for Edirne.

Discover more destinations: Enez, Karaağaç, Sarıcapaşa, Keşan, Kemal, Mecidiye, Sultan, Yaylaköy, Uzunköprü, Edirne, Seydiköy, Demirköy Köyü, İpsala, Bosna Köyü, Lalapaşa, Gülçavuş Köyü.

For the regional travel overview: Marmara.