İshak Pasha Palace

The İshak Paşa Palace (İshak Paşa Sarayı) is an outstanding example of an 18th-century Ottoman palace and administrative complex, located on a hill overlooking Doğubayazıt in the province of Ağrı, Türkiye. The palace, covering an area of approximately 7,600 square meters and measuring 50 by 115 meters in a rectangular layout, was commissioned by İshak Paşa, who served as the governor of Çıldır and Ahıska with the rank of vizier. According to the inscription on the entrance of the harem section, construction was completed by İshak Paşa in 1785. The palace showcases a unique blend of Ottoman, Seljuk, and European architectural influences, particularly evident in the grand entrance portal, which is adorned with muqarnas and intricate reliefs. Designed in an east-west alignment, the palace comprises three main sections and is accessed through an impressive arched portal on the eastern facade. Inside the first courtyard, a magnificent fountain and various service quarters, including guards' cells and stables, can be found. A second courtyard, surrounded by administrative buildings, houses the Divan chamber, a mosque, and a mausoleum. The most striking part of the palace is the harem section, which features a monumental archway adorned with lion motifs and intricate plant decorations.Since 2000, İshak Paşa Palace has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, recognizing its historical and architectural significance as one of the few surviving Turkish palaces.