Yıldırım Bayezid Mosque and Its History

Yıldırım Bayezid Mosque, built in 1382 in Bolu by the Ottoman Sultan Yıldırım Bayezid and with a history of 642 years, is one of the city’s important landmarks. Despite experiencing 2 fires and 3 major earthquakes, the mosque has managed to remain standing. Rebuilt with a dome in 1899, the mosque has interior spaces decorated with Turkish motifs.

Balance Columns and Their Importance

The balance columns located on both sides of the mihrab of the mosque give the structure a unique feature. These columns maintain the static balance of the mosque, showing whether it has been damaged in the earthquakes it has experienced. If the columns do not rotate, it is understood that there is a problem in the foundation or balance of the mosque. Thus, the columns function as a kind of ‘insurance’ for the mosque.

Tour Guide Levent Kahveci’s Narrative

Levent Kahveci, a tour guide guiding tourists in Bolu, provides detailed information about the historical and architectural features of the Yıldırım Bayezid Mosque. Kahveci, who provides information about the construction of the mosque, its historical background, and the surrounding structures, emphasizes that the mosque has a history of 650 years.

Hosting thousands of local and foreign visitors every year, the Yıldırım Bayezid Mosque is an important structure reflecting the cultural and historical richness of Bolu.