Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya

GPS coordinates: 40.652210, 35.829914

Archaeological site: 

Façade of Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya
Façade of Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya

On the northern bank of the Yeşilırmak River in Amasya there is a district of old Ottoman houses called Hatuniye Mahallesi. Near the stairs leading to the Tombs of the Pontic Kings stands the mansion called Hazeranlar Konağı. It was built in 1865 and underwent a major renovation in 1979.

Hazeranlar Mansion was built by Hasan Talat, a poet, an accountant, and the provincial treasurer of Ziya Pasha, the Governor of Amasya, for his sister Hazeran Hanım. Ziya Paşa (i.e. Abdul Hamid Ziyaeddin) was one of the most important writers of the period of reforms of the Ottoman state, called the Tanzimat (1839–1876). For some time, he lived in exile in France and England, and after returning to his homeland, he served as governor of Cyprus, Amasya, Konya, Aleppo and Adana.

Panoramic view of Hatuniye Mahallesi, with Hazeranlar Mansion to the far right
Panoramic view of Hatuniye Mahallesi, with Hazeranlar Mansion to the far right

The mansion was called "Hazeranlar" after Lady Hazeran, who lived there for many years. The mansion was built on the fortification walls of the ancient period, with mud brick walls and wooden roofs over the basement.

Located on the bank of Yeşilirmak River, the Hazeranlar Mansion, is an important building, representative of the nineteenth century civil residential architecture. It was expropriated by the Turkish authorities in 1976. Restoration works of the mansion were started in 1979 and completed in 1983, and the mansion was opened to the punlic in 1984, as a "museum house” with ethnographic works exhibited.

Street leading to Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya
Street leading to Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya

The renovated rooms are beautifully furnished with Ottoman-era appliances. The whole is complemented by chandeliers and decorative details carved in wood. Mannequins were placed in the rooms illustrating how the inhabitants of the house spend their time.

Kitchen in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya
Kitchen in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya

Hazeranlar Konağı has two floors above the basement, which accommodate eleven rooms. The house is divided, in accordance with Muslim tradition, into a family, strictly private part, i.e. haremlik, and a part intended for men's guests, i.e. selamlik.

Selamlik in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya
Selamlik in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya

As in other houses from this period of the Turkish history, the most important room is the so-called sofa, also known as çardak. It is a kind of hall that connects the other rooms and constitutes the central part of the house. It was here that meetings and even weddings took place, prayers were offered, and births were celebrated. In everyday life, residents played games, prepared meals, and sometimes ate them in the sofa.

Living room in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya
Living room in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya

There are also several carpets and kilims, some traditional clothes and everyday items on display in the house. In the basement of Hazeranlar Mansion there is an art gallery with changing exhibitions.

Prayer rug in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya
Prayer rug in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya

Visitor tips: 

Opening hours: 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., daily. The entrance ticket price in 2023 was 60 TL. You can take photos in the museum, but the use of flash is prohibited.

Servants' room in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya
Servants' room in Hazeranlar Mansion in Amasya