Can you imagine Kuleli Mahallesi without the imposing Kuleli Military High School? The neighborhood is almost synonymous with it. The high school lends its name to this charming Istanbul locale.
Kuleli Mahallesi sits on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. It is a part of the Üsküdar district. The neighborhood offers a serene escape from Istanbul’s crowded areas. Its western border kisses the Istanbul Strait. Kuleli is bordered by Kandilli to the north. To the south, it meets Çengelköy. Küçüksu lies to its east.
Let’s talk about Kuleli Military High School. It is not just a school. It is a landmark. Sultan Abdülmecid I founded it on September 21 1845. This makes it the oldest military high school in Turkey. The school’s architecture blends Ottoman and Western styles. Symmetrical towers adorn the entrance. Arched windows and detailed stonework define its aesthetic. These features showcase the Ottoman architectural style.
The Kuleli Military High School has a rich history. It has transformed over the years. Once it was the Repentance Monastery during the Byzantine era. Later it became an Ottoman military school. During the Crimean War, it served as a hospital. Wounded soldiers from both the Ottoman army and allied forces received care here. During this time, it was known as the Kuleli Barracks. It played a vital role in healthcare services.
In 1868, a decision was made to consolidate all military high schools. Four schools including Kuleli, were combined. They were renamed “Umum Mekteb-i İdadî Şahane”. They were moved to the Galatasaray Barracks. However, this consolidation proved unsuccessful. Each school returned to its separate education system. “Mekteb-i Fünun-ı İdadîye” and “Deniz İdadîsi” moved to the Kuleli Barracks in 1872. The school then became known as the “Kuleli İdadîsi”.
During the Russo-Turkish War, the school became a hospital once more. Students and staff relocated to the Turkish Military Academy in Pangaltı. After the war, they returned to Çengelköy with the “Askeri Tıbbiye İdadisi” in 1879. The hospital was later moved to Beylerbeyi.
During the Balkan Wars, Kuleli Barracks was yet again transformed into a hospital. Some students went to the Kandilli High School for Girls. Others were housed near Beylerbeyi Palace. By the end of 1913, the school was back in its own building.
World War I forced another temporary relocation. The school moved to the Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage on Büyükada Island. After the war, the building was used as a dormitory for Armenian orphans and refugees. This was due to a British request in the Armistice of Mudros.
After the Turkish victory in the Turkish War of Independence, the Treaty of Lausanne returned the barracks to the Turkish army in 1923. The British had controlled it for three years. In 1924, it briefly became a civilian high school named “Kuleli Lisesi”. By the end of that year, it was once again a military high school. It officially adopted the name “Kuleli Military High School” in 1925.
During World War II, the school moved to Konya. Kuleli Barracks became a military hospital with 1000 beds. The Bosphorus Transportation Command also moved there. After the war, the school returned to its historical home in Istanbul in 1947.
Sadly, after the 2016 Turkish coup d’état attempt, Kuleli Military High School was closed on July 31 2016. Today, the building has been transformed into a museum. Its legacy as a cornerstone of Kuleli Mahallesi remains. It stands as a testament to Istanbul’s layered past. The Kuleli Military High School building continues to dominate the landscape.