Ortaköy, Beşiktaş - Istanbul - Turkey
GPS : 41°02'40.2"N 29°00'57.1"E / 41.044513, 29.015849
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Çırağan Palace (Turkish: Çırağan Sarayı), a former Ottoman palace, is now a five-star hotel of the Kempinski Hotels chain. It is located on the European shore of the Bosporus between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy in Istanbul, Turkey.
The area whereabouts the Çırağan Palace used to be known as the "Kazancıoğlu Gardens” at the beginning of the 17th century. The first structure of the region was the mansion that belonged to Admiral Kılıç Ali Pasha. Damat İbrahim Pasha of Nevşehir, the Grand Vezir, has built a summer mansion for his wife (the daughter of Sultan Ahmet III) in 1719 at the same spot.
The name of the palace, “Çırağan” is sourced from the flambeau entertainments that took place in this area between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy around the palace, the so-called “Çırağan Festivals”; “Çerağan” meaning “light spreading” in Persian.
Sultan Mahmut II reconstructed the area that by then had a mosque, a school and a Mevlevi lodge by demolishing the summer villa and building the first Palace. But then in 1857, Sultan Abdülmecid demolished the Palace that he had built, and made plans to rebuild a new palace but as his life span did not allow him, his wishes were carried out by his brother Sultan Abdülaziz. Sultan Abdülaziz finished building the Palace in 1871, and in the following years Çırağan became his residence, and then after him the residence Sultan Murat V.
Many legendary tales lie hidden behind the doors of history. Some tales are lost, but many survive to this day. Such tales become “living legends”. The Çırağan Palace is indeed one of those great living legends, a colourful part of the magnificent legacy left by the Ottoman Empire.
Kazancıoğlu Gardens During the 17th Century : The area around the Çırağan Palace was known as Kazancıoğlu Gardens during the 17th Century. These lush gardens extended from Beşiktaş to Ortaköy.
Sultan Ahmet III - The Tulip Period (1718 - 1730) : The gardens and the water-side palaces that adorned the Beşiktaş shores were to enjoy their most brilliant epoch during the colorful years that came to be known as the Tulip period, a period characterised above all by a passionate love of flowers and music. It was during these years that Sultan Ahmet III. presented this property to his favorite and son-in-low, the Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha, who had joined with him in initiating this era of pleasure and cultural refinement.
Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha (1719) : The first “Yalı” (water side villa) in these richly green Kazancıoğlu Gardens was constructed by Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha of Nevşehir in 1719 for his wife Fatma Sultan. She frequently organized torclit celebrations or “Çırağan Festivals” in the gardens of the Palace. From Persian the word Çırağan suggests a “special light source”. The word soon became synonymous with the Palace.
Sultan Mahmut II (1834) : In 1834 Sultan Mahmut II decides to rebuild the entire Palace. He demolished the yalı (water side villa) together with the school and the mosque. The house of the Mevlevi dervishes had been moved to another "yalı" which was around. Following eight years of construction, the classical appearance of the new Palace adorned the shores with a foundation of stone -including forty grand columns- and extensive use of rare woods.
Sultan Abdülmecid (1857) : Sultan Abdülaziz's brother Sultan Abdülmecid has demolished the first Palace in 1857 which was constructed by Sultan Mahmut the IInd. He had planned to build a palace in "Western" style but unfortunately he died in 1861. The construction of the Palace had not been completed due to economical and political circumstances of the Empire.
Sultan Abdülaziz (1871) : Despite being dethroned following his brother's death, Sultan Abdülaziz was allowed to continue his brother's dream of expanding the Palace, this time in a more “Eastern” architectural style. As a tribute to himself, Sultan Abdülaziz ordered Agop Balyan to build a palace in Arabian style. The old wooden structure of the palace was destroyed and a new stone foundation was built in its place. The magnificent priceless doors of the Palace were each made by Vortik Kemhaciyan and worth 1000 gold coins. Sultan Abdülhamid II gave one of these doors as a gift to his friend the German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II. Wilhelm put that door on display at the Berlin Museum.
The palace, built by Sultan Abdülâziz, was designed by the palace architect Nigoğayos Balyan and constructed by his sons Sarkis and Hagop Balyan between 1863 and 1867. This was a period in which all Ottoman sultans used to build their own palaces rather than using those of their ancestors. Çırağan Palace is the last example of this period. The inner walls and the roof were made of wood, the outer walls of colorful marble. The palace is connected with a beautiful marble bridge to the Yıldız Palace on the hill behind. A very high garden wall protects the palace from the outer world.
During the time of Sultan Abdülaziz, the Empress Eugenie of France, who was said to be in love with the Sultan visited the most famous bath of the new Çırağan Palace during her stay in Istanbul on her way to open the Suez Canal in 1869.
Material including rare marble and mother of pearl were imported from different parts of the world for the construction of the palace. The waterfront construction alone cost 400,000 Ottoman Liras. The construction of the Çırağan Palace, which began in 1863, was completed in 1871 and 2.5 million gold coins were spent. Due to rumors among the public that the destruction of the house of the Mevlevi dervishes and the incorporation of its land into the Palace's estate would bring bad luck, Sultan Abdülaziz stayed for the last time at the Çırağan Palace in March of 1876 making Dolmabahçe Palace his new residence.
Sultan Murat V (from 1876 till 1904) : Sultan Murat V was the nephew of Sultan Abdülaziz and became “Sultan” on May the 30th, 1876. Unfortunately, Sultan Murat V was soon deposed by his brother Sultan Abdülhamit II but he continued to live in Harem building of the Palace until his death. He was an art lover, especially music.
The construction and the interior decoration of the palace continued until 1872. After he moved in, Sultan Abdülâziz was, however, not able to live long in his magnificent palace. He was found dead in the palace on May 30, 1876, shortly after he was dethroned. His successor, his nephew Sultan Murad V, moved into Çırağan Palace, but reigned after only 93 days. He, who was deposed by his brother Abdülhamid II due to alleged mental illness, lived here under house arrest until his death on August 29, 1904.
Parliament Building (1909) - Fire (1910) : On November 14th 1909, with a slightly revised name change the Çırağan Palace was selected as the site for a significant meeting of the Turkish Parliament. For the event the Palace was refurnished in grand style including valuable paintings from the art collection of Sultan Abdülhamid of the 1860's. Works by Rembrandt and Ayvazovsky were included in the priceless collection. Dramatically, however, shortly after the conclusion of the Parliament meeting in January 1910, a fire which is known to have started in the attic, destroyed the entire inside of the Palace including significant antiques and art pieces of Abdülhamid and books from the renowned library of Murat the V.
During the Second Constitutional Monarchy, Sultan Mehmet V Reşat allowed the parliament to hold their meetings in this building. The Ottoman parliament was opened with great ceremony in the Palace after the announcement of the Constitutional Monarchy II in the era of Sultan Abdülhamit II. The building of the Palace into a hotel was talked about in 1930s but it stayed unkempt for a long time after the big fire in 1910.
Çırağan Palace During the Occupation of Istanbul City (1920) : At the end of the First World War, during the occupation of Istanbul, the ruined Palace was used as “Bizo Barrack” by the French military field corps engineers.
Palace was left to the Municipality (1946) : In 1946 an army captain damaged the grave site of the whirling dervishes in the basement of the Palace while digging for gold. That same year it was decided that the Palace was to be left to the municipality.
Football Stadium in the Çırağan Palace Garden (1968) : Only two months after, on January 19, 1910, a great fire destroyed the palace, leaving only the outer walls intact. Called "Şeref Stadı", the place served for many years as a football stadium for the club Beşiktaş J.K.. Beşiktaş Football Team used the garden of the Palace as stadium in 1930. Then Prof. Bonatz and famous Turkish Architect Prof. Sedat Hakkı Eldem had investigated the possibilities of building a hotel in this area.
ÇIRAĞAN PALACE KEMPINSKI 5*
First Restoration After the Fire (1987) : In 1987, the Japanese Company Kumagai Gumi and the Turkish Company Yüksel Inşaat began restoring the Palace and built an adjacent Hotel. In 1990 the Hotel was opened and in 1992 the Palace also re-opened its doors. In 1989, the ruined palace was bought by a Japanese corporation, which restored the palace and added a modern hotel complex next to it in its garden. Today, it serves as luxury suites for the five-star Kempinski hotel along with two restaurants that cater to guests.
In 1989, the ruined palace was bought by a Japanese corporation, which restored the palace and added a modern hotel complex next to it in its garden. Today, it serves as luxury suites for the five star Kempinski hotel along with two restaurants that cater to guests. The restoration of the Palace was considered a travesty by many, who criticized the government for allowing an independent company to restore a Turkish landmark at minimal cost and with absolutely no regard for the historical or architectural history of the building.
The Opening of the Palace After the Restoration (1992) : The Imperial Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul opened its doors to the curious and appreciative public in 1990. More significantly, however, after years of redesign and construction the "new" Çırağan Palace opened the doors of its four immense historic gates in 1992. This historic reopening of the great Palace on the Bosphorus was an amazing tribute to the commitment, the creativity and the perseverance of many visionaries. The second renovation after 1992 has been completed on April the 20th, 2006 and all the Palace suites have been renovated.
Çırağan Palace Renovation (2007) : The meeting rooms and public areas of the Palace underwent a renovation in 2007 in which it was restored to its original color scheme and glamour, as well state-of-the-art technology was placed in all the meeting rooms. The pearl of Ottoman and classical Turkish cuisine, Tuğra Restaurant was also part of the renovation project. The Palace now resembling the authentic palace with the baroqe style and soft colors.
Instead, proud Çırağan Palace has risen again in all its glory. Lovingly restored for the Kempinski Hotel group, the Palace hotel has given a new meaning to the world "luxury". The unique atmosphere of Çırağan Palace Hotel Kempinski İstanbul comes from its subtle blend of the ancient and modern. First the original front of the Sultan's palace, which stretches for more than 400 metres along its own private coastline, was restored to its own previous grandeur; this task called for a small army of highly-skilled artisans.
A number of stones and other original fragments from the palace were found still lying where they fell in the palace gardens. These served as models for the master stone masons engaged to recreate the front. Like their ancestors a hundred years ago, these craftsmen worked the intricate stone latticework and marble colonnades by hand.
The whole construction process, which took six years, was overseen by the Turkish curator of Historic Monuments, who insisted that the same materials be used as for the original construction. When the outer walls were restored to their former state, work started on transforming the ancient building into one of the world's leading luxury hotels.
The interior of the building was a very bright neon pink and contained several stores and areas for events such as banquets, many have criticized it for resembling the interior of an American shopping mall. The German Artist Rainer Maria Latzke redecorated the interior with a bright and colorful Mediterranean ambiance by equipping the interior swimming pool with beautiful murals.
The Hotel and The Sultan's Palace... Once the residence of the last Ottoman Sultans, the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is the only hotel situated directly on the shores of the Bosphorus. The Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is actually two hotels: the restored Sultan’s Palace itself and a grand deluxe hotel featuring five star luxury.
ROOMS AND SUITES
Luxury Rooms and Suites all providing a relaxing atmosphere. Tastefully decorated rooms and suites lavish in style and comfort and capture the essence of pure luxury. Most of them offer a balcony that welcomes you into breathtaking views from the Bosphorus. Combining the architectural grandeur of the Sultan's Imperial Palace with the modern comfort of a luxury hotel by the Bosphorus, the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul offers the ultimate in luxury in the center of the city with 313 rooms.
282 Rooms + 31 Suites 11 suites in the imperial Palace will treat you to the exclusive ambience once enjoyed by majestic Sultans of the Ottoman Empire.
102 Park View Rooms, 126 Superior Bosphorus View Rooms, 20 Deluxe Bosphorus View Rooms, 34 Grand Deluxe Bosphorus View Rooms, 20 Hotel Suites, 11 Palace Suites
HOTEL ROOMS
Anticipate refined luxury… Decor and lighting that project quiet, distinctive taste... and a balcony opening up to the Bosphorus or the former Palace garden, Yıldız Park which was once the hunting forest of the Sultans.
Park View Room, Superior Bosphorus View Room, Deluxe Bosphorus View Room, Grand Deluxe Bosphorus View Room
HOTEL SUITES
Endless views of the city where east meets west from your balcony vying for your attention offered in various attractive choices.
Studio Suite, One Bedroom Suite, Lale Suite, Vali / Vezir Suite, Pasha / Presidential Suite
PALACE SUITES
Be greeted at a genuine Ottoman Palace helipad by your private butler. Then encounter an entrance even grander... opening to expanses of individually curated furniture, decor, and majestic Bosphorus views.
One Bedroom Park View Palace Suite, One Bedroom Bosphorus View Palace Suite, Two Bedroom Park View Palace Suite, Two Bedroom Corner Palace Suite, Three Bedroom Corner Palace Suite, Sultan Suite
DINING
Fine Dining Restaurants and Bars... Few cities have as many world-class restaurants uniting old and new, east and west as Istanbul. To get an idea of endless dining options the city has to offer, you do not have to roam around Istanbul as Çırağan Palace Kempinski reigns supreme in Istanbul’s top-end dining scene. Each accented by a balcony or terrace overlooking the Bosphorus, four restaurants promise essential gastronomic experiences. Embark on a journey of culinary delights at fine dining restaurant Tugra, Gazebo Lounge, Laledan Restaurant and Bosphorus Grill. And you will find the essence of Istanbul’s social life for pre- or post-meal socializing, imbibe atmosphere of our bars.
RESTAURANTS
Gazebo Lounge, Laledan Restaurant, Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge, Bosphorus Grill
BARS
Le Fumoir, Çırağan Bar
MEETINGS
Business meetings and events in Istanbul... Whether it be for business or social gatherings, Ciragan Palace Kempinski is proud to provide today’s most illustrious meeting venues paired with the very latest in conference technology and legendary Kempinski service for 10 to 1.000 guests. Prestigious location , grandiose architecture, majestic ambience, venues with daylight, the terrace offering the fresh breeze from the Bosphorus and superior cuisine that inspires ... all comes together to create flawless meetings and social events, which are turned into treasured memories.
Meetings & Conferences, Wedding Celebrations, Social Occasions
LUXURY SPA
Spa and Wellness, Spa Features & Treatments, Fitness Centre and Pools
LOCATION SATELLITE MAP
WEB SITE :
Çırağan Palace Kempinski
MORE INFO & CONTACT
E-Mail :
reservationoffice.ciraganpalace@kempinski.com
Phone : +90 212 326 4646
Fax : +90 212 259 6687
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