Taksim Gezi Park, Urban park in Beyoğlu district, Turkey.
Taksim Gezi Park is a rectangular green space in Beyoğlu that spans multiple levels with wide pathways, benches, and mature trees. The site sits directly next to Taksim Square in central Istanbul.
French architect Henri Prost designed the park in 1943 to replace the Halil Pasha Artillery Barracks, converting military ground into public recreation space. This transformation shifted the site from military use to civilian leisure.
The park became a symbol of public resistance in 2013 when plans to replace it with a shopping mall sparked nationwide protests. This moment defined how residents view the space today as a place worth defending for its public value.
The park remains accessible year-round, offering visitors and residents walking paths and resting areas in the heart of Istanbul. Both level and sloped pathways allow easy movement through the different sections.
The site housed the Armenian Cemetery of Pangaltı from 1560 until authorities cleared it in 1939 for park development. This burial ground, with centuries of history, was erased to make way for public recreation.
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