Birds with their unique ability to fly have always enchanted man, but few have shown their admiration like the Ottomans who built little intricate palaces on the walls of their homes, mosques, bridges, libraries and schools, for their feathered creatures. Inspired by the belief that those that built the homes will be afforded good fortune with the gods, they all tried to build the most glorious of structures.
Apart from providing a safe, windless environment for the birds, these magnificent mansions also ensured that birds would nest on the outer walls of the buildings thus protecting the inner walls… this is what I would call an elaborate architectural plan.
So, the next time you’re in Turkey, look out for these beautiful bird mansions, some of which date back to the 16th Century.
