Çevre Culture and Art House, located in Bezirci Neighborhood in Sivas city center, is a three-story historic building constructed as the French Hospital before World War I, and today hosts the activities of the Culture and Art Association.
Çevre Culture and Art House is a three-story building located in the city center of Sivas, within walking distance of the historic city square. The building's past is quite layered: it was built as the French Hospital before World War I, converted into the Provincial Hospital in 1920, and then became the dormitory of the Orphanage in 1925. Subsequently, it was named Numune Hospital, and then Tuberculosis Hospital. It served as the Chest Hospital until 1976, after which it was used as the health directorate building. Today, the Culture and Art Association operates here.
The most striking part of the structure is the section with pavilion rooms facing the four cardinal directions. This section was added later, between 1930-35. The walls of the ground and first floors are made of cut stone masonry, while the third floor and pavilion rooms are constructed with a stone infill technique between timber. The ceiling and capital headings of the large hall on the second floor, accessed by double-sided wooden stairs, are made of plaster and adorned with geometric panel and floral motifs. The room in the southwest corner features a circular central motif, commonly seen in Sivas civil architecture.
Thanks to its proximity to the city square, it is an easily accessible stop to add to your itinerary when exploring the historic center of Sivas. Since the building hosts cultural events, please confirm the current program information before your visit.
Related discoveries: Historic Sites, Sivas historic sites, Hafik Lake.
Guide's Note
The Story of the Building
The history of the structure summarizes the last century of Sivas. Before World War I, it was used as the French Hospital, then successively served as the Provincial Hospital, the Orphanage dormitory, Numune Hospital, and Tuberculosis Hospital. It served as the Chest Hospital until 1976, after which it was used as the health directorate building. In its current form, it is the center of the Culture and Art Association.
Architectural Details
The three-story building has pavilion rooms on its four main sides; this section was added later between 1930-35. The walls of the ground and first floors are made of cut stone masonry, while the third floor and pavilion rooms are stone infill between timber. The ceiling and capital headings of the large hall on the second floor, accessed by double-sided wooden stairs, are made of plaster and adorned with geometric panel and floral motifs. The room in the southwest corner features a circular central motif, common in Sivas civil architecture. This detail stands out for those who wish to take photographs.
How to Get There
It is located in Bezirci Neighborhood, approximately 300 meters from Sivas city square. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the center. Since it is in the city center, it can be easily included in your route when visiting other historical structures in Sivas.
How Much Time to Allocate
Since the building is not large, a visit usually takes 30-45 minutes. It can easily be fitted into the same day as other historical structures in Sivas city center (such as Ulu Mosque, Gök Medrese, Çifte Minareli Medrese).
Route Suggestion
For a one-day city center tour in Sivas, visiting Çevre Culture and Art House after exploring the Seljuk structures around the city square is a logical sequence. Due to its close proximity, it can be considered as the last stop or an intermediate break on your route.
Things to Note Before Visiting
Since the building is used for cultural and art association activities, interior visits may depend on the event program. Before going, confirm whether it is open and any entry conditions from local sources.
FAQ
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