Audio GuideKüçüksu Pavilion

On the Asian shore of Istanbul, where the Bosphorus shimmers under sunlight, stands Küçüksu Kasrı, a waterfront palace with a vibrant past. Once just a wooden hunting lodge for Ottoman sultans, this site evolved over centuries, mirroring the shifting tides of Turkish history and taste.

Erhan Karakaya

By the middle of the nineteenth century, Sultan Abdülmecid the First chose to replace the old wooden structure with a striking stone pavilion, seeking both elegance and permanence. He entrusted the design to the Balyan family, renowned Armenian Ottoman architects led by Nigoğos Balyan. Their vision brought together ornate Neo-Baroque style with delicate Rococo touches and traditional Turkish details, blending East and West.

Mustafa Çelik

The pavilion rises gracefully with two main floors and a basement. Its airy rooms surround a central hall, decorated with Bohemian crystal chandeliers and Italian marble fireplaces—some rooms facing the water have two—gleaming parquet floors, and rich carpets woven in Hereke. Each wall, ceiling, and piece of furniture tells of a refined blend of European flair and Ottoman craftsmanship, guided by French decorator Charles Séchan.

Küçüksu Kasrı (Milli Saraylar)

Unlike palaces with tall walls, Küçüksu’s open gardens allow views of the Bosphorus, enclosed only by elegant cast iron railings. Fountain pools, open terraces, and soft breezes lend a sense of peace. The sultans used this pavilion for restful escapes, hunting, and grand gatherings, often arriving by boat. Over time, foreign dignitaries were welcomed here, and even film crews captured its unique allure for international movies.

Through waves of repair and change, especially in the Republican era, Küçüksu Kasrı became a museum and event site, preserving the spirit of leisure and artistry at the heart of Ottoman Istanbul. Standing by the water, Küçüksu Kasrı remains a living bridge between a royal past and modern Turkish identity.