Yakutiye Medrese

Yakutiye Medrese is a museum building in Erzurum featuring stone architectural elements, geometric patterns, and a central courtyard surrounded by student quarters and teaching rooms. The structure displays both the functional layout of a traditional educational institution and decorative craftwork in its design.

The building was founded in 1310 during the Ilkhanid period and served as an educational institution teaching Islamic theology and law for several centuries. This founding time occurred during a period of intensive building and intellectual exchange in the region.

The museum displays Turkish ethnographic objects such as traditional jewelry, copper items, weapons, seals, and coins from different regional periods. The collection offers insight into the daily life and craft traditions of people who lived here across generations.

The museum is open daily for visitors and offers straightforward access for exploring the courtyard and rooms. Comfortable footwear is recommended, and it is best to allow time to view the various exhibition areas at a relaxed pace.

A striking minaret decorated with turquoise tiles and animal figures adorns the building, merging Islamic with Central Asian artistic elements. This decoration reflects a rare blend of influences shaped by the trade routes and cultural connections of its era.