Guide
The Zinciriye Medrese was built in 1336 by Halil Mirza Bey of the Karamanids. Built of local cut tuff and brick, it follows the plan of a medrese with four iwans and an open courtyard. Its portal is worked with the sculptural Seljuk motifs that continue the Seljuk tradition, and the iwans are decorated with plant and geometric forms. Another of its features is the crenellation along the outer walls, which gives the building the look of a castle.
It takes the name Zinciriye — the chained one — from the chains hung on the arch of the portal to keep out animals such as horses, donkeys and camels.
In plan the medrese has four iwans and arcades, eight bays roofed with vaults and domes, and an open courtyard. Entry is through the portal on the east, a segmental-arched door decorated with stalactite work and small niches. The iwans are vaulted and ornamented with plant and geometric motifs. Around the open courtyard, beyond the arcades, are six vaulted rooms of different sizes, and to the north and south of the main iwan on the west are two large rooms roofed with domes.
The medrese served as a prison from 1940 and began to be used as a museum building in 1969. It is used today by the municipality of Aksaray for social and cultural events.
