Ottoman Building Types as seen in Macedonia

Ottoman Building Types as seen in Macedonia

       Kervansarays, Hamams, Bedestens,....are just some of the new types of buildings   emerging in the territory of Macedonia, right after its conquest in 1392.  The urbanistic character of Skopje changed profoundly when taken over by the Ottomans due to their religion, the Islam, as well as their habits in daily life. Immigration of Turkoman people and conversion to Islam of a part of the local population brought about a profound change in the social composition of the population. New types of buildings were needed to satisfy the requirements of this new society. Religious buildings as mosques, turbes and tekkes as well as civil architecture as kervansarays, hamams, bazaars, medreses, imarets, clock towers, bridges and aqueducts converted the towns in characteristic Ottoman centres. Particularly Skopje and Bitola  still reflect this character with   numerous Ottoman monuments in spite of a racing construction activity, especially in Skopje. Following the example of the Sultan in his capital, the local rulers and other high officials made important endowments of one or several monuments. Today, the names of a number of buildings, particularly mosques, still remind of these historic personalities. 

      Although the present Republic of Macedonia is best known for its Roman excavations and still more for its Byzantine churches with their interesting frescos, my attention was drawn particularly to the much less known Ottoman heritage with its own style. As an "Eastern" phenomen in Europe deriving from a long lasting cultural influence it deserves our attention and admiration.  
      The last two years while living in this country I had the opportunity to visit and study all what is left of Ottoman architecture in Macedonia (which is a lot compared with other Balkan countries).

       It is precisely this patrimony, so different from the West European culture, which I want to share with the reader. As the subject is too wide for this site I decided on the presentation of the new building types implanted in the conquered area. Each subsequent article will describe one of these types, be it the mosque, the han or the hamam, accompanied by one selected monument from the wide choice of examples within the national geography. 

      Would I recommend Macedonia as a travel destination? Absolutely! Particularly spring and summer are great seasons to explore beautiful landscapes, but also to get familiar with its cultural heritage, included Ottoman Architecture, and all that at more than affordable prices and possibly as the only tourist at the site, a real luxury at present times.

      For readers who want to enlarge their knowledge on this subject I point out my ilustrated book which has been published recently by Logos A, Skopje:

Teresa Waltenberger, Architecture in Macedonia: The Ottoman Heritage, Skopje 2014