Hekimbaşı Chamber

This small square tower has a quiet but important story.

It dates back to the 15th century. It is called the Chief Physician’s Chamber, or Hekimbaşı Chamber. It is also called the Tower of the Chief Lala.

A lala was a teacher and guide for the young princes of the Ottoman family. These princes were the imperial heirs. They were boys who might become sultan one day.

The chief physician could also live here. He was the head doctor of the palace. When the sultan was ill, medicine was prepared in this place.

So this chamber was linked to two very important kinds of care. One was care for the body. The other was care for the young minds of future rulers.