Maslak Kasirlari

It is known that the first constructions in the area where Maslak Kasırları is located, on the right side of the main road connecting the Levent and Ayazağa districts, began during the reign of Sultan II. Mahmud (1808-1839), and that the region was used as a hunting and resting place belonging to the sultans. Although it is not known exactly when and by whom Maslak Kasırları was built, a large part of it dates to the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz (1861-1876). Maslak Kasırları, which had been allocated to Sultan II. Abdülhamid (1876-1909) during his years as a prince, witnessed the Sultan being called to the Ottoman throne and, in this respect, has a special importance in terms of Ottoman history. During the Republican Period, Maslak Kasırları was used as a military preventorium between 1937-1982.

Located in a grove containing every shade of green in the middle of 170 dönüms of forest land, the parts of Maslak Kasırları that have survived to the present day are Kasr-ı Hümâyûn, Mâbeyn-i Hümâyûn and Limonluk, Çadır Köşk and Paşa Dairesi. In a position that can very well see the point where the Bosphorus opens to the Black Sea, these structures, integrated with the green cover around them, display distinguished examples of late 19th century wooden Ottoman residential architecture and ornamentation.

Today, Kasr-ı Hümâyûn has been restored in the light of available documents, memories and old photographs and serves as a museum-house open to the public. Mâbeyn-i Hümâyûn and the connected Limonluk, as well as Çadır Köşk and its garden, have also been restored with the same ideas, and there is a cafeteria where visitors can sit and rest. In Limonluk, the camellias that bloom especially in the winter months offer their visitors a visual feast. The gardens of Maslak Kasrı can also be allocated for receptions of a national and international nature.

Places to Visit in Istanbul Address: Daruşşafaka Mah. Büyükdere Cad. No: 194, Maslak Kasırları, Beşiktaş/İstanbul