Old Mosque, Yambol, Ottoman mosque in Yambol, Bulgaria.
The Old Mosque in Yambol is a house of prayer built in Ottoman style within this Bulgarian city. The building displays characteristic features of that era, including arches, domes, and decorative stonework on its exterior.
Construction of this mosque began in 1373 during the Ottoman Empire's expansion into Southeast Europe. The building was erected during a period of major political shifts in the region.
The name Eski Camı means "old mosque" in Turkish. The eastern niche is curtained off as a women's prayer area, and four acoustic jars set into the corners of the dome give the hall such good sound that a conversion into a concert venue has been proposed. Ismail Hakkı Pasha, who pleaded for Yambol in 1876, is reburied in the porch, his tombstone inscribed in Turkish, Bulgarian and French.
The mosque stands on ploshtad Osvobozhdenie in central Yambol, entered today through the central of its three doorways. Worshippers use the eastern niche behind a curtain as a women's prayer area, so visitors should keep to the main hall. The minaret has a square base and a round upper section, unlike standard Ottoman minarets.
Four acoustic jars are set into the corners of the central dome, giving the hall such good sound that a proposal was made to turn the mosque into a concert venue. The minaret is also unusual: square in plan with a round upper section, pointing to Syrian and eastern Anatolian building traditions.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,667 contributors worldwide.
