Edirne Hıdırlık Bastion Balkan History Museum

As Ottoman rulers watched enemy armies advance through the Balkans, they decided to make Edirne the defensive line that protected Istanbul. Twenty-four bastions were built around the city, and the largest was Hıdırlık, raised between 1886 and 1888.

Its moment came in the Balkan Wars, when it served as the headquarters of Şükrü Pasha during the famous defence of Edirne against the Bulgarian army. Its position, sturdy masonry and layout still explain why it mattered so much to the strategy of the region.

The complex includes a guardhouse, a barracks block, courtyards, a moat, artillery batteries and 18 artillery rooms, joined by a 120-metre tunnel with four vaulted chambers. Walking through them gives a physical feel for how the defenders lived and worked.

The museum displays are arranged around the story of the war and the city, and include objects and remains that came to light during the building's restoration.