Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği


World Heritage Identification Number: 358

World Heritage since: 1985

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇹🇷 Türkiye

Continent: Asia

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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The Architectural Marvel of the Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği

The Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği, located in the Sivas Province of Turkey, stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and architectural prowess of the medieval Islamic world. Built in 1228–1229 by the local dynasty of the Mengujekids, this complex is nestled in the upper town, beneath the citadel. Its intricate stone carvings and unique architecture have earned it a place on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1985.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

This region of Anatolia was conquered by the Turks at the beginning of the 11th century. In 1228–29 Emir Ahmet Shah founded a mosque, with its adjoining hospital, at Divrigi. The mosque has a single prayer room and is crowned by two cupolas. The highly sophisticated technique of vault construction, and a creative, exuberant type of decorative sculpture – particularly on the three doorways, in contrast to the unadorned walls of the interior – are the unique features of this masterpiece of Islamic architecture.

Encyclopedia Record: Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital

Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital was built in 1228–1229 by the local dynasty of the Mengujekids in the small Anatolian town of Divriği, now in Sivas Province, Turkey. The complex is in the upper town, below the citadel. The exquisite stone carvings and eclectic architecture of the complex places it among the most important works of architecture in Anatolia and led to its inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1985.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 2,016 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (i) — Masterpiece of human creative genius
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape

Coordinates: 39.371271 , 38.121826

Image

Image of Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği

© R Prazeres, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

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246 km — Türkiye
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Country Information: Türkiye

Flag of Türkiye

Official Name: Republic of Turkey

Capital: Ankara

Continent: Asia

Population (2024): 85,518,661

Population (2023): 85,325,965

Population (2022): 84,979,913

Land Area: 769,630 sq km

Currency: Turkish lira (TRY)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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