Eşrefoğlu Mosque, Beyşehir: Türkiye's Great Wooden Mosque...

✓ Last reviewed: 29 September 2026 — Verified and updated by İlyas Bayrak, licensed Turkish guide (licence 070867), with the My Turkey Adventure editorial team. Prices, opening hours, transport fares and visa rules reflect the latest 2026 guidance. Quick Answer: The Eşrefoğlu Mosque in Beyşehir is a breathtaking 13th-century architectural masterpiece and the best-preserved example of the great wooden hypostyle mosques of Anatolia. It is absolutely worth visiting for its serene "forest" of cedar columns, exquisite Seljuk tilework, and its recent UNESCO World Heritage status, offering a glimpse into a side of medieval Türkiye that few travellers ever see. Fact Detail Location Beyşehir , Konya Province, Türkiye Period / Date 1296-1299 (Late Anatolian Seljuk / Beylik Period) What It Is A large, timber-roofed and timber-columned mosque; a prime example of a wooden hypostyle mosque. UNESCO Status Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2023 as part of the "Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia" serial site. Entry Fee Free. Donations are welcomed for the mosque's upkeep. Typical Visit Length 45-60 minutes to fully appreciate the interior. Nearest Airport Konya Airport (KYA) Driving Time from Major City Approximately 90 minutes from Konya city centre. Best Months to Visit April-June & September-October for pleasant weather. What Is the Eşrefoğlu Mosque? The Eşrefoğlu Mosque ( Eşrefoğlu Camii in Turkish) is a historical place of worship located in the heart of Beyşehir , a town nestled on the shores of Lake Beyşehir , Türkiye's largest freshwater lake. From the outside, its stone walls and conical-roofed portal give the impression of a typical Seljuk-era structure. But stepping inside is a transportive experience. You enter a tranquil forest of wood, a vast prayer hall held up by dozens of towering cedar columns, each crowned with intricate carvings. Commissioned by Eşrefoğlu Süleyman Bey , a local ruler, and built between 1296 and 1299 , this is not just any mos