Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage

The Prinkipo Greek Orphanage (also known as Prinkipo Palace or Büyükada Greek Orphanage) is a historic 20,000-square-meter wooden building on Büyükada, one of the nine Princes' Islands off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey, in the Sea of Marmara. It is considered the largest wooden building in Europe and second largest in the world. It served as an orphanage from 1903 to 1964.

History

It was designed and constructed in 1898 by the late-nineteenth century by the French-Ottoman architect Alexander Vallaury as a luxury hotel and casino for the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, the European passenger train company that operated the Orient Express. It was sold in 1903, however, when Sultan Abdul Hamid II would not issue a permit for its operation, and subsequently bought by the wife of a prominent Greek banker, who donated it to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which operated it as an orphanage. On April 21, 1964, during heightened tension of the Cyprus issue, the orphanage was forcefully closed by the General Directorate of Foundations (Vakif Genel Mudurlugu). Throughout its history, the orphanage has catered to the needs of 5,744 orphans.

Building

The building is considered to be the largest wooden building in Europe and the second largest in the world (Todaiji Buddhist Temple being the largest). The orphanage consists of 206 rooms, a kitchen, a library, a primary school and vocational workshops. It is situated on top of the Isa Tepesi, a mountain 206 meters high on the island of Buyukada.

Deterioration and repair

Since its closure half a century ago, the neglected building has deteriorated into a state of heavy disrepair. The building was severely damaged by a fire in 1980. The site was included on the 2012 World Monuments Watch and is presently classified as "Rescue Needed" by Global Heritage Network. In April 2012, it was announced that the building would be restored over the next two years to house an international environmental institute.

Legal dispute

Greek community of Turkey claimed that the Orphanage belonged to the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the basis of Ottoman edicts that granted title to the Patriarchate which was subsequently converted under the Turkish republic. On the other hand, the Turkish government believed that the property does not belong to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In 2003, the Patriarchate had submitted all required documents to show evidence of its ownership to the Supreme Administrative Court in Turkey. The Supreme Administrative Court dismissed the claims and argued that the foundation had lost its function as an orphanage and has become a seized asset (Turkish: mazbut vakıf). This position adheres with Turkish law which ultimately claims that if a foundation hasn't been of use for more than 10 years, the Directorate of Foundations Council has the right to seize the property. In 2004, The European Union raised the issue in Turkey’s progress report towards accession. In 2010, the case was handed to and resolved by the European Court of Human Rights which ordered the restitution of the building to the Ecumenical Patriarchate becoming the first property title to be returned to a religious minority. The legal title is currently in the hands of the Ecumenical Patriarchate who plans to turn the building into a global environmental center, according to the current Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Bartholomew I.

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Dennis A. Van Poucke
12 October 2019
Looks like an impressive abandoned building.
Ufuk Duran
13 September 2013
1800'lü yillarin sonunda Avusturya Dükü tarafindan otel olarak insa edilen bu bina ayni zamanda 27.000 m2 kapali alani ile dünyanin en büyük ahsap binasidir.
Rana B.
7 May 2014
1960 yilindan itibaren terk edilmis, bakimsiz bir durumda olup da bu harika otesi mimarisi ile halen daha yikilmamiş olmasi müthiş birsey...
tufan acar
11 June 2017
Bahçenin etrafı çevrili içeri girilmiyor. Bahce duvarindan ve yandan gorebiliyosunuz yapiyi. Çok keyif vermiyor.
omerf@ruk ✈ ????
13 April 2016
İnanılmaz, dünyanın en büyük ahşap yapılarından birisi..
Metin Hüdayi Yıldız
3 December 2018
Tarihi bir yapı.
Load more comments
foursquare.com
6.6/10
Barsuk and 8,308 more people have been here
Map
0.1km from Büyükada-Nizam Mh., Adalar, Istanbul Province, Turkey Get directions
Sat Noon–7:00 PM
Sun 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
Mon-Wed Noon–6:00 PM
Thu Noon–5:00 PM

Eski Rum Yetimhanesi on Foursquare

Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Buyukada Anastasia Meziki Hotel

starting $0

Ascot Hotel Buyukada

starting $42

Hotel Prinkipos

starting $26

Buyukada Cankaya Hotel

starting $41

Marine House Boutique Hotel

starting $45

Buyukada Princess Hotel

starting $54

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Μονή Αγίου Γεωργίου Κουδουνά

کلیسای آیایورگی (به ترکی استانبولی: Aya Yorgi Manastırı) در بلند

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Princes' Islands

The Princes' Islands (Türkçe. Prens Adaları [Prince Islands] or mo

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Moda Sahili

Moda Sahili is a tourist attraction, one of the Scenic Lookouts in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium

Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium (pronounced as /ʃycɾy saɾat͡

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Шаблон:Airport codes is one of

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Istanbul Haydarpaşa railway station

Istanbul Haydarpaşa is a terminus main station of the Turkish State

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Haydarpaşa Cemetery

Haydarpaşa Cemetery, also known as Haidar Pasha Cemetery, Istanbul

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Şakirin Mosque

Şakirin Mosque is located at one of the entrances to Karacaahmet

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Reichstag building

The Reichstag building in Berlin was constructed to house the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Chatsworth House

Chatsworth House is a large country house at Chatsworth, Derbyshire,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
United States Capitol

The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
General Staff Building (Saint Petersburg)

The General Staff Building (Russian: Здание Главного штаба, Zdanie

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam

The Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (Public Library Amsterdam) is a

See all similar places