Ciragan Palace

The Ciragan Palace stands in the Besiktas district on the European shore of the Bosphorus, between Dolmabahce and the Bosphorus Bridge. It was built between 1863 and 1872 under Sultan Abdulaziz by the Armenian-Ottoman Balyan family of architects, intended to replace the older Dolmabahce Palace, though it only briefly served as the main residence. After his deposition in 1876, Sultan Murad V was held under house arrest here with his family for 28 years. In 1910 fire gutted most of the interior. The palace was only rebuilt as the wing of a hotel in 1986-1991 and has since operated as the Ciragan Palace Kempinski. The former state rooms are now used for banquets and weddings; the cafe and waterside terrace on the Bosphorus are open to non-guests and count as one of the most expensive but spectacular spots in the city.