Gul Baba's Tomb

Gul Baba was a Bektashi dervish who died in Buda in 1541, during the ceremonies that followed the Ottoman capture of the city, and the small octagonal turbe raised over his grave has survived every subsequent regime, making it one of the northernmost Islamic pilgrimage sites in Europe and the only Ottoman religious building still standing in Budapest. It sits on the slope of Rozsadomb, the hill of roses, and the name is not a coincidence: Gul Baba is remembered as the father of roses, and the terraces around the tomb are planted with them. A full restoration funded by Turkey reopened the site in 2018, with a garden, colonnade and viewing terrace looking over the Danube and Pest.

History

Gül Baba, a member of the Bektashi dervish order and author of a commentary on the Quran, died in Buda in 1541 during the Ottoman conquest of the city by Suleiman the Magnificent and was declared the city's patron saint. Mehmed Pasha, beylerbey of Buda, built his octagonal tomb between 1543 and 1548; it survived the Habsburg capture of Buda in 1686 undamaged, and the Jesuits turned it into a Catholic chapel dedicated to St Joseph (Wikipedia, Tomb of Gül Baba).

What you'll find

• The octagonal turbe - the Ottoman tomb kept through five centuries.
• Rose terraces on the hillside - the planting the name refers to.
• The viewing terrace - the Danube and Pest from the slope.
• A working pilgrimage site - visitors who come to pray, not to sightsee.

When to go

April to October, when the roses are out and the terraces are open. One hour. The climb from Margaret Bridge is steep, on stairs. Check opening days, which are limited.

Practical notes

The tomb itself is a single small room and the visit is short. Opening hours are restricted and it closes in the winter months. The approach is a steep stair climb. It is a religious site and shoes come off at the door.

Nearby

Margaret Bridge is below; the Buda hills rise behind.

Key facts