Edirne is a city in northwestern Turkey, located near the border with Bulgaria and Greece.
It is known as the second capital of the Ottoman Empire, a city of bridges, palaces and mosques, where every stone preserves the spirit of grandeur and art.
Today Edirne is an open-air museum where East meets Europe and the past harmoniously neighbors with the present.

📍 Geography and climate

• Region: Thrace (European part of Turkey)

• Population: about 185,000

• Location: 230 km west of Istanbul, at the confluence of the Tunca, Meriç and Arade rivers.

• Climate: is temperate continental

  • Summer: is warm and dry (+28-35°C)

  • Winter: is cool (+2-10°C).

The proximity to the border makes Edirne a crossroads of cultures and routes connecting Turkey with the Balkans and Europe.

🏛 History

Edirne is a city with more than 2500 years of history.

• It was founded by the Thracians under the name of Uskudama (Orestia).

• Under the Romans it was renamed Hadrianopolis (Hadrianopolis) in honor of Emperor Hadrian.

• In 1361 it was captured by the Ottomans and became the second capital of the Ottoman Empire (before being transferred to Istanbul in 1453).

• It was here that the Ottomans formed the basis of their state: built palaces, mosques and schools.

📜 Edirne was the center of the empire for almost a century, and many of Turkey's architectural masterpieces were born here.

🕌 Main attractions

🕌 S elimiye Mosque (Selimiye Camii)

• The symbol of the city and the masterpiece of the great architect Mimar Sinan.

• It was built in 1575 by order of Sultan Selim II.

• It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

• The dome is higher than that of Aya Sofia - 43 meters!

• The interior Iznik tiles and perfect symmetry make the mosque one of the world's greatest architectural works.

🧿 Sinan himself called Selimiye his "best creation".

🕌 Eski Mosque (Eski Camii)

• The oldest mosque in the city (1414).

• Inside, the walls are decorated with huge calligraphic inscriptions with the names of Allah and Prophet Muhammad.

• The atmosphere is calm and solemn, as if in a sacred archive.

🏰 Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı)

• One of the greatest palaces of the Ottoman era, second only to Topkapi.

• It was built by Murad II in the 15th century.

• Although part of it has been destroyed by time, the gates, fountains, towers and the magnificent Tower of Justice (Adalet Kasrı) have been preserved.

• Restoration of the palace is now underway, turning it into a historical park.

🌉 Bridges over the Meriç River (Meriç Köprüsü)

• It was built in the 16th century during the time of Sultan Mehmet II.

• It is more than 260 meters long.

• From here you can get the best view of the sunset in Edirne: the sun sinks behind the river, reflected in the stone arches.

🕊 Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii)

• Built in the XV century by Sultan Murad II.

• Unique with rare earthenware tiles from Iznik and handmade wooden mihrab.

🧿 Health Museum (Edirne Sağlık Müzesi)

• One of the most interesting museums in Turkey.

• It is located in the former complex of the Daryu'ŞŞifa, a hospital and medical school from the Ottoman era.

• Here diseases were treated with music, aromas and water.

• The museum tells the story of 15th century humanistic medicine - long before the advent of psychiatry in Europe.

🎭 Culture and tradition

Edirne is a city of tradition and art that has preserved the authentic atmosphere of old Ottoman Thrace.

• The famous Kırkpınar Yağlı Güreşleri festival, an oil wrestling tournament, is held every year in June, the oldest sports festival in the world (held since 1362!).

• The locals are proud of their culture, music and "Roman havası" (Thracian Roma rhythms) dances.

• Edirne is also known for its gold crafts, carpet weaving and sweets.

🍽 Edirne cuisine

Edirne is a gastronomic paradise for lovers of authentic Ottoman cuisine.

What to try:

• 🐑 Edirne tava ciğeri - legendary fried liver, sliced thin and served with pepper and ayran.

  This dish is the city's calling card.

• 🍯 Deva-i misk helvası - a dessert with honey, nuts and musk flavor.

• 🧁 Bademezmesi - almond sweets reminiscent of marzipan.

• 🍞 Kavala kurabiyesi - shortbread cookies with almonds, native to the region.

• ☕ Thracian coffee (Trakya kahvesi) - rich, cocoa flavored coffee.

🌳 Nature and recreation

• TheMeriç River and its embankments are ideal for walks and picnics.

• The surrounding fields and hills of Thrace are known for their vineyards, sunflowers and lavender plantations.

• It's especially beautiful in spring - the verdant valleys and blooming gardens create an atmosphere of tranquility.

🚗 How to get there

• 🚗 F rom Istanbul: 230 km, about 2,5 hours on highway O-3 (autobahn E80).

• 🚄 High speed train (YHT): about 2 hours from Istanbul.

• 🚍 Regular buses from Istanbul, Tekirdag and Çanakkale.

• 🚖 Only 10 km from the Bulgarian border and 15 km from Greece.

✅ Why to visit Edirne

✔ The second capital of the Ottoman Empire
✔ Great Selimiye Mosque - Mimar Sinan's masterpiece.
✔ Unique Medical Museum
✔ The oldest wrestling festival in the world
✔ Gastronomic center of Thrace
✔ The atmosphere of the old East and Europe at the same time

📌 Conclusion

Edirne is the historical heart of European Turkey, where the past comes alive in architecture, flavors and traditions.
Here you can walk across the bridges over the Meriç River, admire the Selimiye Mosque, taste fried liver and hear the muezzin's call echoing in the verdant valleys.

"Edirne is where Turkey begins and where history speaks all the languages of the world." 🕊