Saraj (Resen)
Encyclopedia
The Saraj is a historic neoclassical
estate in Resen, Macedonia
. It was built in the early 20th century by local Ottoman bey
, Ahmed Niyazi Bey
. The Saraj's architectural style makes it unique in Macedonia.
The name "Saraj" comes from the Turkish
word saray meaning "palace". The building is now home to a museum, a ceramic colony, a gallery, and a library.
The building's exterior walls are 40 cm (1.3 ft) to 85 cm (2.8 ft) thick. They contain rich sculptural detail, particularly on the façade. The roof was originally made of wood but, during renovation in 1982, it was replaced with steel profiles.
, was the bey of the Resen area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The bey desired to have a French-style estate, perhaps after receiving a postcard of Versailles
.
Construction of the Saraj began in 1905. The exterior of the building was completed in 1909 after the Young Turk Revolution, though everything else, including the interior, was not completed until a few years after the Balkan Wars
and World War I
in 1922. Ahmed Niyazi Bey, however, died in 1912 in Durrës
of unknown causes and therefore never lived to see his estate completed.
After the Balkan Wars, the Saraj served several different functions for several different organisations. It was first used for local administrative purposes under the Kingdom of Serbia
, then under the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
. During World War II
, the building was used by occupying forces. After the war, it was used as the city hall of Resen and, later, as a city library. Finally, the Saraj became a museum and gallery, which it remains today.
The building's roof has been restored twice since its construction: once in 1982 and again in 2005.
The Dragi Tozija House of Culture is a branch of the Museum of Macedonia
in Skopje
. The house of culture is also home to plays, literary readings, and other cultural events.
The Resen Ceramic Colony, also situated in the Saraj, is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics of UNESCO
.
A permanent gallery containing many of the works of painter Keraca Visulčeva is also found in the building.
A city library has existed in the Saraj since the 1940s. Today, it contains over 31,000 books.
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
estate in Resen, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. It was built in the early 20th century by local Ottoman bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
, Ahmed Niyazi Bey
Ahmed Niyazi Bey
Ahmed Niyazi Bey was the Ottoman bey of the Resen area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An ethnic Albanian, he was a member of the Young Turk Revolution.Ahmed Nyazi Bey is also known for the Saraj, a French-style estate he built in Resen....
. The Saraj's architectural style makes it unique in Macedonia.
The name "Saraj" comes from the Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
word saray meaning "palace". The building is now home to a museum, a ceramic colony, a gallery, and a library.
Description
The Saraj was built in the neoclassical architectural style. The building is symmetrical with a taller central portion, which rises 25 m (82 ft), and two wings. It has a basement, a main floor, a second floor, and an attic, and has a floor area of 4,800 m2 (51,667 ft2).The building's exterior walls are 40 cm (1.3 ft) to 85 cm (2.8 ft) thick. They contain rich sculptural detail, particularly on the façade. The roof was originally made of wood but, during renovation in 1982, it was replaced with steel profiles.
History
Ahmed Niyazi Bey, a progressive and likely a member of the Young Turk RevolutionYoung Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, marking the onset of the Second Constitutional Era...
, was the bey of the Resen area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The bey desired to have a French-style estate, perhaps after receiving a postcard of Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
.
Construction of the Saraj began in 1905. The exterior of the building was completed in 1909 after the Young Turk Revolution, though everything else, including the interior, was not completed until a few years after the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1922. Ahmed Niyazi Bey, however, died in 1912 in Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
of unknown causes and therefore never lived to see his estate completed.
After the Balkan Wars, the Saraj served several different functions for several different organisations. It was first used for local administrative purposes under the Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
, then under the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the building was used by occupying forces. After the war, it was used as the city hall of Resen and, later, as a city library. Finally, the Saraj became a museum and gallery, which it remains today.
The building's roof has been restored twice since its construction: once in 1982 and again in 2005.
Current use
The Saraj today houses the Dragi Tozija House of Culture, the Resen Ceramic Colony, the Keraca Visulčeva Gallery, and a library.The Dragi Tozija House of Culture is a branch of the Museum of Macedonia
Museum of Macedonia
Museum of Macedonia is a national institution in the Republic of Macedonia and one of the oldest museums in the country. The Museum of Macedonia was created by joining three museum in one...
in Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
. The house of culture is also home to plays, literary readings, and other cultural events.
The Resen Ceramic Colony, also situated in the Saraj, is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
A permanent gallery containing many of the works of painter Keraca Visulčeva is also found in the building.
A city library has existed in the Saraj since the 1940s. Today, it contains over 31,000 books.