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Yenisehir Door (Iznik)

Yenisehir Gate, which is the southern entrance gate of the ancient city of Nicaea, is on the road connecting Nicaea to Prusa ad Olympum/Prusa (Bursa) and Apameia (Mudanya), the other cities of Bithynia Province, and other cities of Asia Province. The Yenisehir gate is similar to the northern and eastern gates of the city, the gates of Istanbul and Lefke.

The city of Nikaia entered into an intensive construction process with its entry under the Roman Empire. The first phase of the Yenişehir Gate, which is among these construction activities, is dated to the Flavius period (69-96 AD). During this period, the city entrances were decorated with aesthetic architectural elements in order to show and symbolise the wealth and prestige of the city. Arches of honour were built at the southern entrance of the city for propaganda purposes. This architectural element, which is also found at the northern and eastern entrances of the city, is slightly different at the southern entrance; the arch of honour, which was built with marble block pieces, has a single central passage with an arch. During the pax Romana (= Roman Peace) period, which lasted for nearly 200 years, the Arch of Honour welcomed those entering the city as a symbolic structure. When this period ended as a result of the invasion by the Goths, its function was changed. Combined with the city wall built between 253-270 AD (the reigns of Emperors Gallienus and Gothicus), the Arch of Honour was transformed into a defensive structure. A tower was built on the east side of the Arch of Honour to strengthen the fortification. Moreover, on the side of the gate facing the city centre, another entrance, of which only the remains of the foundations can be seen today, was built and a closed courtyard was created. The city walls and gates underwent various repairs until the Laskarid period. In the 13th century AD, a second fortification wall was built in front of the existing fortification line in order to strengthen the defence structures. A third gate with an arched central passage was built on almost the same line with the early gate axis. Brick and rubble stone masonry was used in the fortification wall and gate. A bastion was built on both sides of the gate in order to strengthen the defence.

Istanbul Gate / Iznik

It was named as Istanbul Gate due to its location on the road to Istanbul. This architectural complex, which forms the northern entrance of the city, has phases belonging to different periods. The structure was originally an “Arch of Honour” built to show the honour and dignity of the city rather than a defensive architecture. The architecture of Istanbul Gate is similar to that of Lefke Gate, the eastern entrance of the city.

It was built by M. Plancius Varus, who was the governor of the Province of Bithynia during the reigns of Vespasianus and Titus, who ruled in the Roman Empire in the second half of the 1st century AD, with the financial support of Gaius Cassius Khrestos of Nicaea. After the earthquake in 120 AD, the building was repaired and restored with the financial support of Emperor Hadrian. It is understood that the city did not turn to defence architecture as it did not face an external threat until the 3rd century AD. During this period, the city, which was exposed to the Gothic invasion, built a city wall for defence. Thus, in the 3rd century AD, an entrance with two gates was created on the same axis at the northern entrance of the city, one of which was connected to the city wall (the gate with the Arch of Honour) and the other on the city side.

Iznik (Nicaea) strengthened its defence architecture by adding a second city wall in the 13th century to the front part of the city walls built in the 3rd century AD.

Iznik Lefke Gate

The arched gate structure belonging to the Roman period is identical to the Istanbul Gate both in terms of its dimensions and construction features. The architrave and frieze have both Plancius’ and Hadrian’s construction inscriptions on the inner and outer faces.

This building, organised with a courtyard system fortified by two round towers, and the Istanbul Gate share similar features.

The Turkish fountain built adjacent to the gate conveyed water brought by aqueducts from a spring 800 metres to the east, which had been used since Roman and Byzantine times.

Yer Gate

It is the southeast gate of Bursa Fortress. It is referred to as “Bâb-ı Zemin” in historical documents of the Ottoman period. After entering the corridor between the two city walls from Tahtakale Gate, it is the first inner city wall gate that is approximately 100 metres ahead and enters the city from the corridor between the two city walls. The city walls from Yerkapı, which is 440 metres ahead of the Fetih Gate, to the Zindan Gate were built as double walls to strengthen the defence. It is seen that a lot of spolia material was used in the inner city walls where there is an outer tower and an inner tower.

The gate was reconstructed in 2007 by Osmangazi Municipality in accordance with the original.

Tahtakale Gate

It is between Sultanate Gate and Yer Gate. The word Taht-el kal’a, which means “under the castle”, has become Tahtakale among the people. This gate does not lead directly into the city, but into a corridor between two city walls.
– The foundations of the Tahtakale Gate, which disappeared over time due to the opening of roads, were excavated by archaeological excavations. In line with the researches carried out, the gate was reconstructed in 2012 by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality in accordance with the original.

Sultanate Door

It is the most important and the most magnificent of the main gates of Bursa city walls. Entering the city directly from the eastern direction, the gate was the main gate of the Citadel to the east, as well as the main gate to the silk and spice road. It was the main gate used by the Tekfurs and state administrators to enter and exit the city, and also used in ostentatious ceremonies and official parades.

During the Ottoman period, it was also known as “Kale Gate” and “Hisar Gate”. It was also called “Sultanate Gate” because it was located at the beginning of the road leading to the Bey Palace, and “Balıkpazarı Gate” and “Mint Gate” because it was near the Balıkpazarı and the Mint.

The Saltanat Gate

Was brought back to its feet with the reconstruction and restoration work initiated by Osmangazi Municipality in 2005. The original inscription indicating that the gate was repaired in 1418 during the reign of Çelebi Mehmed was taken from the Bursa Museum of Turkish-Islamic Arts and placed in its place on the gate.

Hot Spring Door
– It is the second gate from the main gates of the Bursa city walls that directly enters the city. The gate is the only gate of Bursa Castle opening to the west. It was named “Kaplıca Gate” because it is on the way to the hot springs in Kükürtlü and Çekirge.

Kaplıca Gate

Has an overlapping type protected by city walls in terms of the defence strategy seen in Bursa city walls. In addition, the gate is an entrance gate protected by an L-planned scheme.
– Only the opening of the gate has survived to the present day.

Conquest Door

– It is the southern gate of Bursa Fortress opening to Pınarbaşı area. It is known by this name because the Ottoman army entered the city through this gate during the conquest of Bursa.
– The Conquest Gate was built to control and protect the Pınarbaşı water coming into the city. In addition, a two-storey water scale was built on the line where the gate is located in order to ensure equal distribution of water into the Citadel. For this reason, the gate is also known as “Pınarbaşı Gate” or “Water Gate”.
– Although it opens to the Uludağ side and is not very busy, since it is located on a flat area and is the most difficult place to protect, this part was reinforced with two rows of walls, inner and outer walls.
– It was repaired by Osmangazi Municipality in 2008 in accordance with the original.

Source: Go To Bursa