Skip to content
TRgezi
Harput Ulu Mosque (Grand Mosque)

Faith / Mosque

Harput Ulu Mosque (Grand Mosque)

Merkez, Elazığ

CommonMachine translated — This content was machine-translated and may differ from the original Turkish text.
Directions Open in app View on OSM

One of the oldest mosques in Anatolia, built in the mid-12th century in the reign of the Artuqid ruler Fahreddin Karaarslan, known for its leaning brick minaret.

Safety warning

Because of the leaning minaret, the mosque has been on the conservation/restoration agenda for some time; the building may be partly or fully closed. Elazığ was affected by the Sivrice earthquake of 24 January 2020 and the earthquakes of 6 February 2023; historic buildings may be under repair or have visiting restrictions, so check the current situation before visiting. Do not visit during prayer times; be quiet inside and dress appropriately for the place.

Its story

Regarded as the most important surviving work from Harput's Artuqid period, the mosque was built by Fahreddin Karaarslan in the mid-12th century; sources date its construction to 1156–1157, while the building also has a tax inscription dated 1146–1147. It is cited among the earliest mosques of the Turkish period in Anatolia. The building's symbol is its brick minaret, which leans markedly to one side; measurements are reported to show that the tilt is considerable, which has brought work to protect the minaret onto the agenda. 16th-century records show that it had a strong endowment with staff such as an imam, a preacher (hatip) and a muezzin. The old minbar in the Kurşunlu Mosque is said to have been taken from this mosque. While strolling Harput's historic streets, the courtyard of this mosque, right next to the Şefik Gül Culture House, is a good place for a break.

Key facts

Period
Artuqid, mid-12th century
Admission
Free
Getting there
Harput, beside the Şefik Gül Culture House
Visit duration
30 minutes

Trip purpose

  • Free
  • Photography

Location

Loading map…

38.70608, 39.25522

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. Reviews are written in the app after a visit.

Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harput_Ulu_Camii | https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/harput | https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/elazig | https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harput_Kurşunlu_Cami | https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/97702342