Mahmutbey Mosque (Turkish:Mahmut Bey Cami) is a historical mosque inKasaba village inKastamonu Province, Turkey.
Kasaba was once an important settlement in Kastamonu Province. Now, it is a small village about 18 km (11 mi) toKastamonu. The 14th-century mosque of the village at41°28′48″N33°41′17″E / 41.48000°N 33.68806°E /41.48000; 33.68806 is an important cultural building of the province.
It was commissioned by Mahmut Bey, a member ofCandarid house in 1366. The mosque is unique in its building technique for no cement is used in the construction, except for themihrab. The roof too was constructed without using any metal element. In fact, it is also known asÇivisiz camii meaning "mosque without nails".[1] The plan of the mosque is rectangular. It is one of the first wood columned and wood roofed mosques inAnatolia. The exterior of mosque was constructed by hewn stone. Ceiling of the building stands on four pillars. Inside the mosque, all the wood surfaces are decorated with vegetal paint colored ornaments.[2] The portal of the mosque, which was a masterpiece of art. It is now kept in theKastamonu Ethnography Museum.[1] A replica of the original portal has been mounted in place.
In 2023 the mosque was added to the list ofUNESCOWorld Heritage Sites along with other medieval wooden hypostyle mosques in Afyon, Ankara, Beyşehir and Sivrihisar.[3]
