Grand Mosque and Tas Madrasa

Grand Mosque and Tas Madrasa

Located in the southern part of the former castle and northwest of the covered market, the Kahramanmaraş Grand Mosque is a historical landmark. Built by Süleyman, the king of Dulkadirids, who reigned between 1442-1454, the mosque underwent renovation by his son Bozkurt in 1501-1502.

Unlike most mosques that have a minaret built as part of the mosque structure, the Grand Mosque has a minaret built in the courtyard, making it unique. The mosque features a wooden roof and measures 22x40.90 m by exterior measurements, with a harim measuring 5.30x40.90 m. The façade walls are made of scattering and rubble stones, clean cut and leveled but rough in texture. The decorations on the minaret, portal, mihrab, and pulpit reflect an architectural style that combines Seljuk architecture with artwork from the principality period.

Grand Mosque and Tas Madrasa

The Tas Madrasa, built by Dulkadirli Alauddevle Bey at the end of the 15th century, forms an alignment with the Grand Mosque in the city square. The building, which reflects a madrasah plan with a single storey and open courtyard, is completed with a masjid in the south, the open courtyard, and student rooms behind it. The clean cut stone work and Mamluk style muqarnas window application are important features.

The Tomb Section, built in 1510 for the son of Alaüddevle Bey, is a square-shaped structure with a pyramidal cover on the outside and a dome from the inside that encloses six sarcophagi, one belonging to his daughter and the other five belonging to national heroes in the War of Independence.