Mahperi Hatun Caravanserai
Located in the Pazar district of Tokat, this massive stone structure was built approximately 800 years ago. In the past, it served as a safe resting place for travelers and their animals along major trade routes. Are you ready to explore this magnificent structure that has endured from the depths of history to the present day?
Who Built This Structure and When?
This caravanserai was constructed in 1238 during the period of the Anatolian Seljuk State. The patron of the building was Mahperi Hatun, wife of Sultan I. Alaeddin Keykubad and mother of II. Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev. Its status as one of the rare structures in Anatolia commissioned by a woman makes it historically exceptional.
Mahperi Hatun Caravanserai (Kültür Portali)
Summer and Winter Sections
The caravanserai embodies some of the finest features of Seljuk architecture and consists of two main sections:
- Summer Section: A spacious area with an open courtyard at its center.
- Winter Section: Fully enclosed and sheltered to protect travelers from the cold during winter months.
The walls of the building are constructed from sturdy cut stone and reinforced from the outside with supporting structures. Inscriptions on the entrance gates, written in a distinctive script, record the building’s history and the name of Mahperi Hatun.
The Heart of Trade: The Silk Road
The caravanserai lies along the famous Silk Road route connecting Central Anatolia to the Black Sea. Merchants transporting goods during that era stayed here to safeguard their merchandise and rest securely. This contributed to the economic vitality of the region and made travel safer.
The Caravanserai Today
After years of neglect, this historic structure was meticulously restored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 1999. During the restoration, great care was taken to preserve its original fabric, and the building was returned to its former grandeur. Today, this impressive structure continues to exist as a cultural heritage site open to visitors.
Mahperi Hatun Caravanserai (Pazar Kaymakamlığı)
A Journey Through Time
Let us travel back exactly 788 years to the year 1238. This caravanserai, built during the height of the Anatolian Seljuk State, has endured from those days to the present as a treasure of history.
