The Isfahan Bey Mosque

The Isfahan Bey Mosque

Constructed in the early 16th century in the Akkoyunlu architectural style, the Isfahan Bey Mosque is rectangular in shape and was built on land donated by Isfahan Bey. While the exact date of the mosque's construction is unknown, it remains the only historical building in Bingol's city center. Isfahan Bey, who ruled the Bingol region between 1514 and 1549, was one of the Suveyd lords.

The mosque's exterior is plastered with new material and has a square plan with a roof. The windows, door jambs, and corner stones are made of smooth cut stones, while the body walls are constructed from chipped rubble stones.

The Isfahan Bey Mosque

Despite experiencing damage from the 1971 and 2003 Bingol Earthquakes, the Isfahan Bey Mosque was partially restored in 2007. The minaret's base, believed to be original, has a square plan with a round body. The mosque's masonry-built structure, which has undergone numerous repairs due to earthquake damage, retains features of Ottoman architecture.

As the only historical monument and first mosque in Bingol's city center, the Isfahan Bey Mosque also boasts a unique feature: the staircase leading to the pulpit passes through the wall. The pulpit appears to hang on the wall next to the altar and is reached through stairs built into the wall below a door opening.