Turkish konak - Melnik

Overview

One of the most emblematic buildings in Melnik is the impressive former Turkish konak.

During Ottoman rule, Melnik was a major administrative center. There was a Turkish barracks in the city, whose administrative center was located in the so-called Turkish konak - the then police department. It is located in the center of Melnik opposite the city library.

It is believed that the ancient public building was erected in 1821. During the Ottoman rule, it housed the district administration (Konak), and after 1913, when Melnik remained within Bulgaria, it was turned into a government building. Later it was used as a school, and after the construction of the new school next door in 1972, it became a student boarding school.