The Elazığ Old Government House, built in 1896 by Governor Enis Pasha, is a three-story mansion with a cut-stone facade and arched windows, making it one of the first examples of the National Architecture style in Elazığ.
The building was constructed in 1896 by the then-governor Enis Pasha and served as a government house. It is considered one of the first examples of the National Architecture style in Elazığ. It is one of the few surviving representatives of such structures from the late Ottoman period. It has three floors: a basement, ground floor, and first floor; the ground floor is entirely built of cut stone, with projecting corners emphasized by pilasters.
It has two entrances, one to the north and one to the south. The south entrance is accessed via two oval staircases within a deep iwan. The main northern entrance originally had a projection and porticoes, which were later removed. The capitals of the pilasters supporting the arches are adorned with relief volutes and palmette branches, and the keystones feature scrollwork motifs. The ground floor corridor is 6x36 meters, and the upper floor corridor is approximately 4x29 meters. All rooms open onto these long corridors. There are 12 rooms on the ground floor, and a total of 33 rooms in the entire building, including later additions. The total floor area is 970 square meters.
It was registered as an immovable cultural property in 1973 and re-registered for a second time in 1985. The building is still used as an official institution today, which is why visits are limited to external architectural observation.
Related discoveries: Historical Places, Elazığ historical places, Sori Waterfall.
Guide's Note
Best Time to Visit
It is more comfortable to explore Elazığ in general during spring and autumn months. The summer heat makes walking in the city center difficult during midday. If you want to clearly see the stone craftsmanship on the mansion's exterior, prefer morning hours; the angle of the sun highlights the reliefs on the pilasters better.
How to Get There
The building is located on Gazi Street, in Çarşı Mahallesi. Since it is just southwest of İzzetpaşa Mosque, you can find it by seeing the mosque and walking. City bus lines 1, 4, 6, 63, and 77 pass in front of the mansion; the closest stop is Cumartesi Pazarı Yolu, a 1-minute walk away. If you come by car, finding parking around the central bazaar might take some time.
Location within the City
The mansion is in Çarşı Mahallesi, one of Elazığ's busiest centers. Around it are other historical and daily life points such as the covered bazaar and İzzetpaşa Mosque. It is more logical to plan your visit here not as a standalone stop, but as part of a central walking route.
How Much Time to Allocate
15-20 minutes is sufficient to examine the exterior facade and take photos from a few angles. Since the building is an active public institution, there is no possibility to enter and tour the rooms. Therefore, the visit remains short and architecturally focused.
Suggested Route
Adding it to your itinerary while exploring the central bazaar is the most practical way. You can reach the mansion by walking a few minutes from İzzetpaşa Mosque, then continue towards the covered bazaar. For those who want to include Harput Castle in the same day's program, it is a bit far from the center; it's more comfortable to consider it as a separate tour.
Things to Note
Since the building is currently used as an official institution, there is no tourist entry to the interior. To avoid disappointment, it is useful to know from the outset that the visit is an exterior facade tour. As there may be security personnel, it is sufficient to maintain a respectful distance when taking photos.
Photo Spots
The iwan-shaped entrance on the south facade and the two oval staircases leading up to it are the most striking details. The main entrance on the north facade is also suitable for close-ups with its relief volute and palmette motifs on the corner pilasters. Stepping back a bit from the street to frame the entire three-story facade of the building works well for a general view.
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