The Linden Pavilion (Ihlamur Kasrı)

The Linden Pavilion (Ihlamur Kasrı), set in a vale near Beşiktas, appears like a small jewel among the surrounding buildings. With its lovely garden filled with fragrant magnolia and ginkgo trees imported from the Far East, this is a lovely oasis of calm amid the traffic of Istanbul.

Hacı Huseyin’s Vineyard

In the 1700s, this area was known as Hacı Huseyin’s Vineyard and was a popular place for outings. Lamartine once said that it was so quiet that you could hear a leaf hit the grass. In 1849, Sultan Abdulmecit decided to build a pavilion here. Its construction coincided with that of the Dolmabahçe Palace, both of which were designed by Nikogos Balyan.

The the Linden Pavilion was completed in 1855 and consisted of two kiosks: the ornate Western-style Merasim Kosk (Ceremonial Kiosk) which was used to greet visiting dignitaries and the humbler Maiyet Kosk (Kiosk of the Retinue) that was used by the Sultan’s retinue, including his harem. Like the pavilion itself, the garden is a mixture of Western and Eastern styles and features a pool decorated with animal figures. The stables have been replaced by employee lodgings, which include an art studio for children.

The Merasim Kosk (Ceremonial Kiosk) of The Linden Pavilion (Ihlamur Kasrı)

The Merasim Kosk of the the Linden Pavilion consists of a single story on a raised basement. The ornate facade features a Baroque staircase that leads to a mirrored entrance hall and two chambers. The interior of the kiosk is decorated with 19th-century motifs and gilding. Notice the stucco marble panels. This faux marble effect is notoriously difficult to create and restore. Since the kiosk was only for day use, there is no bedroom, bath or kitchen.

A music room without any instruments

The walls of the music room are of stucco marble and the furniture is designed with a musical theme, but there is a notable absence of any actual instruments! However, a piano that belonged to the pavilion is now at the Dolmabahce Palace. The fireplaces were imported from England and the room features gas lamps and Sèvres porcelain vases. The chandeliers in the two chambers are original. And the kiosk’s toilet is carved from a single block of marble!

The Merasim Köşk’s grandest room is the ‘merasim odası’ or ceremonial chamber. The ceiling is covered with lavish ornamentation.

After the untimely death of Sultan Abdülmecit, his successor Sultan Abdul Aziz neglected the pavilion and its environs, only using it to hold his famous cock and ram fights in the garden. Sultan Mehmed Reşad occasionally used the pavilion and welcomed the kings of Bulgaria and Serbia at the Maiyet Kosk, which today has been converted into a cafe.

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