Turbe of Idris Baba - Pecs, Hungary

In Pécs there was a former Turkish cemetery in the south slopes of the Rókus Hill. Here we find one of the most beautiful monuments of Turkish architecture in Hungary. The turbe (turban-stone tomb) of Idris Baba, respected as a holy person, is an important pilgrimage place of Muslims. Idris Baba was a veli, i.e. a person living holy life in Muslim religion in the 16th century. Little is told about him by contemporary sources, what we know is that he was active as a healer and fortune teller. As a close friend of Allah he is remembered by history for his miraculous healings. The domed building with octagonal foundation, built in 1591 was discovered by archaeologists in 1912. On the walls we can see a dome of a sphere section, which is 6 metres in diameter and 8.5 metres high. On its façade, the lower windows are small ones with donkey-back arch, without a stone frame, while the upper openings are circular stone windows. The original entrance is now walled up like a niche. The Gothic style stone frame of the door may have been made in the late 17th century. After lengthy reconstruction works the turbe gained its present shape in 1961. During the excavations the archaeologists also found the tomb of Idris Baba where his skeleton in good condition was discovered. The interior of the turbe, the blanket with embroidery and the prayer carpet are donations by the Government of Turkey.