Mahmut Bey Mosque, 14th-century mosque in Kasaba village, Kastamonu Province, Turkey.
Mahmut Bey Mosque is a rectangular structure with wooden columns supporting the roof and creating an open prayer hall. Its walls are made of hewn stone on the exterior, while the interior features a carefully crafted timber framework.
It was built in 1366 by Mahmut Bey of the Candarid dynasty and represents one of the first wooden columned mosques in Anatolia. This early construction set new standards for timber religious buildings in the region.
The interior walls display painted patterns from the medieval period, showing how craftspeople decorated wooden mosques of that era. These decorations reveal what mattered to people when they created their prayer spaces.
The building is located in Kasaba village, about 18 kilometers from downtown Kastamonu, at an elevation of about 834 meters. Access is possible year-round, though it is best to respect local prayer times when visiting the interior.
The entire structure was built without cement except for the mihrab, and the roof holds together without metal nails or bolts. This minimalist building approach demonstrates a remarkable mastery of timber joinery techniques by medieval craftspeople.
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