Trabzon Atatürk Pavilion Museum

Trabzon Atatürk Köşkü is a historical building where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, stayed during his Black Sea visits and announced his decision to donate all his possessions to the Turkish nation. Due to its architectural aesthetics and symbolic significance in Atatürk’s life, it holds a special place in the national memory. The köşk currently functions as a museum.

Atatürk Köşkü Müzesi (Anadolu Agency)

Location and Architectural Features

The Trabzon Atatürk Köşkü is situated on the Soğuksu ridge to the west of Trabzon city center, commanding a dominant view over the city. The köşk exhibits influences of Western Renaissance and European architecture, distinguished by ornate façade decorations, stucco work, and interior layout. The three-story building includes a sitting room, rest room, dining room and guest room on the ground floor; an office, bedroom, waiting room and meeting room on the first floor; and two small rooms on the second floor. The structure reflects the high aesthetic standards of European taste in its era, both architecturally and aesthetically.

Construction and Original Owner

The köşk was built in the early 19th century as a summer residence by Konstantin Kabayanidis, a wealthy Greek from Trabzon. The Kabayanidis family held a prominent position in Trabzon’s commercial and cultural life. The Soğuksu area where the köşk stands was among the favored summer retreats of Trabzon’s leading families at the time. Architectural embellishments reflecting Western influences were incorporated according to Kabayanidis’s preferences.

Atatürk’s Visits to Trabzon

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk visited Trabzon three times:

• First visit (1924): During his first trip to Trabzon in 1924, he was hosted in the köşk but did not stay overnight.
• Second visit (November 1930): During this visit, Atatürk was accommodated in the köşk and stayed overnight. He was highly pleased with the building and its surroundings.
• Third visit (June 1937): This visit marked the most significant historical moment for the köşk. Atatürk spent two nights there and, on the night of 11 June, made the decision to donate all his possessions to the Turkish nation within this very building.

Conversion into a Museum

Following Atatürk’s death, the köşk was converted into a museum under the name “Atatürk Köşkü” and opened to the public in 1943. Since then, it has become one of Trabzon’s cultural symbols, preserving both its architectural identity and its reflection of Atatürk’s legacy. The museum displays the rooms used by Atatürk, original furniture, documents and personal belongings.

Current Status and Visitor Interest

Today, the Trabzon Atatürk Köşkü is protected and operated as a museum by the Trabzon Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. Open to visitors, the köşk attracts considerable interest from both domestic and international tourists with a special interest in Atatürk’s life. It is also frequently visited during educational trips, cultural tours and national commemorative days as a meaningful site reflecting Atatürk’s personality and ideals.