TİKA Launches Two-Year Restoration of Romania’s Historic Hünkar Mosque to Preserve Ottoman Heritage in Constanța

The Turkish agency TİKA launches a two-year project to restore the Ottoman-era Hünkar Mosque in Constanța, Romania, preserving its original 1869 design.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 10:40 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Anadolu Agency

A Renewed Commitment to Balkan Architectural Preservation

The architectural landscape of Constanța is set for a significant cultural restoration as TİKA begins work on the Hünkar Mosque, a prominent landmark of the city’s Ottoman history. Built in 1869 under the reign of Sultan Abdulaziz, the mosque stands as a testament to the deep historical roots of the Muslim community in Romania. According to TİKA President Abdullah Eren, the project is more than a simple structural repair, representing an effort to carry the spiritual heritage of the region’s ancestors into the future. The initiative reflects a broader strategy by the Turkish agency to maintain and protect shared cultural monuments across the Balkan Peninsula.

Restoring the Structural Integrity of a Wartime Survivor

The Hünkar Mosque has endured over a century of environmental wear and the physical scars of global conflict, having been severely damaged during the Second World War. While the structure underwent a partial restoration in 1956, subsequent efforts in the 1990s and as recently as 2011 failed to provide a full rehabilitation of the site. This latest intervention by TİKA is designed to be the most comprehensive to date, addressing every neglected section of the building. The goal is to return the mosque to its 19th-century glory while ensuring that modern preservation techniques are used to stabilize the aging masonry and roof.

Strategic Cooperation with the Romanian Muslim Muftiate

The execution of the restoration is being managed through a formal cooperation protocol signed between TİKA and the Muftiate of Muslims in Romania. This partnership ensures that the religious and cultural sensitivities of the local community are prioritized throughout the construction phase. By working directly with the Muftiate, TİKA aims to ensure that the mosque remains a functional place of worship while its historical value is secured. This collaborative model is a hallmark of Turkish international aid, focusing on institutional partnerships to foster long-term cultural ties between Türkiye and Romania.