The Tile Museum is the world's first tile museum, established in Kütahya in the imaret building built by Yakup Bey II in 1411. It exhibits Kütahya and İznik tiles from the 14th century to the present day, a tiled sarcophagus, and a copy of the Potters' Agreement; admission is free.
The Tile Museum is located in the imaret section of the complex built by Yakup Bey II, the last bey of the Germiyanids, in 1411-1412. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism restored the building for two years and opened it as a museum on March 5, 1999. Kütahya locals call the building Gök Şadırvan (Sky Fountain) due to the monolithic marble fountain in its courtyard. Three domed iwans and two rooms open into the domed central space. In one of the iwans stands the sarcophagus of Yakup Bey II, covered with turquoise hexagonal tiles from the 15th century.
In the display cases, tile architectural pieces, inscriptions, vases, plates, panels, and household items produced in Kütahya and İznik from the 14th century to the present are exhibited in chronological order. Most of these works, which Kütahya locals call "flowers blooming in fire," were made individually by hand with a brush. In the niche to the left of the entrance, a 39-line Ottoman Turkish foundation inscription is preserved, known as the world's second-largest stone inscription. A section of the museum is also dedicated to a copy of the Potters' Agreement, signed in Kütahya in 1766 and considered the first collective labor agreement in history.
Visitor comments generally praise the diversity of the collection and the way the museum reflects cultural identity. Some visitors complain about the small number of non-tile products in a tile-focused museum. Recently, there have also been reports of closures related to the building's relocation process to the bus station side. It is advisable to check the current status before visiting.
Related discoveries: Historical Places, Kütahya historical places, Kütahya Castle.
Guide's Note
Best Time to Visit
Since the museum is small, it can be comfortably visited in any season of the year. Going in the morning offers a calmer environment and makes it easier to fit nearby stops like the Ulu Mosque and Kossuth House into the same day. As Kütahya's summers are hot, those who want to avoid the midday heat can prefer a morning visit.
How to Get There?
The museum is located in Paşamsultan Neighborhood, right next to the Ulu Mosque, within walking distance of the city center. Those coming from Kütahya bus station can reach it in 10-15 minutes by taxi or city bus. If you are going by your own car, finding parking in the narrow streets around may take some time. Parking in the center and walking is more practical.
How Much Time to Allocate?
The museum's domed central space, two rooms, and tomb section can be comfortably visited in 30-45 minutes. Since it is not a crowded museum, there is no need to rush. Those who want to take a closer look at the patterns and paint samples in the display cases can extend the duration a bit.
Nearby Route Suggestion
It makes sense to combine the Tile Museum with the Ulu Mosque on the same day, as they are almost adjacent. Within walking distance are the Kossuth House Museum and the Kütahya Geology Museum, about 160 meters away. A little further, about 570 meters away, the Kütahya Municipality Sıtkı Olçar Tile Museum also offers a different perspective on tiles.
Things to Pay Attention To
Recently, there have been reports about the museum's relocation process to a new building on the bus station side. Some visitors state that they found the museum closed due to renovation or relocation when they went. If you are coming from afar, call and inquire about the current status before your trip. It is already closed on Mondays.
Good Spots for Photos
The domed courtyard and marble fountain provide the most striking shot in the interior. The turquoise tiled sarcophagus in the tomb section also yields good results in close-up shots. When taking photos through display case glass, approaching from an angle helps reduce reflections.
Things to Know About the Museum
This structure, which has the distinction of being Turkey's first and only tile museum, was originally built as the imaret section of a complex. Most of the exhibited works come from Kütahya and İznik workshops. Among the oldest are Seljuk period pieces from the Kubadabad Palace excavations in Konya and 16th-century İznik tiles brought from Topkapı Palace. Visitors generally appreciate the cultural value of the collection, while some point out the small number of non-tile objects.
Tile Museum Videos
Tile Museum videos load when you open this section to keep the page fast.
Show videos
FAQ
Updated:
