Historical Kırklareli Bedesten (Arasta Bazaar)

History and General Information / Local Legends and Folklore The historical Kırklareli Bedesten (Arasta Bazaar) is one of the oldest trade monuments of the Ottoman Empire in Thrace and was built as a part of the Köse Mihalzade Hızır Bey Complex by the order of Çelebi Sultan Mehmed during the reign of Sultan Murad I in 1383. Rising with its T-planned and cut stone architecture, the bedesten has been the heart of Kırklareli's trade for more than 600 years, with its lead-covered vaults, barrel-arched entrance doors and historical shops lined up inside each other. The campus, integrated with the historical double bathhouse and Hızır Bey Mosque adjacent to the covered bazaar, served as a strategic range market to supply ammunition, fabric and food for the Ottoman armies conquering Rumelia. In the memories of the local tradesmen, it is remembered with respect that the Ahis who opened their shops in this bazaar opened their shutters every morning with the prayers of 'Halal earnings, correct scales, a fruitful life', and that the moral values ​​of the Ahi order were kept alive under this dome for centuries. Today, the restored bazaar is the historical center of attraction of the city with its traditional craftsmen and nostalgic shops. Geographical Structure, Altitude and Natural Features It is located in the historical core of Kırklareli city center, between Cumhuriyet Square and Hızır Bey Mosque, at an altitude of approximately 205 meters. It is located in an urban protected area with pedestrianized historical market streets and centuries-old plane trees around it. Visiting Hours, Days and Entrance Fees