The word "Dolmabahce" in English means "The filled garden". Because the Dolmabahce Palace is founded upon a reclaimed area by filling up the sea. It's a beautiful 19th C palace right by the Bosphorus, on the waterfront. It's in baroque and rococo style and very French. Many people think that it is a small model of the palace of Versailles in Paris, France. It can be visited with a tour guide of the palace as a group. Open everyday from 9:30-17:00 except Mon and Thu.

When one enters the palace area, the first thing to see is the beautiful French style gardens. After having a lovely walk by the Bosphorus, one reaches the main building. The palace was constructed between 1842-1853 by one of the Ottoman Sultans, Sultan Abdulmecid. The architect was a famous Armenian architect, Nikogos Balyan. The palace reflects the European and more "modern" side of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultans moved to Dolmabahce Palace after its construction was finished and never went back to Topkapi Palace which hosted them nearly 4 centuries.

Before one enters into the main palace building, should wear blue nylons over shoes due to keep the palace clean. After wearing them, one faces with a huge entrance hall with beautiful French Baccarat crystal chandelliers. The palace altogether is decorated with French Baccarat and Czech Bohemian crystal chandelliers.The entrance hall is the hall where the visitors were used to welcomed. This part is the official part (Selamlik) of the Palace that was only open to the men. The women and the children lived in a different part called "the Harem". The Sultan's bedrooms were also in the Harem Part. The founder of Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk died in this palace in 1938 of sirosis disease. He actually lived in Ankara, Turkey's capital, but he used to come to Istanbul quite often and Dolmabahce Palace was his residence when he visited Istanbul. His room is also in the Harem Part of the Palace. There are many portraits in the palace by famous artists, like Aivazosvky of Russia. It's a very ornate palace with its 285 rooms, 43 large halls and 6 Turkish baths. The large old carpets on the floor are Hereke Carpets which were exclusively woven for the palaces. Some rooms have a great parquet floor with three different woods inlaid into each other by using no nails. Many of the palace fabrics and the curtains were also coming from Hereke, a small town 50 miles,70 kms. to the east of Istanbul. The palace fabrics today were replaced by new ones which are very similar to the original ones.


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http://www.istanbuldan.com/albums/tarihi_mekanlar/dolmabahce/dolmabahce_sarayi01.jpg

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http://www.unf.edu/classes/byzantium/istanbul/Dolmabahce/Dolmabahce-PH375.jpg

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the paiting ceiling is amazing!!

Wonderful palace, wonderful thread.thank you Ozcan :okay:

The ceiling motives are mostly made from gold.The palace is pretty big and in an hour you can only see 1/8 of it.

Thanks guys, I love palaces and castles :)

Actuallt THIS particular one is a jewel, along with the Ciragan which is now a luxury hotel. Thanks for the pics, a very interesting piece of architecture that I will certainly not miss in my next visit in the city of 3 empires.

BTW what are the news about the Ritz Carlton hotel? There was a rumour that they wanted to demolish it because it was allegedly spoiling the view of the area. I hope they don't, this combination of old and new is really something.

Gm2263, I'm not sure, but there was a scraper to be demolished because it was built illegally :eek: Maybe it's that one.

@Gm t
he case of Ritz Carlton is going on? Actually we, people of Istanbul, didn't like it and less people support it. People don't want a skyscraper so close to the palace... Actually it looks like building a skyscraper infront of Concorde Square next to Louvre.

About Cırağan. It has ben burnt in the past and lost its palace identity. And then after the renovation it became a hotel as you know.

I hope your next visit will be better and you stay here longer.