Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul
Pierre Loti Hill is one of the most famous attractions of the historical city of Istanbul, which has a beautiful view of the Golden Horn region. In this hill, good tourism facilities are provided for visitors, and its cafes and restaurants are considered a cozy place to relax. In this article, we are going to provide you with more information about Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul. Join us to learn more about this spectacular attraction.
The story of Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul
The story of Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Pierre Loti, real name Julien Viaud, was a famous French writer who went to Istanbul as a naval officer in 1876. He met a woman named “Aziadeh” in this city and fell madly in love with her.
To live, Pir Loti rented a house in Tepe Ayoub (today’s Tepe Pir Loti) and learned Turkish. Most of the time, he went to the coffee house located on the hill of Ayub and started writing there. Pierre Loti also sometimes met the woman he was in love with in the Beyoğlu area (the non-Muslim area of Istanbul).
After two years, Elder Loti’s mission in Istanbul ended and he had to leave. In 1879, Pierre Loti published the novel Aziyade, which was about his experiences in Istanbul and his love. He had the opportunity to return to Istanbul again in 1887; But his lover, Aziade, died this year. It is interesting to know that the photo taken by Pierre Loti while visiting the tomb of this woman in the old cemetery of Topkapi is still available.
From that period onwards, Ayub Hill was known as “Old Loti Hill”. Also, because Pierre Loti wrote his romantic novel about his love, Aziade, on this hill, this area became known as “Lovers’ Hill”. Although Pierre Loti still met other women during his travels as a naval officer; But until the end of his life, he kept the golden ring with Aziyade’s name engraved on it. He was one of the greatest French novelists, and Aziyade’s novel made him more famous. In the following years, he was awarded an honorary citizen for his love for Istanbul and Aziade.
The attractions and entertainment of Pirre Loti Hill in Istanbul
Pierre Loti Hill is located in the Ayub Sultan area and directly above the Sultan Ayub Mosque, and from the top of this hill you can see both sides of the Golden Horn of Istanbul, namely Beyoğlu and Fatih neighborhoods. The view of the domes and minarets of the mosques in the Golden Horn peninsula from this area is very spectacular. Also, other attractions of Istanbul such as Fatih Mosque, Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque, Sulaymaniyah Mosque, Beyazit Tower, Hagia Sophia Museum and Topkapi Palace can be seen with binoculars on the deck of this hill. Other attractions and entertainments of Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul include the following:
- Pierre Loti Cemetery
Pierre Loti Cemetery is a large and old cemetery located on the hillside. Many Ottoman royal dignitaries, government officials, military commanders, scholars and famous Turkish activists are buried in this historical place. To access this cemetery, you can use the stairs built to climb the mountain.
- Pierre Loti hill cable car
Tepe Pierre Loti cable car is one of the best entertainments in Tepe Ashak. This cable car has a station from Ayub area to the top of the hill and takes tourists to the top of the hill. The cable car of Mount Pierre Loti was built in 2005 by an Italian company, and each car has a capacity of 8 passengers.
Facilities and welfare services of Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul
Among the facilities and welfare services of Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul, the following can be mentioned:
- Turquhouse Boutique Hotel
Turquhouse Boutique Hotel is one of the facilities of Tepe Pir Loti, which consists of 6 ancient mansions. These mansions have a traditional atmosphere with their 18th century architecture and their name is taken from the Golden Horn beaches of Istanbul. Torkohouse Boutique Hotel has 47 rooms and 90 beds and provides excellent services to its customers. This hotel has a beautiful view of the Golden Horn of Istanbul. You can reach this hotel by walking only ten minutes from the historic Ayub Sultan Mosque.
- Aziyade Restaurant
Aziyade restaurant hosts various events. The service of this complex starts with open buffet breakfast and continues with lunch and dinner. In this restaurant, you can organize all kinds of engagement and wedding ceremonies, important meetings and even Ramadan dinners with special menus.
- Historical Coffee (Tarihi Kahve)
The historic cafe of Tepe Pierre Loti operates in the summer and its service starts at 8 am with breakfast and continues until midnight. This cafe is a two-story building with a large terrace similar to the ancient mansions of Istanbul. The ground floor of the historical cafe has a modern atmosphere and the second floor has a traditional atmosphere with various Turkish and Ottoman decorations. The historical cafe can host 130 guests inside the building and 500 people outdoors.
- Nargilevi coffee shop
Nargilvi coffee shop provides very enjoyable moments for tourists with its combined modern and traditional atmosphere. This coffee shop is one of the facilities of Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul and has lodge-like booths for the convenience of families.
- Cafe Yeşil
Yeşil Cafe can be considered as another facility of Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul, which provides a very cozy and comfortable atmosphere for guests. In this cafe, tourists can enjoy watching the unique view of the Golden Horn in addition to eating their favorite food and drinks.
- TERAS CAFE
The terrace of the large garden cafe overlooks the Golden Horn and Istanbul, which has the capacity to accommodate 1400 guests at the same time. Tourists can also relax in the cozy and quiet atmosphere of this cafe.
The best time to visit Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul
The best time to visit Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul is usually mid-week. This hill is very crowded on weekends and public holidays in Turkey, and if you are looking for a table with a great view, you should go to this area early in the morning. The view of the sunset over the city of Istanbul is one of the most beautiful views that you can watch from Pierre Loti Hill. The cable cars of this hill usually operate until 10 o’clock at night; Therefore, if you are interested in watching the sunset from the hill, you should plan carefully and arrive at this place on time.
Access to Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul
To access Pierre Luti Hill in Istanbul, you need to go to Taksim Square in the European area. If you plan to go to Pierre Loti Hill by bus, you should get off at Tahta Minara station. After a short walk, you will reach the hill.
If you prefer to use the metro, you should get off at the Edirne Kapi station. Then get on bus line Y 39 and get off at Ayub Sultan station. Next, you should go to the Tepe Pierre Loti cable car station and use it to reach the top of the hill.
If your origin is the Asian region of Istanbul, to reach Pierre Loti Hill, you must first board the Uskudar-Eyup ferry and get off at the Ayub station. Next, go to Ayub Sultan Mosque and take the cable car. You can also reach the top of the hill on foot through the stairs located near the cable car and passing through the Ayub cemetery.
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