The mosque is famous for having 40 wooden columns, which carry the weight of the flat, mud-brick roof.
The minaret, featuring a distinctive zigzag pattern, is commonly referred to as the 'Egik Minare' (Crooked Minaret) due to its unique aesthetic design.
It was built during the Anatolian Seljuk period, specifically in the year 1272.
The wooden capitals of the columns are intricately carved with stalactite motifs, typical of 13th-century Seljuk decorative arts.
The mosque was commissioned by Sahip Ata, a high-ranking vizier responsible for numerous architectural works throughout Anatolia.
The roof was historically covered with a thick layer of compacted earth, a traditional insulation method used to manage temperature in the region.
The Afyonkarahisar Grand Mosque, known locally as Ulu Cami, is a 13th-century Seljuk masterpiece constructed in 1272 during the reign of Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev III. The mosque features a rectangular floor plan with forty wooden columns supporting a flat earth roof, a design characteristic of Anatolian timber-columned mosques. The structure is built primarily of cut stone, while the interior columns are adorned with intricate muqarnas and stalactite-style wooden capitals. Its minaret is notable for its zigzag pattern created by inlaid turquoise tiles against red brick. The mosque was commissioned by Sahip Ata Fahreddin Ali, a powerful Seljuk vizier. It remains an active place of worship and stands as one of the best-preserved examples of wood-columned mosque architecture in Türkiye. Renovations have been conducted in recent decades to preserve the original structural integrity of the timber supports.
The street-level view capturing the geometric tile work of the minaret against the historic stone masonry.
Observe the exterior minaret from the street corner to clearly see the geometric tile inlay patterns.
Remove your shoes before entering and place them on the provided shelves near the entrance.
Visit during the shoulder seasons of spring or autumn for the most comfortable temperature inside the un-air-conditioned stone structure.
Do not enter the main prayer area during active congregational prayer times unless you are there to participate in worship.
Conservative dress is required; shoulders and knees must be covered, and women should cover their hair with a scarf. Maintain a quiet demeanor as it is a working house of worship.
