Sultanahmet Jail (Turkish:Sultanahmet Cezaevi), a formerprison inIstanbul,Turkey, is now the luxuryFour Seasons Hotel at Sultanahmet. It is located inSultanahmet neighborhood ofFatih district on the historical peninsula.
Built in 1918/1919, it was the first jailhouse in the capital of theOttoman Empire, constructed in a contemporary concept considering the regulation of the daily life and relationship with the outside of inmates, who were awaiting trial or serving brief sentences. The building was designed inTurkish neoclassical style in the beginning of the period called "First National Architecture". It was built next to thecourthouse building, which was constructed in 1845 initially as university (Ottoman Turkish:Darülfünun). An inscription inOttoman language upon the main gate of the building states the name of the facility as the "Dersaadet Murder Jail" (Ottoman Turkish:Dersaadet Cinayet Tevkifhanesi).[1] It is a four-story building with guard towers enclosing a courtyard.[2]
In the jailhouse, juveniles and women were also detained. Following the establishment of theSağmalcılar prison, the inmates were transferred to the new site and the jail was abandoned on January 25, 1969.[3] Later during the military rule, the building continued to be used as a military jailhouse.
Sultanahmet Jail served mostly as a prison reserved for writers, journalists, artists as intellectualdissidents sentenced.[4][5][6]
In 1992, after a long period of neglect, a redevelopment project was considered to convert the building into a hotel.[11] The jailhouse, having great significance in terms of history of art and architecture, was to undergo a meticulous renovation and open as adeluxe hotel underRegent Hotels & Resorts as The Regent Istanbul. Following the acquisition of Regent byFour Seasons Hotels & Resorts in 1992, the project was rebranded and opened in 1996 as Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet.
The hotel does not feature any pool or spa facilities. Instead, guests may book a complimentary shuttle service to use the pool and spa facilities at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, the chain's sister property in the city, which opened in 2008.[12]
The property closed in 2020 to undergo a comprehensive renovation, and reopened on December 1, 2021.[13]
The jailhouse was mentioned inGraham Greene's 1932 thriller novelStamboul Train.[14]
The site is featured in the poem "For Nazim Hikmet in the Old Prison, Now a Four Seasons Hotel" by the American poetMyra Shapiro.[15]
| Africa and Middle East | |
|---|---|
| The Americas | |
| Asia / Pacific | |
| Europe | |
| Future properties | |
| Former properties | |
41°0′23″N28°58′48″E / 41.00639°N 28.98000°E /41.00639; 28.98000
