Fazıl Ahmet Paşa Medrese

History

Fazıl Ahmet Paşa Medrese stands in the Fazıl Ahmet Paşa neighborhood of Vezirköprü and is also known locally as Taş Medrese (Stone Medrese). Although no inscription records its exact date, it is believed to have been built between 1661 and 1676, during Fazıl Ahmet Paşa's tenure as Grand Vizier. It is one of the few Ottoman medreses in the Black Sea region built entirely of stone.

Architecture

The building follows an open-courtyard medrese plan, with a fountain at the center of the courtyard surrounded by arcaded student cells. Pink-hued Karacaviran stone was used on both the interior and exterior facades.

Changes and Restoration

The lead-covered roof was stripped during the 1877-78 Ottoman-Russian War to produce ammunition and replaced with tile; in 1974 the tiles were in turn replaced with copper cladding. Minor cracks caused by the 1943 Tosya-Ladik earthquake were later repaired, and the building underwent further restoration in the 1970s, 2000s and 2010s.

Current Use

Since 1964, the medrese has served as a public library, housing an extensive collection that includes Persian and Arabic manuscripts. It remains one of Vezirköprü's finest examples of Ottoman-era stonework and continues to draw visitors' interest.