Gjirokastër Mosque

The Bazaar Mosque (Albanian Xhamia e Pazarit, rarely Gjirokaster Mosque, Albanian Xhamia e Gjirokastrës ) is a mosque in Gjirokastra in Albania.

The mosque was built in 1757 and is located in the district of New Bazaar, which has been created in the 16th century. This was destroyed by a fire in the following century, after which the mosque was built again. It is from a portico with Einkuppelmoschee for the city typical materials. The mosque is located on a slope steep and was built on a below -lying buildings. This presumably contained shops, from whose income the maintenance of the mosque was denied. The minaret has 99 steps, representing the 99 names of Allah.

It is one of the original 15 mosques that were built in the city during the Ottoman era, which were after the Second World War still 13. The mosque was raised by the Albanian government in 1973 to the status of a cultural monument ( Monument Kulturore ), which saved her destruction. The remaining twelve mosques were demolished. Because of the ban on religion in Albania, the bazaar - mosque was then used as a training facility for circus acrobats who hung their harnesses in the high dome of the mosque.

Right next to the mosque there is a two-story octagonal building, which was built in 1727. It was originally used as a Cemevi the Bektashi, during the communist period it was closed. It is now used as a madrasah.