Ahır Köşkü, Ottoman pavilion in Üsküdar, Turkey
Ahır Köşkü is a rectangular pavilion within Beylerbeyi Palace's fourth courtyard, featuring an octagonal central hall and wooden stables on both sides. The structure holds twenty separate compartments with different flooring types - wood for pregnant mares and brick in other areas.
Sultan Abdülaziz commissioned architect Sarkis Balyan to build this horse-focused pavilion, completed in 1865 as part of the Beylerbeyi Palace complex. The building arose during a major construction phase at the palace under the Sultan's direction.
The ceiling displays detailed paintings with Ottoman symbols, riding equipment, flowers, and hunting scenes created by court artists. These artistic details show how important horses were to palace life and court traditions.
The pavilion is most easily accessed through Beylerbeyi Palace's fourth courtyard, where it stands clearly separated from the other buildings. Visitors should allow time to examine the interior details and ceiling paintings carefully.
A central courtyard inside the pavilion contains a pool designed with running water to calm horses through the sound of water. The horseshoe-shaped arches throughout the structure carry finely carved depictions of saddles and riding gear.
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