Pierre Loti Hill, Historical hilltop tea house in Eyüp district, Istanbul, Turkey.
Pierre Loti Hill is a hilltop tea house in Eyüp district, Istanbul, offering views over the Golden Horn and the old city. From the elevated terrace, the view extends across the waterways and minarets of the city to the Bosporus.
The hill is named after French writer Julien Viaud, who spent time here in the 1870s while writing novels about the Ottoman Empire. Viaud adopted the pen name Pierre Loti and brought attention to the place through his stories in Europe.
The tea house preserves the Turkish tradition of shared tea drinking and offers guests a place to linger above the Golden Horn. Many visitors come here to enjoy the view in peace and leave everyday life behind.
The hill is accessible by cable car from Eyüp district, which runs daily from morning to evening. Visitors can also walk up, though they should expect a steep climb.
Two old wells, including Dilek Kuyusu, stand in the garden where visitors perform small rituals. A Byzantine cistern also lies on the grounds, recalling earlier times of water supply.
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