Ilgın: Külliye, Mausoleums and Çavuşçu Lake

Ilgın combines historic buildings with a varied landscape in its surrounding area. In the town, mosques, mausoleums and the Lala Mustafa Paşa Külliyesi tell the story of different eras. Northwest of Ilgın lies Çavuşçu Lake, a large freshwater lake surrounded by reed beds and wetlands. When choosing your destination, you can therefore focus on different aspects, from architectural history to natural landscapes.

Lake, wetlands and other landscapes

Çavuşçu Lake lies 3 km northwest of Ilgın on the northern slope of the Sultan Dağları. The tectonic freshwater lake covers 27.97 km² and is surrounded by reed beds and wetlands. This describes a landscape that differs markedly from Ilgın’s historic buildings. Ducks, geese, flamingos, pelicans, coots and herons are among the birds that live by the lake. Carp, mirror carp, freshwater mullet and crayfish are also found there.

Another point of interest in the landscape is Bulcuk Pond, 16 km south of Ilgın. The reservoir is fed by springs from the Kozlu and Bulcuk mountains and has a storage capacity of 1,000,000 m³. It is considered a wooded recreational area. If you would rather plan your trip around bodies of water and landscapes than architectural history, you can consider these two places as distinct natural attractions: the large lake with its wetlands and the wooded area to the south.

Architectural history in Ilgın

The Lala Mustafa Paşa Külliyesi was built by Mimar Kocasinan between 1576 and 1584. The historic complex comprised much more than a mosque: it included an elementary school, an imaret, a tabhane, a bazaar or arasta, two inns, a bakery and a kitchen. It also included a madrasa, a bathhouse, a library, shops, a fountain, a şadırvan and a sebil. The many features listed make the külliye a subject in its own right for anyone interested in the historic functions of such complexes.

The bazaar section of the külliye was restored in 1966 by the General Directorate of Foundations (Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü) and converted into a covered bazaar. Different details are central to Pir Hüseyin Bey Mosque: it was built in the 15th century, during the Karamanid period, by Pir Hüseyin Bey next to Ulu Mosque. It was repaired over time, changing its architectural design. Its construction and later alterations belong to different periods in its history.

The Sadettin-İsa Mausoleum can also be placed in its historical context. According to the inscription above the entrance, it was built by Sâdeddin İsa in 1286/87. It is located in the Şeyh Bedrettin district, in the garden of a house. Another mausoleum, the Handevi-Kandevi Mausoleum, is described as a surviving structure with a square floor plan, a dome and a canopy design; its construction is believed to date to the 16th or 17th century. The two mausoleums thus offer different points of interest: a dated inscription at the Sadettin-İsa Mausoleum and a described architectural form at the Handevi-Kandevi Mausoleum.

Historic sites in the surrounding area

Ilgın Castle is an ancient fortress located 14 km northeast of Ilgın. Its location is also described in relation to the villages of Karaköy and Kaleköy: 2 km southwest of Karaköy and 3 km south of Kaleköy. These details help locate the castle without conflating it with the buildings in town.

Another historic building in Ilgın is the former military branch office building, also known as the Redif Taburu or Merkez Konağı building. It has two storeys above a basement and a rectangular floor plan measuring 12 × 23 metres. It was built of dressed stone, with its entrance on the north façade. Its designation as a former military branch office building is part of its historical context.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first consider whether you would like to focus on the buildings and their history in Ilgın or on the landscapes in the surrounding area. Those interested in both will find in Ilgın a rich architectural history as well as varied natural surroundings, which can be included separately in their travel plans.

More places to explore: Doğanbey, Kayacık, Konya, Çeltik, Karabağ, Gölyazı, Akören and Mevlana Mahallesi.

Back to the main travel overview: Konya.