The II. Abdülhamid Mosque, located in Sürmene's Gültepe Neighborhood, is a minaret-less wooden Black Sea mosque built in 1867, distinguished by its hand-drawn wall decorations and a stone mihrab with a segmented dome, making it one of the region's unique structures.
This mosque, which you encounter on one of Sürmene's mountain-backed streets in the Gültepe neighborhood, was built in 1867 according to the inscription on the mihrab base. It speaks a language related to other village mosques in the region: walls of cut and rough-hewn stone, a wide wooden eaves, a hip roof, with fluted tiles. The first striking thing is the absence of its minaret. This is not particularly rare in the 19th-century mosque architecture of the region, but it still makes the structure stand out from an ordinary village mosque.
The real richness begins when you step inside. You enter the prayer hall through a round-arched, stone-framed wooden door on the east facade. Wooden stairs to the left of the entrance lead up to the two-story women's gallery; this floor, supported by four wooden pillars, is left undecorated and plain. The main spectacle is on the prayer hall walls. Flowers in vases, oil lamps, prayers, names of Allah, mosque depictions, and hand-drawn ornaments extend up to the ceiling. The ceiling and floor are entirely wooden. The mihrab is an example of stone craftsmanship with a rectangular form, a round niche, a segmented dome, and ends with a curtain motif. The minbar and sermon pulpit were added during the last restoration, meaning they are not original but do not disrupt the integrity of the structure.
There was once a madrasah on the south facade of the mosque, but nothing remains of it today. According to the records of the General Directorate of Foundations, the structure has the status of a protected foundation work. Most visitors to Sürmene don't even know about this mosque, as the main route shifts towards Trabzon city center and Sümela. But for those who take the time to go up to Gültepe, this is one of the rare examples that truly showcases the Black Sea's wooden mosque tradition.
Related discoveries: Historical Places, Trabzon historical places, Sümela Monastery.
Guide's Note
When to Visit
It is easier to reach Gültepe neighborhood, located high up in Sürmene, during the spring and summer months. In this part of the Black Sea, winter months are both foggy and rainy, and roads leading up the mountain can be challenging. In autumn, it is more productive for photography to go before noon, before it gets dark. The hand-drawn decorations inside the prayer hall are much clearer with natural light.
How to Get There
The road from Trabzon city center to Sürmene takes approximately 45 minutes, following the coastal road to reach the district. From Sürmene center to Gültepe neighborhood, there is a mountainous, narrow but asphalt road. Since public transportation options are limited, it is more practical to go by your own car or by a shared taxi (dolmuş) from Sürmene. Hazelnut orchards and tea plantations accompany you along the way.
How Much Time to Allocate
The mosque is a small-scale structure; 20-30 minutes is sufficient to comfortably explore the interior and exterior. However, those who have come all the way to Sürmene and wish to see other historical village mosques in the region can include this visit in a half-day Sürmene tour.
Route Suggestion
Starting from Trabzon city center, visiting Sürmene district center first, and then this mosque in Gültepe neighborhood, is a logical sequence. On the way back, you can return to Trabzon via the coastal strip. If time permits, adding other village mosques around Sürmene to the same itinerary provides an opportunity to compare and see the region's wooden mosque tradition.
Photo Spots
On the exterior, the wide wooden eaves and stone wall texture create a beautiful frame. Inside, the hand-drawn floral, oil lamp, and mosque depiction motifs on the prayer hall walls are the main details to see. For those who want to capture the segmented dome and curtain motif in the mihrab up close, it would be beneficial to bring a telephoto or wide-angle lens.
Things to Pay Attention To
Since it is an active mosque open for worship, it is necessary to wait at a respectful distance during prayer times. The wooden stairs leading to the women's gallery are old and narrow, so they should be used carefully. As the structure does not have a minaret, you might not realize it's a mosque at first glance; asking local residents for confirmation will make your job easier.
General Information
The structure is listed in the Trabzon Foundation Works records of the General Directorate of Foundations. It was built in the same period and with the same construction technique as similar village mosques in the region; the madrasah on its south facade has not survived to the present day. In the mosque's last restoration, a wooden minbar and sermon pulpit were added, thus the structure combines both original and subsequently completed elements.
II. Abdülhamid Mosque Videos
II. Abdülhamid Mosque videos load when you open this section to keep the page fast.
Show videos
FAQ
Updated:
