Destination
Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı
Rüstem Paşa Caravanserai, also known as Taşhan, was commissioned in 1561 by Rüstem Paşa, the grand vizier of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman. The structure is one of the masterpiece examples of Ottoman caravanserai architecture. This is a place where travelers’ all kinds of needs were met day and night. In Rüstem Paşa Caravanserai, an imaret, a mescit, a resting place, bezirgân shops, and sections where camels, donkeys, oxen, buffaloes and horses were tied were built.
Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı and 6 places around it
Free · no sign-up needed
Highlights
- History
Good for
- Cultural routes
Suggested visit:45 minutes
Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı, also known as Taşhan, was commissioned in 1561 by Rüstem Paşa, the grand vizier of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman. The structure is one of the masterpiece examples of Ottoman caravanserai architecture. This is a place where travelers’ all kinds of needs were met day and night. In Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı, an imaret, a mescit, a resting place, bezirgân shops, and sections where camels, donkeys, oxen, buffaloes and horses were tied were built. However, some of these have not survived to the present day.
In the inscription above the west-facing barrel-vaulted entrance gate, it is noteworthy that this place was called "ribat" because Erzurum was a frontier city. Ribats are a kind of forward outpost buildings containing around 40-50 raider troops in order to protect the borders. As the borders of the Ottoman State gradually expanded as far as Tiflis and the Caspian Sea, this place was given the characteristics of an inn, shelter, stable and shopping center.
Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı is a two-story structure consisting of rooms lined up behind arcades made of cut stone around a rectangular courtyard. There are 32 rooms around the courtyard, which is entered through two pointed-arched and vaulted gates on the east and west sides. On the upper floor, there are low-vaulted rooms lined up around the corridor. The decorations here were made later. The west-facing front facade of the caravanserai, which underwent a major restoration in 1965, was projected slightly forward, with a deep barrel-vaulted entrance below and a room belonging to the caravanserai manager above.
Today, the caravanserai serves as a production and sales place for oltu taşı tradesmen. Dozens of kinds of souvenirs made of oltu taşı, especially prayer beads, rings and necklaces, are sold here.
Source: Erzurum Gezi Rehberi Kitabı Tablet İletişim Yayınevi
Places to Visit in Erzurum Address: Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı (Taşhan) Yakutiye/ Erzurum
At a glance
- Type
- caravanserai
- Architect
- Mimar Sinan
- Commissioned by
- Rüstem Paşa
- Architectural style
- Ottoman architecture
- Named after
- Rüstem Paşa
Last updated: 23 October 2026
Location and surroundings
Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı sits within Yakutiye, Erzurum. The toroti catalogue holds 71 described stops across Erzurum, 43 of them in Yakutiye.
The nearest stop is Kırkçeşme Hamamı, 100 m to the east. Another 6 catalogued points lie within a 30 km radius.
The Ankara – Erzurum route passes 5.8 km away, so this works as a stop along the drive.
See Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı and its surroundings in one plan
- Order your stops on the map and spread them across days
- See driving and visiting time at a glance
- Get places around it suggested automatically
- Free — no sign-up needed to start
Other places nearby
Routes that pass close by
Frequently asked
- What is Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı?
- Rüstem Paşa Caravanserai, also known as Taşhan, was commissioned in 1561 by Rüstem Paşa, the grand vizier of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman. The structure is one of the masterpiece examples of Ottoman caravanserai architecture. This is a place where travelers’ all kinds of needs were met day and night. In Rüstem Paşa Caravanserai, an imaret, a mescit, a resting place, bezirgân shops, and sections where camels, donkeys, oxen, buffaloes and horses were tied were built.
- Where is Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı?
- Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı is in Yakutiye, Erzurum.
- How long does it take to visit Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı?
- The suggested visit time for Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı is about 45 minutes.
- What else is there to see near Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı?
- toroti’s catalogue holds other destinations within 30 km of Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı; the closest are Kırkçeşme Hamamı, Kurşunlu Medresesi, Boyahane Hamamı.
- Is Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı on the way anywhere, and which route?
- Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı lies 5.8 km from the Ankara – Erzurum route, close enough to add to that drive with a short detour.