| Dolmabahçe Palace | |
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Dolmabahçe Palace as seen from the Bosphorus |
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| General information | |
| Type | Palace (1453-1853) |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Location | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | 1843 |
| Completed | 1856 |
| Design and construction | |
| Client | Ottoman sultans |
| Owner | Turkish state |
| Architect | Garabet Balyan |
Dolmabahçe Palace (Turkish: Dolmabahçe Sarayı, IPA: [doɫmabahˈtʃe saˈɾajɯ]) located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coastline of the Bosphorus strait, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922, apart from a 22-year interval (1887-1909) in which Yıldız Palace was used.
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Dolmabahçe Palace was ordered by the Empire's 31st Sultan, Abdülmecid I, and built between the years 1843 and 1856. Hacı Said Ağa was responsible for the construction works, while the project was realized by architects Garabet Balyan, his son Nikoghayos Balyan and Evanis Kalfa. The construction cost five million Ottoman mecidiye gold coins, the equivalent of 35 tonnes of gold.[1] Fourteen tonnes of gold in the form of gold leaf were used to gild the ceilings of the 45,000 square metre monoblock palace, which stands on an area of 110,000 m².[2][3]
The design contains eclectic elements from the Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles, blended with traditional Ottoman architecture to create a new synthesis. The palace layout and décor reflect the increasing influence of European styles and standards on Ottoman culture and art during the Tanzimat period. Functionally, on the other hand, it retains elements of traditional Ottoman palace life, and also features of traditional Turkish homes. It is the largest palace in Turkey, considering that the area of the monoblock building occupies 45,000 m². Previously, the Sultan and his family had lived at the Topkapı Palace, but as Topkapı was lacking in up-to-date luxury and style, Abdülmecid decided to build the Dolmabahçe Palace near the site of the former Beşiktaş Palace on the Bosporus, which was demolished. Whereas the Topkapı has exquisite examples of Iznik tiles and Ottoman carving, the Dolmabahçe palace contains much gold and crystal. Tourists are free to wander Topkapı at their leisure, while the only way to see the interior of Dolmabahçe is with a guided tour.
Dolmabahçe Palace was home to six Sultans from 1856, when it was first inhabited, up until the abolition of the Caliphate in 1924: The last royal to live here was Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi. A law that went into effect on March 3, 1924 transferred the ownership of the palace to the national heritage of the new Turkish Republic. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, used the palace as a presidential residence during the summers and enacted some of his most important works here. Atatürk spent the last days of his medical treatment in this palace, where he died on November 10, 1938.
The world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier is in the center hall. The chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria, has 750 lamps and weighs 4.5 tonnes. Dolmabahçe has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world, and one of the great staircases has bannisters of Baccarat crystal.
The site of Dolmabahçe was originally a bay on the Bosporus which was reclaimed gradually during the 18th century to become an imperial garden, much appreciated by the Ottoman sultans; it is from this garden that the name Dolmabahçe (Filled-in Garden) comes from the Turkish dolma meaning "filled" and bahçe meaning "garden." Various summer palaces were built here during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The palace is composed of three parts; the Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn (or Selamlık, the quarters reserved for the men), Muayede Salonu (the ceremonial hall) and the Harem-i Hümâyûn (the Harem, the residential apartments of the family of the Sultan). The palace has an area of 45,000 m2 (11.2 acres), and contains 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths (hamam) and 68 toilets.[2][3]
The famous Crystal Staircase has the shape of a double horseshoe and is built of Baccarat crystal, brass and mahogany. The palace includes a large number of Hereke palace carpets made by the Hereke Imperial Factory. Also featured are 150-year-old bearskin rugs originally presented to the Sultan as a gift by the Tsar of Russia.
The palace is managed by Milli Saraylar Daire Başkanlığı (Directorate of National Palaces) responsible to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Dolmabahçe Palace Museum is open to public on weekdays from 9:00 to 15:00, except Mondays and Thursdays.
A visit to the Dolmabahce Palace begins at the Medhal Hall. Rooms leading off the Medhal are towards the sea and the land. The rooms facing the sea were used by the leading Ottoman officials, the Grand Vizier and the other state ministers, while the rooms facing the land were used by various administrators of the palace and the state, such as the Palace Marshall, Şeyhülislam, and members of the House of Representatives (Meclis-i Mebusan) and the Senate (Meclis-i Ayan).
Guests would first wait in this hall and then would be led inside at the proper time by a palace protocol officer. On entering the Medhal, one sees Boulle tables on both sides of the room, which bear the monogram of Sultan Abdülmecid on top. The royal monogram of the sultan is also on the fireplace. The English chandelier hanging in the middle of this room has sixty arms. The Hereke fabrics used as upholstery for the furniture and as draperies are in the royal shade of red.
The second room after the Medhal to the right is the Clerk's Hall, also referred to as the "Tiled Room." The largest painting in the palace collection, a depiction of the Surre Procession by Stefano Ussi, hangs on the left wall of this hall. Surre was used to refer to the caravans which travelled from Istanbul to Mecca during the religious month of Recep, bearing the monetary aid used to support the maintenance and the decoration of the Kaaba and to provide financial assistance to the local population of Hejaz.
On the wall to the right is a painting signed by the Austrian artist Rudolph Ernst depicting the fire at the Paris Municipal Theater and another painting of a Dutch Village Girl by Delandre. Decorated with French style furniture, this room also contains very valuable porcelain vases.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, spent the last days of his medical treatment in the palace as his health deteriorated. Atatürk died at 9:05 a.m. on November 10, 1938, in a bedroom that is now part of the museum. All the clocks in the palace were stopped and set to 9:05 after his death. Although this has changed recently and clocks are set to different times around the palace, the clock in the room where he died is still pointing to 9:05 a.m.
The area where Dolmabahçe Palace exists today was a large cove of Boğaziçi which until four hundred years ago Osmanlı Kaptan-ı Derya would anchor ships. Dolmabahçe palace still defends its old beauty. This cove which traditional seamanship ceremonies would be performed became a swamp with time. Begun to be filled up in the 17th century, the cove was converted to a "pure garden" organized for relaxing and their fun of sovereigns. Group of large wooden houses and summer palaces built in this garden in various periods were mentioned with name Beşiktaş Shore Palace for a long while. Toward the second half of the 18th century, it was begun to be seen Western effects in Turkish architecture and shape to adorn called "Turkish Rococo" began to show it in style of baroque large wooden house, kiosks and summer palaces being built by remaining under Western effect again. Selim III is sovereign who got constructed first buildings in Western style in Boğaziçi. He got built a summer palace to Architect Melling in Beşiktaş Palace, and he m3ade expand either other structures he thinks it necessary. Mahmut II got built two large palaces in Western style in gardens of Beylerbeyi and Çırağan, apart from Topkapı Shore Palace. At these eras it would be considered abandoned, even though New Palace (Topkapı Palace) was actually not. The palace at Beylerbeyi, Çırağan with marble column at Ortaköy, old Beşiktaş Palace and summer palaces at Dolmabahçe were residences of II. Mahmut changing according to the seasons. Abdülmecit also had not been showing consideration and respect much toward the New Palace like his father; there he was staying for a few months in the winter season only. Almost complete of his childs beyond 40 came to the world in Boğaziçi palaces. Abdülmecit decided to construction of a palace in European plan and style, so as toresiding, summer place, receiving and entertainment guest, and carrying on affairs for the state, instead of classical palaces preferred until now, after living in old Beşiktaş Palace for a while. Abdülmecit was a sultan aimed at West, although he does not see an fundamental education like the other shahzadahes. The sovereign who loves Western music and living with western style knew French either to understand each other. There is a knowledge about on which date its destruction of the wooden houses founded in place of today's Dolmabahçe Palace definitely began for the won land from the sea 200 years ago is exposed again. It is estimated that in 1842 the palace was in place of it and after this date it was started to consruction of the new palace. Yet on these dates it is stated that fields and graveyards on surroundings were exropriated by being purchased for construction's land to be expanded. For end date of construction various sources give different dates. But, we know that the palace' adornments were being still made, furnitures had not been placed just, about what a French who walked around palace construction at end of 1853 tells. Side of the palace got built by Sultan Abdülmecit I goes over along 600 meters on European coast of the Bosphorus. It was constructed between the years 1843-1855 by Garabel Amira Balyan who was Armenian and his son Nigoğus Balyan, in a mix of European architectural styles. Opening ceremony of Dolmabahçe Palace where was completely finished in 1855 went on after Treaty of Paris made with Russians. It was given news that the palace was formally opened on 7 June 1856, on newspaper named Ceride-i Havadis dated 11 June 1856. The treasury that remains in a difficult condition had to pay for salaries, once in 3-4 months either afterwards, at the middles of month instead of the first of the month, when debt of the palace that was three millions gold in period of Abdülmecit is tranferred to the Ministry of Finance. In Dolmabahçe Palace where costed 5.000.000 gold Sultan Abdülmecit could liv3e for only six months. In the palace in era of Sultan Abdülaziz who takes over Ottoman economy in a through bankruptcy, extravagance found the end sharp. In the palace 5.320 people serves, yearly expenses had been amounting 2.000.000 sterling. Abdülaziz had not as wondering admiration to West as his brother dying. Preferring a Turkish-life style, the sovereign had curiosity to Turkish wrestler wrestles and to cockfights. The Palace became a stage to unprocedure those being appointed of high officials, to dismissals, to intrigues and to bribes, at last periods of Abdülaziz. That the sovereign described frankly that he was expecting benefit from job of accommodation and that he demands eighty thousands gold from Ottoman army appropriation brought about that he is dethroned. On May 30, 1876 Murat V was taken to Bab-ı Sarasker by being received from his apartment in the palace, and it was performed a pepper ceremony for himself in Sarasker Gate. While V. Murat turns by his sovereignty caique from Sirkeci to Dolmabahçe in the same hours Abdülaziz was being raken to Topkapı Palace by another caique. It was organized a second pepper ceremony on upper floor squat of Mabeyn Apartment for V. Murat who is brought into the palace. For Abdülhamit II ascending the throne after Murat V as all the city is illunibed with lanterns; in Dolmabahçe Palace light was being on in an only room, the sovereign was working on constitution text. Suspecting assassition contiunal the sovereign has moved into Yıldız Palace, by deciding not to living in Dolmabahçe Palace. So, this sovereign stayed in the palace 236 days. Gotten built by great expenses, the palace has been used in feast ceremonies organised in Large Inspection Salon twice in a year during 33 years. When of Mehmet V staff of the palace were reduced; during eight-year while in little numbers of events performed in the palace, when very important events were occurring in overseas. These events are a banquet held to 90 people on 9 March 1910, banquet ceremonies of Serbian King Petro continuing a week on 23rd March of the same year, visit of Heir Apparent Max, and banquets organized for Austrian Emperor Karl and Empress Zita. Death of the tired and tearful sovereign happened in Yıldız Palace, not in Dolmabahçe Palace. Vahdettin who ascens the throne with Mehmet VI title preferred living in Yıldız, but he left the fatherland from Dolmabahçe Palace. On the palace flowing out Atatürk is not never said to call in. In his period the palace won importance from two directions; foreign guests to be entertained in this place, in Ottoman culture and art palace gates to be opened to out. On September 27, 1932 it was opened First Turkish Historical Congress in Inspection Salon, and either in 1934 First and Second Turkish Languages' General Assemblies were assembed here. In the period of The Republic, the most important being lived in the palace Atatürk used as a residence in his İstanbul visits is the death of Atatürk on 10 November 1938. Atatürk closed his eyes to life in the palace's room numbered 71. It was done last respect delay from front of his corpse put onto catafalque assembled in Inspection Salon. The palace was used in their coming to İstanbul, by İsmet İnönü in The Presidentship of The Republic after Atatürk. After the only party-period, the palace was opened to service so as to entertain foreign guests. In 1952 Dolmabahçe Palace was opened to people about to a day at week by The National Assembly of Turkey Management Commandership. With meeting of Turkish National Assembly Presidentship Couch on July 10, 1964 its official opening was performed, it was closed by being showed reason a denunciation with writing dated January 14, 1971 of Turkish National Assembly Management Commandership. Opened to tourism with The Turkish National Assembly's President numbered 554 on June 25, 1979, Dolmabahçe Palace was closed upon a denunciation again on October 12nd of the same year. It began to give service to tourism again with telephone order of Turkish National Assembly President. With decision dated 16 June 1981 and numbered 1.473 of Turkish National Security Council Execution Apartment Presidentship the palace was closed to visitors again and it was opened with order of Turkish National Security Council General Secretary numbered 1.750 a month later. Gardens of Watch Tower, Furnishings' Apartment, Midmorning, Hareem and Heir Apparent Apartment
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Dolmabah%C3%A7e_Palace Dolmabahçe Palace] at Wikimedia Commons
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