Extérieur
|  | Fountain of Ahmed III
Sultan Ahmet Çesmesi
Fontaines et bassins - 1728
The Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III is located at the great square in front of the Imperial Gate of Topkapı Palace. It is a Rococo edifice that was built under Sultan Ahmed III in 1728, in the style of the Tulip period. It was a social centre and gathering place.
|
|  | Imperial Gate
Bab-i Hümayun
1478
The main street leading to the palace is the Byzantine processional Mese, today Divan Yolu (Street of the Council). The Mese was used for imperial processions during the Byzantine and Ottoman era. It leads directly to the Hagia Sophia and takes a turn northwest towards the palace square where the landmark Fountain of Ahmed III stands.
|
First Courtyard
| First Courtyard
Alay Meydani
Cour des Janissaires
This First Courtyard functioned as an outer precinct or park and is of all the courtyards the largest one of the palace. The steep slopes leading towards the sea had already been terraced under Byzantine rule.
|
| Sainte-Irène (3)
Aya Irini Kilisesi
Lieux de culte - VIth century
L'église Sainte-Irène, qui ne sera pas transformée en mosquée, est considérée comme le lieu de culte le plus ancien de la ville. Elle sera construite au VIème siècle par l'empereur Justinien, à l'emplacement d'un lieu de culte déjà rebâtie par l'empereur Constantin au IVème, et incendie en 532 en même temps que Sainte-Sophie.
|
|  | Fountain of the Executioner
Fontaines et bassins
The Fountain of the Executioner (Cellat Çeşmesi) is where the executioner purportedly washed his hands and sword after a decapitation. There is disagreement if indeed this is the fountain. It is located on the right side when facing the Gate of Salutation from the First Courtyard.
|
Second Courtyard
| Second Courtyard (2)
Divan Meydani
Upon passing the Middle Gate, the visitor enters the Second Courtyard (II. Avlu), or Divan Square (Divan Meydanı) was a park full of peacocks and gazelles, used as a gathering place for courtiers.
|
|  | Imperial Council (9)
Kubbeakti
Salle du Conseil Impérial
The Imperial Council (Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn) building is the chamber in which the ministers of state, council ministers (Dîvân Heyeti), the Imperial Council, consisting of the Grand Vizier (Paşa Kapısı), viziers, and other leading officials of the Ottoman state, held meetings.
|
|  | Tower of Justice
The Tower of Justice (Adalet Kulesi) is located in-between the Imperial Council and the Harem. The tower is several stories high and the tallest structure in the palace, making it clearly visible from the Bosphorus as a landmark.
|
|  | Palace kitchens
The elongated palace kitchens (Saray Mutfakları) are a prominent feature of the palace. Some of the kitchens were first built in the 15th century at the time when the palace was constructed.
|
Third Courtyard
| Third Courtyard (1)
Beyond the Gate of Felicity is the Third Courtyard (III. Avlu), also called the Inner Palace (Enderûn Avlusu), which is the heart of the palace, where the sultan spent his days outside the harem.
|
| Audience Chamber (3)
Arz Odasi
Salle du Trône
The Audience Chamber, also known as Audience Hall or Chamber of Petitions (Arz Odası) is located right behind the Gate of Felicity, in order to hide the view towards the Third Courtyard.
|
|  | Library of Ahmed III (1)
Enderûn Library
1719
The Neo-classical Enderûn Library (Enderûn Kütüphanesi), also known as Library of Sultan Ahmed III (III. Ahmed Kütüphanesi), is situated directly behind the Audience Chamber (Arz Odası) in the centre of the Third Court.
|
Fourth Courtyard
|  | Baghdad Kiosk
Bagdat Köskü
1639
The Baghdad Kiosk (Bağdad Köşkü) is situated on the right side of the terrace with fountain. It was built to commemorate the Baghdad Campaign of Murad IV after 1638.
|
| Yerevan Kiosk (1)
Revan Köskü
1636
The Yerevan Kiosk (Revan Köşkü) served as a religious retreat of forty days. It is a rather small pavilion with a central dome and three apses for sofas. The fourth wall contains the door and a fireplace. T
|
| Circumcision Room (6)
Sünnet Odasi
1640
In 1640 Sultan Ibrahim I added the Circumcision Room (Sünnet Odası), a summer kiosk (Yazlik Oda) dedicated to the circumcision of young princes, which is a primary rite of passage in Islam.
|
| İftar Pavilion
Iftariye
Portique de l'Iftar
between 1640 and 1648
The gilded İftar Pavilion, also known as İftar Kiosk or İftar bower (İftariye Köşkü or İftariye Kameriyesi) offers a view on the Golden Horn is a magnet for tourists today for photo opportunities.
|
|  | Terrace Kiosk
Sofa Köskü
Pavillon de "Sofa"
1703
The rectilinear Terrace Kiosk (Sofa Köşku / Merdiven Başı Kasrı), also erroneously known as Kiosk of Kara Mustafa Pasha (Mustafa Paşa Köşkü), was a belvedere built in the second half of the 16th century.
|
| Grand Kiosk
Mecidiye Köskü
Restaurant
1840
The Grand Kiosk, also known as the Mecidiye Kiosk, Grand Pavilion or Kiosk of Abdül Mecid I (Mecidiye Köşkü), built in 1840, was the last significant addition to the palace, along with the neighbouring Wardrobe Chamber (Esvap Odası).
|
 |
