Eşrefoğlu Mosque

Eşrefoğlu Mosque is a 13th-century prayer house in Beyşehir with slender cedar columns and multiple prayer spaces. Forty-two wooden columns support the ceiling and lead toward an ornately decorated prayer niche at the eastern end.

The prayer house was commissioned in 1296 by Süleyman Bey of the Eşrefoğulları family. It emerged during the height of Anatolian principalities and showcases the building traditions of these independent regional powers.

The carved and painted wooden elements blend nomadic Turkic craft traditions with Islamic building practices. Visitors can observe these details throughout the decoration and along the columns.

Visitors should dress modestly and remove shoes before entering the prayer area. It helps to be respectful and quiet, especially during prayer times.

Inside sits an underground snow chamber that was filled with mountain snow until the 1940s. The ice helped protect the wooden structures from drying out and stabilize the indoor environment.

Location: Beyşehir

Inception: 1299

Architectural style: Islamic architecture

Part of: Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia

GPS coordinates: 37.68320,31.71970

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:47