Beykoz Mecidiye Pavilion
A Stunning Serdab Pavilion
Mecidiye Kasrı, located on the shores of the Bosphorus in Beykoz, Turkey, is a beautiful and historic building with a rich history. Built in the 19th century, the palace is a fine example of Ottoman architecture and is now a museum.
Beykoz Mecidiye Kasrı, the first brick and new style structure built on the Bosphorus, is a structure based on an important event in the history of the Ottoman Empire.
On December 21, 1832, the forces of the Egyptian Governor Kavalalı Mehmed Ali Pasha defeated the Ottoman army in Konya. In the face of this situation, the Sublime Porte first asked for help from the Russians, and in February 1833, the Russian army and navy entered Istanbul from the north. While the navy anchored in the bays of Büyükdere and Beykoz, the army was stationed in Selviburnu. As a result of this rapprochement, the Hünkâr İskelesi Treaty was signed, and the Russians erected a stone monument with Turkish and Russian inscriptions in Selviburnu to document this event. When Kavalalı Mehmed Ali Pasha visited Istanbul in his old age (1845), he wanted to lay the foundation of Beykoz Kasrı in order to appease the sultan for his rebellion and to reduce the impact of the crude-looking monument erected by the Russians. The construction of the palace took eleven years and was completed in 1855, when Said Pasha, the son of Kavalalı Mehmed Ali Pasha, presented it to Abdülaziz, who had ascended the throne.
Mecidiye Kasrı is a fine example of the 19th century application of serdab pavilions. Mecidiye Kasrı, which was built in neoclassical style, is made of brick and stone imported from Italy. There is also a small rest pavilion called the mountain bath in the garden of the palace, the inner walls of which are decorated with oyster shells. The palace, which has a two-story and symmetrical layout, has been used for various purposes by the Ottoman sultans. In photographs taken during the reign of Abdul Hamid II, it is seen that the building was furnished with heavy gold-plated furniture sets, upholstery and curtains made of Hereke fabrics, Baccarat vases, large crystal chandeliers and candlesticks. In addition to being a palace structure, it was allocated to public service during the Ottoman period because it was located outside the city and in a clean airy place.
The interior structure of the building, which was also used as a hospital and preventorium in the Republican years, has undergone some changes during this period. Mecidiye Kasrı, which was attached to the National Palaces and protected on December 23, 1997, was given museum status in 2017 after restoration works carried out between 2010 and 2016.