Ottoman-era site in northwest Turkey attracts thousands

By Sadik Kedir and Hakan Mehmet Sahin

EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - A historical complex from Ottoman era in northwest Turkey receives an average of 7,000 visitors daily, said a university rector, working on its preservation.

The Sultan Bayezid II Complex, founded in the 15th century in the northern shore of the Tunca River in Edirne province -- the second capital of the Ottoman Empire --, is in the UNESCO’s tentative world heritages list, especially for its integrated medical facility during its time.

Besides mosque, guest-houses (tabhanes), soup kitchen-cellar (imaret), and sauna (hammam), the complex used to have a hospital (darussifa), medical school (madrasah) and Pharmacy.

International visitors from Japan, South America and Georgia are flocking to the place, Prof. Erhan Tabakoglu, the rector of Trakya University, told Anadolu Agency.

Tabakoglu said that the medical facility in the complex used to also provide treatment of mental and psychological disorders.

“Sultan Bayezid II Complex illustrates a significant stage on the way to the modern hospital and the patient-treatment perception in a modern sense thanks to its central plan that enables the doctors to follow up their patients easily, the acoustic system that supports the treatment procedure by music and sound of water as well as the modern treatment methods and the medical education provided,” UNESCO said on justifying the worthiness of the site.

“It contains all the key attributes with its structural integrity and authenticity that convey its outstanding universal value,” it added.