Description of the attraction
The Bayrakli Jamia Mosque is one of the most ancient city buildings in Samokov. Located near the central square of the city, near the bus station. “Bayrak” from Turkish will be correctly translated as “flag”, and “Bayrakli” - it will already be “with a flag”. Archaeologists suggest that the building of the mosque was built from fragments of an older mosque of the 16th century. The upper part of the building is made of wood, the main volume is made of stone.
The date of construction of Bayrakli Jamia is 1840, just on the eve of the complete liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke. In connection with this event, the mosque was used for its intended purpose for a very short time. Nevertheless, the mosque is a living reminder of the five centuries of Turkish rule. Samokov was captured in 1371, but the city remained well developed during the entire period of the occupation and even became the center of the iron industry among all the European provinces that belonged to the Turks.
The entrance of the mosque is decorated with wooden columns, which are inscribed in the façade with frescoes. All this creates the illusion of a stage in a theater. Such architectural solutions are striking examples of the skill of Samokov artists, who could easily go beyond the framework of traditional painting.
Since the national revival of Bulgaria just fell on the 18th century, this was reflected in the construction of the mosque. The rotunda, which is crowned with a dome covered with red tiles, has become typical of the Bulgarian "folk" style. The cornices are painted on the outside and inside with ornaments with predominant floral motifs. Similar murals can be seen in Samokov's Orthodox churches and even in the city synagogue. The painting inside the mosque is distinguished by a unique combination of traditional styles: European Rococo and Baroque. Perhaps, it would be easy for an inexperienced pilgrim to confuse a mosque and a Christian temple if it were not for the minaret.
Since 1920, the mosque has been closed and declared a cultural monument of the national level. After the restoration, the building of the mosque was turned into a museum.
