Topkapi Palace Harem: Sultan's Quarters Tours

The entrance to the harem from the Second Courtyard is called the Gate of Carts. The path then leads to the Domed Cupboard Room. Built by Murad III, it was created as a vestibule for the harem. Records of deeds of trust from pious foundations of the harem were preserved in the cupboards and were administered by the Chief Harem Eunuch.

The Hall of the Ablution Fountain, also known as ‘Sofa with Fountain’, was an entrance hall into the harem and was guarded by the Harem Eunuchs. The Privy Garden, the Harem, the Tower of Justice and the Mosque of the Eunuchs are all connected by the Büyük Biniş (The Big Mount) and the Şal Kapısı (Shawl Gate), which further led to the Hall of Ablution Fountain.

The Courtyard of Eunuchs is the very first courtyard in the Harem and at the end of the court is the apartment of the black chief eunuch. The eunuchs here worked as guards and were commanded by the Chief Harem Eunuch. The place includes the dormitory of the Harem Eunuchs, the quarters of the Chief Harem Eunuch, and the School of the Princes.

The Harem’s main entrance separated the Harem from the Courtyard of the Eunuchs. This door leads to a sentry post to which three main sections of the Harem are connected. The door on the left leads to the Court of the Concubines, the door on the right heads to the Sultan’s quarters, and the middle door leads to the Court of the Valide Sultan.

The Courtyard of the Sultan’s Consorts and the Concubines came into being in the middle of the 16th century and is the smallest courtyard of the Harem after its restoration after the 1665 fire. It is surrounded by baths, dormitories, apartments of the Sultan’s chief consort, and the residence of the stewardesses.

The Apartments of the Queen Mother and the Sultan form the largest and the most important section of the entire Harem. Also constructed in the late 16th century, the lower story was occupied by the concubines and the upper story was occupied by the Queen Mother along with her ladies-in-waiting. After the 1665 fire, the apartments had to be rebuilt, and new rooms like the small music room were added later in the 18th century.

The Baths of the Sultan and the Queen Mother is a double bath facility that dates from the late 16th century, consisting of numerous rooms within. The baths were redecorated in the mid-18th century in rococo style. Made of multiple rooms, each room has a dome or a honeycomb glass ceiling to let natural light in.

With the largest dome in the palace, the Imperial Hall functioned as the Sultan’s official reception hall and also entertainment for the Harem. The Sultan’s throne sits in this room. The galleries would be occupied by Sultan’s consorts, who were headed by the Queen Mother. There is also a secret door behind a mirror that allowed the Sultan safe passage.

The harem houses the privy chambers of the Ottoman Sultans, including Murat III, Ahmed I, and Ahmed III. Murat III’s chamber is the oldest and the most intact room from the 16th century. Constructed by master architect Sinan, it has one of the finest doors of the palace and has retained its original interiors. The walls of Ahmed I’s chamber are beautifully decked with İznik glazed tiles.

The Twin Kiosk/Apartments of the Crown Prince is a building consisting of two privy chambers and is connected to the palace. It consists of one story that is constructed over an elevated platform and offers a great view from the inside while also shielding views from the outside.

Overlooking a massive pool alongside the Boxwood Garden lies the Courtyard of the Favorites, which is also the last section of the Harem. It was eventually expanded with the addition of the Interval and Favorites apartments in the 18th century. When one of the Favorites became pregnant, she would assume the title of the official consort of the Sultan.

Dating back to the 15th century, the Golden Road is a passage that forms the axis of the Harem and extends between the Privy Chamber and the Courtyard of the Harem Eunuch. The Sultan would use this passage to reach the Harem, the Hall of the Ablution Fountain, the Imperial terrace, and the Privy Chamber.

At this corner of the courtyard was a small inner court that existed till the late 19th century. This court led towards the Kushane Gate, which further led towards the Harem. Today, this is where the visitors to the Harem exit from. Birds for the Sultan’s table were raised around this gate.