Description of the attraction
The Ahmed Bey Mosque is a Muslim shrine located in Kyustendil. Also known as the "Christian Mosque". It was erected in the middle of the 15th century in the central part of the city, where Roman baths were located nearby. On the north wall of the mosque, carved dates were found - 1575 and 1577, which most likely refers to later reconstructions. According to legend, the mosque was built right on the foundations of the Bulgarian Church of the Holy Resurrection. Above the entrance to the mosque, an inscription of four lines is carved, praising the builders, subsequent possible reenactors and servants of the mosque with a wish of good health. Presumably, the inscription was made closer to the middle of the 18th century.
In 1904, the minaret was destroyed by an earthquake, after which it was finally removed from the architectural composition of the mosque.
The Ahmed Bey Mosque is a majestic building with a large dome, columns and supports are made of marble. The vaulted entrance with three small domes has been preserved in its original form. The facades above the window openings are decorated with pointed arches. The building was constructed from stone blocks and bricks from an earlier era. It should also include the decorative brickwork of the cornice - the so-called "wolf's tooth". This was a characteristic feature of Bulgarian architecture during the Middle Ages.
Currently, the mosque has been converted into an exhibition hall of the city museum. Since 1968, Ahmed Bay is an architectural monument of culture of national importance.
