Küçüksu Palace

Located on the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus, between the Göksu and Küçüksu rivers, Küçüksu Palace (formerly known as Göksu Palace) immediately catches the eye with its ornate façade, even when viewed from a distance. This elegant structure, which resembles a fairy-tale palace rising from the waters of the strait to those viewing it from the Bosphorus, enjoys a unique view thanks to its advantageous location. Its striking splendour, particularly when viewed from the sea, is no coincidence; as the sultans mostly preferred to arrive by sea, the façade facing the Bosphorus was designed to be more ornate and opulent than the other sides. With its columns, carved details and marble staircase facing the sea, Küçüksu Palace creates a picture-postcard image for boats passing through the Bosphorus. Captivating visitors at first glance, this small palace leaves an unforgettable first impression with both its historical texture and Bosphorus view.

History of Küçüksu Palace

From the 17th and 18th centuries onwards, the Küçüksu district was one of the favourite recreational areas of the Ottoman sultans. Indeed, during the reign of Sultan Mahmud I (1730-1754), Grand Vizier Divittar Mehmed Emin Pasha had a two-storey wooden mansion built in this area for the sultan to relax in. Opened with a ceremony in 1751, this building was used for about a century. By the 19th century, the wooden structure had become quite dilapidated, so Sultan Abdülmecid ordered the construction of the present-day Küçüksu Palace, built of stone. Designed by architect Nigoğos Balyan, the palace was completed in 1856 and entered into service. During the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz (1861-1876), the exterior decorations of the building were enriched in the Baroque style, making it more ostentatious. During the Ottoman period, Küçüksu Palace served as a hunting lodge (i.e. a palace not used for permanent residence) used by the sultans for short breaks, sightseeing and hunting trips within the city.

The palace retained its importance even after the Ottoman Empire. In the early years of the Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk visited Küçüksu Palace for short breaks during his trips to Istanbul. Left neglected for a long time, the structure was opened to visitors as a museum-palace (a historic palace converted into a museum) following extensive restoration in 1983. A series of restoration and reinforcement works carried out in the 1990s restored the pavilion to its former splendour. Today, Küçüksu Palace, operated as a public museum under the National Palaces Administration, is a centre of attraction where visitors can spend time immersed in both history and nature, alongside the green Küçüksu Meadow and the historic fountain next to it.

Architecture of Küçüksu Palace

Küçüksu Palace boasts an elegant Neo-Baroque architecture reflecting the Western influences of its era. Built of cut stone (masonry), the structure has two floors; with its basement below ground level, it appears as a small three-storey palace. Measuring approximately 15×27 metres, the pavilion has a rectangular plan and is designed in a manner similar to the traditional Turkish house plan, with a central hall (sofa) in the middle and four rooms arranged around it. Built primarily for daytime use and relaxation, the pavilion originally had no bedrooms, and each room has a passageway leading to both the central hall and the room behind it. Unlike other large palaces, instead of high garden walls, it is surrounded by an elegant wrought iron fence with doors on all four sides. This allows the villa's garden and the building itself to blend in with the Bosphorus view, presenting an open appearance to the surroundings.

The exterior decorations are extremely ornate, particularly concentrated on the sea-facing side. On the sea-facing façade, the focal point is a horseshoe-shaped double marble staircase with a small fountain in the centre. Various Western Baroque motifs, including the decoration of this staircase and fountain, have been used to create the palace's most magnificent face. The relief stone carvings, mouldings and column capitals that enliven the facades give the building an almost lace-like appearance. The interior decoration of the building is just as eye-catching as the exterior. The ceilings are decorated with painted and plaster relief decorations; the floors are laid with parquet flooring in different patterns and woodwork in each room. The rooms and halls contain elegant furniture imported from Europe, paintings adorning the walls, and fireplaces made of Italian marble, each in a different colour and shape. Thanks to this rich interior decoration, Küçüksu Palace has acquired the character of a small but impressive museum-palace reflecting the artistic tastes of the period.

Exploring Küçüksu Palace by Yacht

Located where the Göksu Stream meets the Bosphorus, Küçüksu Palace, with its elegant position near the water amidst the green landscape of Beykoz, creates a sense of respite from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul. While appearing small and restrained from land, the structure takes on a much more refined character when viewed from the sea, thanks to its facade details, proportions, and harmony with its surroundings. The palace's proximity to the water creates a silent yet powerful link between architecture and nature, deepening the tranquility felt in this part of the Bosphorus. As the yacht moves parallel to the shore, Küçüksu expresses itself with an unpretentious yet conscious aesthetic. The surrounding green line softens the lines of the structure and keeps the gaze focused without tiring it. From this perspective, the palace is perceived not just as a building, but as a brief resting place. Stopping and observing here is like briefly escaping the rhythm of the city. Seeing Küçüksu Palace in this serene atmosphere becomes even more meaningful when you sail along the Bosphorus on a chartered yacht. Those wishing to plan a yacht trip around Küçüksu Palace can evaluate the yachts in our fleet online according to duration and number of people, and examine step-by-step how the menu and extra service choices will affect the total budget via yatkiralama.net/en.