Türk-İslam Eserleri Müzesi, Edirne'deki Selimiye Camii Külliyesi'nin Darü'l Hadis Medresesi binasında kurulu olup, Osmanlı dönemi silahları, hat levhaları, Kırkpınar güreş kültürüne ait eserler ve 15. Yüzyıl mezar taşlarını sergilemektedir.
The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is housed in the old madrasah building located southeast of the Selimiye Mosque. The structure has been used as a museum since 1925, featuring the main lecture hall, student cells, and an arcaded courtyard. It was originally built as the Daru'l Hadith Madrasah and later acquired its current function.
The visit begins with the Mimar Sinan Respect Room, where alongside his statue, plaster and ornamentation samples found during the restoration of Selimiye's manuscript library are displayed. In 14 rooms and four galleries, Ottoman-era weapons, door wings crafted without nails using the kundekari technique, calligraphic panels, and Quranic manuscripts from the 15th to 19th centuries are exhibited. The Kırkpınar Room attracts special interest: photographs of chief wrestlers, mannequins in traditional kispet attire, and objects related to wrestling culture are gathered together. In the Tekke Room, calligraphic panels from various dervish lodges, and instruments such as ney, rebab, and kudüm are on display.
The courtyard is also considered part of the museum. Under the shade of a monumental yew tree, 15th-century gravestones, a dwindling number of Janissary gravestones, and cannons, cannonballs, and food carts from the Balkan Wars are exhibited. Visitors can also use the resting area. Those who visit Selimiye usually stop here on their way out, and comments frequently mention "those who come to the mosque must see it."
Guide's Note
Best Time to Visit
The museum is open from 09:00-19:00 in summer and 09:00-17:30 in winter; it operates every day of the week. The most comfortable visit is right after touring the Selimiye Mosque, in the hours before noon. Most visitors to the mosque already stop by the museum when leaving the courtyard, so it can be a bit more crowded in the afternoons.
How to Get to the Museum
The museum is located within the Selimiye Mosque Complex, at Taş Odalar Sk. No:4. Anyone reaching Selimiye in central Edirne can walk directly from the courtyard to the museum's entrance. City bus lines stop near the complex, and the walking distance from the city center is also considered short.
Location within Selimiye Complex
The building was originally constructed as the Daru'l Hadith Madrasah of the Selimiye Mosque. It has served as a museum since 1925; it retains the classic madrasah plan consisting of the main lecture hall, student cells, and an arcaded courtyard. Nearby are also the Edirne Archaeology and Ethnography Museum and the Selimiye Foundation Museum, so those interested can visit all three on the same day.
How Much Time to Allocate
A short tour including 14 rooms, four galleries, and the courtyard takes 30-45 minutes. Those who wish to spend more time in the Kırkpınar Room and examining manuscripts can extend this period up to an hour. When planned together with a visit to the Selimiye Mosque, a total stop of 2-2.5 hours can be considered.
Suggested Itinerary
Entering the museum when leaving the Selimiye Mosque through the courtyard is the most logical sequence. Time can also be allocated for the Edirne Archaeology and Ethnography Museum on the same day; the two are close to each other and complement each other thematically. Those interested in Kırkpınar wrestling may want to spend a little more time in the Kırkpınar Room.
Things to Note
Since the foreign tourist ticket price changes depending on the exchange rate, it is necessary to ask for the current amount at the ticket office; some visitors state that they paid in Turkish Lira. When entering with a Museum Card, the card must be with you. There is a note mentioned in a few comments regarding the arrangement of the toilet area, those sensitive to this can take note.
Good Spots for Photos
The monumental yew tree in the courtyard and the gravestones around it, along with the arcaded gallery, make for a good shot. The door wings made with the kundekari technique are also interesting material for detail photography. The statue in the Mimar Sinan Respect Room is also a spot where visitors frequently stop and take photos.
General Information About the Museum
The building was originally constructed as the Daru'l Hadith Madrasah and has served as a museum since 1925. Ottoman-era weapons, manuscripts, examples of calligraphy, ethnographic objects, and materials related to Kırkpınar wrestling are exhibited. Visitor comments frequently emphasize that the museum completes the Selimiye visit, showing that the complex is not just a place of worship.
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